Pool problems

Surface and liner. A liner that tears or a plaster surface that roughens is not a builder failure — it is the material reaching its service life. Thursday Pools' intervals are the yardstick: liners at 5–15 years, concrete resurfacing at 10–15 years, acid washing every 3–5 years at $300–$1,000. If a contractor tells you a five-year-old liner is a warranty defect, ask them to show you the warranty document rather than describing it.

Equipment. Pumps, filters and heaters are the routine repair calls. Before replacing a pump like-for-like, look at an ENERGY STAR certified variable-speed model: about 20% less energy for inground pumps, roughly $50 a year and up to $290 over its lifetime, paying for itself in under two years.

Safety hardware. This is the problem people ignore. CPSC calls a gate that fails to close and latch completely the weak link in even the strongest, highest fence. Self-closing hinges, latches and door alarms wear out silently. Test them monthly and fix them the day they fail.

How to choose

Separate scheduled work from defects

Resurfacing and liner replacement are expected on Thursday Pools' published intervals. Knowing which is which stops you from paying for a 'repair' that was always coming.

Get two diagnoses on anything expensive

Leak detection and structural cracking in particular attract very different recommendations. A second opinion on a $10,000 job is cheap.

Fix barrier faults first, always

A broken latch is a higher priority than a cloudy pool. CPSC's guidance is explicit that the gate is the weak point in any barrier.

Upgrade rather than replace a failed pump

ENERGY STAR puts variable-speed payback at under two years, so a forced replacement is the right moment to switch.

Document everything with photos and dates

If a dispute goes anywhere, dated photographs and written scopes are what settle it.