Pool or Spa Inspection

A Florida pool is a must for some homeowners. It is a major pricing factor for home values. A home with a pool will most likely appraise for $15,000 more. A home without a pool will likely appraise for $15,000 less. If the market value of homes in your neighborhood is $150,000 a home with a pool will be worth 165k while one without 135k. Would you purchase a secondhand $30,000 car without an inspection?

It is estimated that 39% of all Florida homes have swimming pools. According to an FSU survey of all Florida county property appraisers in 2006, there were 1,093,655 pools in Florida. In Central Florida, Orange County had the highest number of pools at 61,096, followed by Seminole County at 38,086, Volusia County at 27,622 and Lake County with 14,089 swimming pools.

We inspect new and existing pools and spas. This is a non-invasive visual inspection. The Inspector will evaluate the pool and /or spa, its current condition and all accessible components. After the pool inspection, we will present you with a comprehensive inspection report. Our pool / spa inspection report includes deficiency findings and our recommendations for the following items:

Structural components
Electrical components
Plumbing components
Filtration components
Heating components
Safety components

Placement and protection - includes fencing, gates, screen enclosure, proximity to electrical wires, location of electrical outlets and placement to the home.
Vessel and coping - includes the pool and deck surface condition (cracks, discoloration, and pitting) and the coping surrounding the pool (open joints, cracking). Drains are inspected for the presence of anti-vortex covers for safety reasons.
Equipment - includes inspection of pool / hot tub lights, the presence of GFCI devices, junction box condition and location, pumps, filters, piping, timers, disconnects, heaters, controls, accessories, skimmers, and that the appropriate electrical bonding is in place.
Operation - includes operation of the pump, inspection for leakage, proper skimming and filtration, heater activation, filter pressure and the operation of the spa blower.

Pool / Spa inspection is particularly beneficial and should be done at the same time as your home inspection, or after installation of the new pool or spa.

The Preston de Ibern/McKenzie Merriam Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act or Florida Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act for short was designed to prevent child deaths due to drowning in swimming pools. The commission found drowning is the leading cause of death for young children in Florida, with 420 children ages 1-4 years drowning in Florida between 1992-1997, 268 of whom drowned at home and 208 of these drowned in swimming pools at home. It was later ammended to include the elderly (65 and over) that had medical conditions.

The law establishes definitions, barrier requirements, safety guildlines for home pools, and penalties for failure to comply with the law.

The law and Safety Links

Chapter 515 Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act

The approved drowning prevention publication Consumer Product Safety Commission Publication #362.

Florida Department of Health regulations for distribution of safety material: CHAPTER 64E-21 RESIDENTIAL SWIMMING POOLS last updated 2001.

64E-21.001 Drowning Prevention Education/Public Information Publication.

The educational program required in Section 515.31, F.S., shall be the 1995 American Red Cross Community Water Safety Course which is incorporated by reference and available at a cost from the American Red Cross Chapter located within any Florida County.
Information on drowning prevention and responsibilities of pool ownership is contained in the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission publication Number 362 08/2012 (see link above), Safety Barrier Guidelines for Home Pools which is incorporated by reference and available at no charge from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207.
In accordance with Section 515.33, F.S., the document containing the requirements of this chapter shall be Sections 515.21 through 515.37, F.S., 2000, which are incorporated by reference and available at a cost from the Law Book Services Office, Room 612, 111 West Madison Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1400.

The American Redcross no longer has a link to the 1995 American Red Cross Community Water Safety Course as outlined by the Chapter 64E-21 dated 2001 but the closest Google search offers the result: Swimmer and Water Safety Pdf file.

Now you can put our outstanding reputation for service and reliability to work for you. By contracting First Choice Home Inspection, you benefit from experienced Central Florida home inspectors that deliver computerized reports using the latest technology. Our reporting system meets and exceeds the state standards. We encourage your presence during the inspection. By being present at the inspection, our professional home inspector can familiarize you with the home and explain things to you as they progress through the inspection; we will explain items discovered, point out important maintenance items, and answer all of your questions.

INSPECTORS

First Choice inspectors are bound to a strict code of ethics; this ensures quality service while providing important protections. For example, our inspectors must:

Work Exclusively for the Customer
Follow Nationally Accepted Standards of Practice
Do Not Perform Repairs on Any Property Inspected

Our inspectors are AHIT and InterNachi certified and State of Florida licensed home inspectors in addition, they are experienced and familiar with a wide variety of situations.

We believe that consumers have the right to expect the highest standards of thoroughness, fairness

and effectiveness from their home inspector, and that is exactly what we provide.

Pool Inspection Services in Volusia & Seminole Counties

Deltona Swimming Pool Inspection

Schedule your Pool and Spa Inspection with a Home Inspection and take $50 off the price of the pool inspection.

Florida Swimming Pool Safety Act and Barrier Law

Swimming Pool Inspection by First Choice Home Inspections