Keeping the pool looking good in winter

Seeing cracks appear in pavement over time is something everyone has gone through, and in most cases, it's not a big deal as long as the pavement pieces aren't rising up and creating a trip hazard. However, cracks in the pavement around a spa and pool are a different matter. While they could still be minor, you need to be sure as the cracks could signal something wrong with the spa, and not just the surface pavement. 

They Do Need Immediate Attention to Determine the Cause

If you're noticing cracks in the pavement and cement immediately surrounding the spa, have them inspected immediately. They could simply be from age or—if your area recently had very cold weather—frost heave or soil settling. But you want to be sure none of that affected the spa, and you need to be sure that whatever caused the cracks is not due to the spa itself. Just as an example, let's say the spa was not seated properly in the ground when it was installed, and the soil settled and caused the entire unit to shift ever so slightly—but enough to crack the pavement around it. That small crack may be the only clue you have that something else is going on that needs repair.

Inspect for Cracks in the Spa Liner, Too

When you see those cracks around the spa, you'll want the spa liner inspected, too. Let's say the crack in the pavement next to the spa was due to frost heave. Did that same freezing and thawing of moisture in the ground cause the spa itself to shift, leading to a tiny crack in the spa that is allowing water to drip out ever so slowly? If it is, you want to know now so you can fix it now.

To clarify, if you find a tiny chip on the surface of a concrete tile next to your pool or spa, that's likely just a chip. But if the entire slab or tile appears cracked, and you don't think anything heavy was dropped there, then you need to find out what caused the crack so you can take action to prevent that cause from affecting your pool or spa.

Have the Spa Plumbing Checked as Well

It wouldn't hurt to ask the spa repair person to look over the plumbing connected to the spa or pool, too. This is to ensure connections are stable and pipes are not leaking. Little, slow drips don't always cause the water level in a spa to drop immediately, meaning a leak can go on for a long time before you notice. If something has cracked an entire tile or slab of pavement all the way through next to your pool or spa, checking over the plumbing and drains is a good preventive measure to take.

Reach out to a spa repair contractor to learn more.