La Quinta, CA Pool Inspection and Leak Detection

Swimming Pool Inspection Services determines the cause of a leak and general damage to a La Quinta, CA swimming pool.

Pool Inspection in La Quinta, CA

After two contractors had been called out and given two different causes of damage to a La Quinta, CA swimming pool, Swimming Pool Inspection Services was called out to determine once and for all what caused the general damage to the pool in question.

Our inspector visited the property. The insured was not available for an interview with our inspector and did not provide any background information on the pool.

Inspector’s Observations

Our inspector visited the pool and performed a thorough inspection of the swimming pool and the surrounding areas, and made the following observations:

• The pool was 15’x34’, 95’ and 3’-8’ in depth.
• The pool was made to hold approximately 18,935 gallons of water.
• The pool plaster was in fair condition overall.
• The water level was low, exposing part of the pool plaster to the air and elements.
• The pool tile was in fair condition. There were some minor cracks in the tile and calcium build-up at the water line.
• The skimmer was damaged and cracked at the throat.
• The skimmer door was broken off and the diverter valve was missing.
• There was a broken pipe in the equipment pit.
• The manual water fill line was working properly.

The pool pump turned on, but our inspector could not test it fully due to the low water level in the pool. Visual inspection showed the filter to be in fine condition; however, without the water circulating, our inspector could not test the filter for leaks. In addition, our inspector could not test the pool light, as he was unable to locate the switch and the insured was not present to provide any additional information.

Analysis of Pool Damage

Our inspector noted that while it was hard to pinpoint when the damage occurred, the leak was not fresh and had likely been present for several weeks, which led to the pool losing water.

Cause of Loss in La Quinta, CA Pool

Our inspector made the following determinations regarding the damaged swimming pool:

• The pool’s condition was caused by lack of maintenance over time.
• The damage to the skimmer was caused by blockage (e.g., debris such as a palm frond).
• The damage to the pipe was caused by accumulated debris not being removed. The debris put too much stress on the pipe and caused it to break.

It should also be noted that when swimming pool plaster is allowed to dry out in the sun, it cracks and has to be re-stuccoed. While it is possible to only re-stucco the portion of the plaster that has dried out, most contractors will not replaster only one portion of a pool due to potential leaks and liability concerns, and will insist on replastering the entire pool, which can drive up the repair costs.