Don’t Rely on a Home Inspector. Some buyers assume the home inspection covers the pool, but it’s rare when it does. Even if they offer pool inspections, many home inspectors do not have the required expertise to properly conduct a swimming pool inspection. In fact, most home inspection reports include a disclaimer covering the pool.

Pools Have Complex Equipment. There are quite a number of moving parts to pools. Beyond the actual pool, which needs to be solid and leak-free, the pumps, heaters and filters need to be checked for proper operation. The electrical equipment needs to be inspected, as does the plumbing. Decking surfaces, safety covers and the hardware that secures them should be evaluated for condition and longevity.

Test the Pool by Running the Equipment. During a thorough inspection the overall operating condition of the pool and equipment is evaluated by turning the systems on to see if they run. Typically this is a visual inspection; keep in mind, you and the inspector have no right to take anything apart.

Get a Pressure Test for Leaks. If the company you hire doesn’t know how to pressure test the plumbing for possible leaks, you may be setting yourself up for expensive problems down the road. Certainly, you don’t want to have to schedule the pool for repairs before ever touching a toe in the water.

So before hiring a pool inspector, ask if the company performs water loss and leak testing and ( if necessary ) pressure testing of the pool plumbing. Main drain lines and some water feature lines cannot be easily pressure tested, and that should be noted in their report. Check to see if the report includes a written estimate for any needed repairs.