When a Pool Is a Lawsuit Waiting to Happen

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What happens when you walk onto a commercial pool deck expecting to provide a service quote... and instead discover a facility that should probably be closed?

In this episode of Insurance Interlude, Steve Sherwood and Pat Grignon tackle one of the toughest situations a commercial pool professional can face: discovering serious code violations before you've even signed a contract.

Steve shares a recent experience inspecting several HOA pools where years of neglected maintenance, questionable repairs, missing safety equipment, incomplete service logs, and improper chemical handling created significant liability concerns. The discussion quickly shifts from "Should I take this account?" to "How do I protect myself if something happens before I'm hired?"

Whether you're servicing residential pools, managing commercial facilities, or growing your business, this episode is packed with practical advice on inspections, documentation, contracts, liability, and protecting both your customers and your company.

In This Episode

•  Why some commercial pools should never remain open until deficiencies are corrected 
•  The importance of documenting serious safety violations immediately 
•  When a service estimate becomes a potential liability issue 
•  Improper plumbing repairs that violate code 
•  Missing flow meters, bonding, grounding, and neglected maintenance records 
•  Why incomplete service logs can become evidence in litigation 
•  Chemical storage mistakes that can create OSHA and HazMat nightmares 
•  The importance of secondary containment for liquid chemicals 
•  Understanding the gap between inspections and signed service contracts 
•  What happens when another company is still responsible for the pool 
•  Residential versus commercial liability differences 
•  How contract renewals and expired agreements can affect legal exposure 
•  Why documentation is one of the best forms of risk management 
•  The importance of educating prospective clients—even if they never hire you 
•  Knowing when to walk away from a problematic customer

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