Know What’s Under the Surface Before You Dive In.
A pool can look perfect from the deck and still have serious problems underneath. Cracked shells, faulty bonding, missing drain covers, broken safety barriers — we check it all. InterNACHI certified. No separate pool company needed.
A Standard Home Inspection Doesn’t Cover Your Pool
Most general home inspections include a visual note about the pool — but they don’t test equipment, check electrical bonding, evaluate the shell, or verify safety barrier compliance. A pool is its own system with its own risks.
A dedicated pool and spa inspection evaluates the structure, the mechanical equipment, the electrical connections, and the safety features that protect your family. We follow the InterNACHI Pool and Spa Standards of Practice — the same standards used by certified pool inspectors across the country.
A Full Evaluation — Structure to Safety
We assess four major areas of your pool or spa. Each is documented with photos and findings in your same-day report.
Pool & Spa Structure
Mechanical Equipment
Electrical Systems
Safety Barriers & Compliance
Pools Are the Most Dangerous Feature of Any Residential Property
Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 1 to 4 in the United States. Most incidents happen in residential pools — often in homes where safety barriers are missing, broken, or improperly installed.
A pool inspection isn’t just about equipment condition. It’s about making sure the safety systems designed to protect your family actually work: the fence is the right height, the gate latches properly, the drain covers meet anti-entrapment standards, and the electrical system is bonded correctly to prevent shock hazards.
We take this seriously. Every pool inspection includes a thorough evaluation of safety barriers, electrical safety, and entrapment prevention — not just the pump and filter.
Barrier Compliance
Fencing height, gate function, latch position, climb resistance, and gap spacing — all checked against current safety standards.
Electrical Safety
GFCI protection, equipment bonding, grounding, and proper disconnect placement. Faulty pool wiring is a life-threatening hazard.
Entrapment Prevention
Drain covers checked for VGB Act compliance. Missing or damaged covers create suction entrapment risks — especially for children.
When to Schedule a Pool Inspection
A pool inspection isn’t just for home buyers. Here are the most common situations.
Buying a Home with a Pool
Add a pool inspection to your general home inspection. It covers equipment, structure, and safety — the things a standard inspection skips.
Selling a Home with a Pool
Find and fix issues before buyers discover them. A pre-listing pool inspection removes surprises during the option period.
Annual Safety Check
Pools need regular evaluation — especially after winter. An annual inspection catches equipment wear, chemical damage, and safety issues early.
What Buyers Ask About Pool Inspections
Pools raise questions that a standard home inspection can’t answer. Here’s what you need to know.
Is a pool inspection included in a standard home inspection?
No. A general home inspection may note the presence of a pool, but it does not test equipment, evaluate the shell, check electrical bonding, or verify safety barrier compliance. A dedicated pool inspection is a separate service — and it’s the only way to get a complete picture of your pool’s condition.
How long does a pool inspection take?
Typically 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on the size of the pool, the complexity of the equipment, and whether a spa or water features are included. We can usually perform it at the same time as your home inspection.
What’s the most common issue you find?
Safety barrier deficiencies — gates that don’t self-close or self-latch, fencing gaps that are too wide, and missing or damaged drain covers. Equipment issues like failing pumps and leaking valves are also common, especially in pools that are 8+ years old.
Do you test the water chemistry?
Water chemistry testing is not part of a standard pool inspection. We evaluate the physical structure, mechanical equipment, electrical systems, and safety features. For water chemistry concerns, we recommend a pool service company that can perform a full chemical analysis.
What is the VGB Act?
The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act is a federal law that requires specific anti-entrapment drain cover standards for all public and residential pools. We check drain covers for compliance during every pool inspection because missing or non-compliant covers create serious suction entrapment risks.
Can you inspect a pool that’s been winterized or drained?
We can inspect the structure, decking, safety barriers, and visible equipment on a drained or winterized pool. However, we cannot test equipment operation, electrical function, or plumbing until the pool is filled and the systems are running. We’ll note what we can and can’t evaluate in the report.
Add a Pool Inspection to Your Home Inspection
Call, text, or email. We’ll bundle it with your general inspection or book it standalone.
Bryan Hughes | TREC #21772 | InterNACHI Certified Pool & Spa Inspector