07. Hazard #1
Pool safety is top priority.
We have a pool.
We have kids.
We have a problem.
Making the pool safe was our top priority when we moved in. We needed a motorized, retractable safety cover. We wanted to make the pool water non-toxic. We wished we could fix the pool heater and make the pool and its surroundings more aesthetically pleasing. By the end of the summer 2022, we got to two out of the three.
Pool Law Requirements
A pool barrier — either a fence or a cover — is required by Washington State law.
A barrier, such as a fence that is at least 4 feet high, must surround the pool or spa. The gate or door must be self-closing and self-latching with the latch out of a child's reach. If the house serves as one side of the barrier, there must be an alarm on doors that have direct access to the pool.
A power safety pool cover or safety cover for spas is another barrier option. The safety cover must meet ASTM standard F1346-91. If the safety cover meets standards, additional barriers, such as fencing, may be optional - check with your local city or county building department.
Pool Cover Details
We opted to go for the pool cover. We may still add the fence, later; not only would that provide extra safety, but also help keep a future puppy in an enclosed space.
Specifications
We chose Cover Care and the price installed was about $11K and we saved $450 by reusing the old fiberglass covers (the white dog houses at both sides of the roll). With a new pool, you can integrate a pool cover track at the edge of the pool and recess the housing below the pool deck. With an existing pool, both the track and housing have to be deck mounted. It is not ideal from an aesthetics point of view, but it does the job of keeping kids safe. In the future, I would like to design a housing cover for the motor and roll, plus add raised decking around the pool to conceal the track.
Hazard number one is now under control. Our next step is hazard number two — a leaky roof.