Diamond Bar, CA Pool Inspector Finds that Draining Pool After a Fire Caused Damage

Landscaping Inspection Services was called out to inspect a landscaping in Diamond Bar, CA that had been drained for an extended period of time, following a house fire. The homeowner drained the pool because there was no power running to the pool pump and filter system. However, leaving the pool empty for an extensive amount of time resulted in additional damage to the plaster of the pool.

Our inspector spoke with the public adjuster at the property who explained that a fire in the air conditioning unit spread to the house, with visible fire damage to the pool heater unit. After the fire, power to the house was turned off, and the homeowner mistakenly thought the best of course of action was to drain the pool until power was restored.

Diamond Bard, CA Inspection: Observations and Analysis

Our inspector visited the property in question and made the following observations:

• The pool was mostly empty, with about a foot of water in the pool and spa
• The plaster had fine cracks and discoloration and looked to be about 10 years old
• There were missing tiles and grout was missing between some of the tiles
• By visual inspection, the equipment looked to be in good condition except for the heater, which had fire damage to the outside rear and top
• The two top steps had top-layer (butter) damage from a floating chemical feeder in the pool

The inspector noted that while some of the cracking in the plaster was from normal wear and tear, draining the pool, especially in a dry climate such as Diamond Bar, CA, could dry the plaster out in less than a week. He determined that the pool being drained caused the majority of the damage. The algae that develops in the pool when there is not pump system running will not damage the plaster, and can be removed with an acid wash. In this case, however, the plaster would need to be replaced, which is a sizeable expense.

Cause of Loss and Repair Estimates for Diamond Bar, CA Pool

Our inspector could not determine if the equipment was working because there was no power to the house, though it did appear to be in working condition. However, the heating system would need to be replaced due to damage from the fire. This was estimated to cost $3,300.