My pool gate closes but doesn't always latch. Is that a problem?

Yes. The law says it has to close and latch by itself every time. Usually the closer is weak or the latch is out of line, and both are often quick fixes.

Who checks pool gates?

Usually nobody. Most Valley cities require the barrier when the pool is built and don't inspect again. That's why it's worth checking yours.

Pool Gates and Barrier Law in Phoenix

A gate that won't close on its own, brought up to pool-safety rules.

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Arizona ROC #366903 · Licensed, Bonded & Insured

Pool gates have a second job: they're the barrier between a child and the water, and Arizona law says exactly how they have to work. We set a pool gate up so it closes and latches on its own, and so the latch isn't too low.

Pool gates: the rules

Arizona law (A.R.S. 36-1681) and many cities' own pool ordinances set the rules for a gate into a pool area. A pool-area gate has to:

Open outward, away from the pool
Close by itself and latch by itself
Keep its latch out of a small child's reach, at least 54 inches above the ground or otherwise out of reach from outside the gate

A pool gate that doesn't swing shut and latch every time, from any open position, is a safety problem. The cause is usually a hinge that needs adjusting, a closer that has worn out, or a latch that has drifted out of line.

Fixing a pool gate

Self-closing hinges and a gate closer get replaced when they're worn. The gate gets adjusted so it swings shut from any position, including barely open, which is the position that catches most gates. The latch gets set so it catches reliably, at the required height, with the release on the pool side. Then the gate gets tested from a dozen positions. A gate that passes eleven out of twelve isn't done.

Pool fences, iron or mesh, get checked at the same time for gaps a child could get through, and the fence gets repaired where it's bent or missing pickets.

Problems we fix on this page

Pool gate doesn't close by itself
Pool gate doesn't latch every time
Pool gate latch too low
Pool gate opens toward the pool
Pool fence has gaps
Want self-closing hinges
Want pool fence repaired before selling

How it starts

Send a photo of the gate closed and one of the hinges. For a pool gate, tell us whether it closes and latches on its own. You get one price for the job before we start. Levi is on site, and we stand behind the work for a year.

Questions

My pool gate closes but doesn't always latch. Is that a problem?: Yes. The law says it has to close and latch by itself every time. Usually the closer is weak or the latch is out of line, and both are often quick fixes.
Who checks pool gates?: Usually nobody. Most Valley cities require the barrier when the pool is built and don't inspect again. That's why it's worth checking yours.

Ready to get it fixed?

Tell us what needs doing. Quotes are free. We usually reply within minutes, and always within 24 hours.