Summer in Central Texas means one thing for homeowners with a pool: swim season. And while the instinct is to pull back the cover and jump in the first hot day in June, taking a little time to properly inspect and prepare your pool before that first swim can prevent equipment failures, health hazards, and costly repairs that tend to surface at the worst possible moment.
Whether your pool was covered for the winter, running on a minimal maintenance schedule, or fully closed, here is a comprehensive checklist for getting it safely ready for the season ahead.
Before anything else, test your water chemistry. After months of minimal use, evaporation, rainwater accumulation, and organic debris, your pool chemistry is almost certainly out of balance. An imbalanced pool is not just uncomfortable. It can be genuinely unsafe, and it accelerates the deterioration of your pool’s plaster, vinyl liner, grout, and metal equipment.
The key parameters to test and balance are:
Bring a water sample to a pool supply store for a full analysis if you are unsure about any of these parameters. Getting the chemistry right before opening saves you from chasing problems all season.
With the chemistry in progress, turn your attention to the mechanical systems. Start by inspecting the pump. Listen for unusual noises such as grinding or whining that can indicate bearing wear. Check the pump basket for debris and ensure the lid seal is intact and not brittle or cracked. A failed lid seal introduces air into the system and causes the pump to lose prime.
The filter should be cleaned or backwashed before the season begins regardless of condition. Sand filters should be backwashed until the water in the sight glass runs clear. Cartridge filters should be removed, rinsed, and inspected for tears or collapsed cores. DE filters need to be broken down, cleaned, and re-charged with fresh diatomaceous earth.
Inspect all valves, unions, and fittings in the equipment pad for signs of weeping or active leaks. Winter temperature swings are hard on PVC fittings, and small leaks that went unnoticed during the off-season will become larger problems under the sustained pressure of summer operation.
With the pool refilled and clear, walk the entire perimeter and inspect the surface. Look for:
Surface issues that are caught early are usually straightforward repairs. Left through another season, a small crack in plaster can expand and allow water to migrate behind the shell, leading to far more extensive and expensive structural problems.
Pool safety is not optional, and Texas law is specific about what is required. A residential pool must be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches in height with self-closing, self-latching gates. The drain covers must be compliant with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act to prevent entrapment. Verify that your drain covers are not cracked, missing, or more than 10 years old.
Check that your pool alarm is functional if you have one. Rescue equipment, including a reaching pole and ring buoy, should be accessible and in good condition. If you have a diving board or slide, inspect the mounting hardware, the board or slide surface, and the condition of the anchor points. These components fatigue over time and should be inspected each season before use.
When buyers purchase a home with a pool, a professional home inspection includes a dedicated evaluation of the pool and spa. At Upright Professional Inspections, our pool and spa inspection covers the visible structural components, equipment operation, safety compliance, and the overall condition of the system. We note the approximate age of equipment, any visible deficiencies, and our assessment of what is working properly versus what warrants attention.
A pool represents a significant investment and an ongoing maintenance commitment. Knowing the true condition of the pool before closing is just as important as knowing the condition of the roof or HVAC system. You can view our sample reports to see how pool findings are documented, and check our current prices for pool and spa inspection add-ons.