Saratoga Pool Inspections
Puddle Pool Services inspects pools and spas in Saratoga, Los Gatos, Campbell, Mountain View and Los Altos for home buyers, sellers and owners. Each inspection covers the safety features, a visual check of the structure and liner or surface, the equipment and the water system. You get a plain account of the pool’s condition and anything that needs attention.
- Inspect safety features
- Confirm condition and functionality
- Highly trained and insured technicians
- Visual inspections of structures and liner
- Testing of water systems
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Buying, selling or just checking
A pool can be one of the most expensive features on a property and one of the least examined. Buyers book an inspection to learn what they are taking on. Sellers book one to find and fix issues before a buyer's inspector turns them into bargaining points and a clean result reassures buyers who are wary of pools. Owners book one when something seems off with the water or the equipment. A general home inspection often gives the pool a quick glance at most. A pool inspection is dedicated to the structure, the surface, the equipment and the water system, which is where costly surprises usually sit. A hot tub or spa can be inspected with the pool or on its own.
What the inspection covers
Safety is the starting point: the barrier around the pool, its gates and latches plus any covers or alarms. Next comes a visual inspection of the structure and the liner or surface, looking for cracks, wear and damage. The equipment is run to confirm the pump, filter and heater do their jobs and the water system is tested. Signs of leaks, such as falling water, wet patches or equipment trouble, are noted along the way and if a leak looks likely, dedicated leak detection testing can confirm it and pinpoint the source. Afterwards you get an explanation of the findings and what they mean. Where repairs are needed, we can quote them so you know the scale of any issue before you decide.
Fence rules differ from city to city
Each city around Saratoga writes its own barrier standard and an older fence may not meet the one that applies today:
- Los Gatos: a fence, wall, hedge or structure at least five feet high enclosing the pool or spa, openings no larger than four inches, gate latches at least three and one half feet above the deck and the bottom within four inches of grade (Town Code 29.10.09020(g))
- Los Altos: an enclosure at least five feet high for private pools deeper than 24 inches, with gate latches at least four feet nine inches above the ground (Municipal Code 14.72.050)
- Campbell: a fence or barrier at least 60 inches high around private pools, hot tubs and spas holding more than 24 inches of water (Municipal Code 18.20.020)
- Mountain View: the pool secured by fencing or building walls to prevent uncontrolled access by children (City Code 36.12.55(d))
- Saratoga: pool fences follow the California Building Code and City Code 15-29.020(e)
Ask the local building department about your own property before changing a fence.
What counts as a pool
Definitions decide which rules apply and they are not the same everywhere. California's Health and Safety Code 115921 treats any structure for swimming or recreational bathing holding more than 18 inches of water as a pool, hot tubs and portable spas included. Saratoga's zoning code, Section 15-06.690, defines a swimming pool as a pool, pond, open tank or tub able to hold water two feet deep at any point. Los Altos applies its enclosure rule to private pools deeper than 24 inches, wading pools and fish ponds included and Campbell's barrier rule covers pools, hot tubs and spas holding more than 24 inches. A deep pond or a large spa can therefore fall under pool rules in one city and not in the next, which is worth checking before you buy.
Final inspections and new pools
Buyers of a recently built pool should know how it was signed off. Campbell's code, Section 18.24.060, says the final inspection of a new pool cannot be made until the pool is complete, filled and the filter system is operating. Los Altos withholds final inspection of a new pool until its enclosure rule is met. Under state law, HSC 115922 requires at least two of seven drowning prevention features when a permit is issued for a new or remodeled pool at a single family home and the local building official inspects them before final approval. Los Gatos lets the Building Official decide requests for exceptions from its pool enclosure requirements under Section 29.20.720. Asking the seller for permit records alongside our inspection gives you the fuller picture.
Saratoga Pool Inspections: Frequently Asked Questions
What does Saratoga count as a swimming pool?
Saratoga's zoning code, Section 15-06.690, defines a swimming pool as a pool, pond, open tank or tub able to hold water two feet deep at any point. That definition can reach a deep pond or a large tub as well as a conventional pool. If you are buying or changing a property with one of these, check with the City which rules apply.
Do apartment and community pools in Saratoga follow the same safety law as home pools?
Not the same article. Health and Safety Code 115925 says the state's Swimming Pool Safety Act article does not apply to public pools or to apartment complexes and residential settings other than single family homes. Shared and commercial pools are regulated separately, with requirements that vary by authority, so confirm what applies to your facility with your local authority.
Which Saratoga neighborhoods do you cover?
We look after pools across Saratoga, including Saratoga Village, Saratoga Oaks, Fruitvale Avenue Corridor, The Golden Triangle, Saratoga Woods and Bellgrove Circle and Kentfield. The full list of areas is on our Saratoga page. If you do not see yours, get in touch and we will confirm.
Can you inspect a hot tub or spa at the same time?
Yes. Spas and hot tubs can be inspected alongside the pool or on their own, which is useful when a property has both.
Is an inspection useful if I am selling my home?
It can be. Knowing the condition of the pool before listing lets you repair issues on your own terms, and a clean inspection gives buyers confidence in a feature that otherwise makes some of them nervous.
Watch what we do
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Residential Services
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Commercial Services
Areas we serve
- Mountain View
- Los Gatos
- Los Altos
- Campbell
Where you can find us
Talk to us
So Why Puddle for Pool Inspections in Saratoga?
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Transparent Pricing
That’s Right. No Hidden Prices. Up Front and Straight Forward Pricing.
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E-Reports
Your Service Sent in an E-Report, in Real Time. What Was Done, What Chemicals Were Used, What Your Levels Are At etc. All With Before & After Pictures, Time Stamped In and Time Stamped Out.
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Happy Snappy Techs
Fully uniformed, CPO certified technicians in fully wrapped vehicles, so you always know who is at your gate and that your pool is in trained hands.
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