Eventually, your pool is likely to need a repair, and if you don't want to be surprised by a large and expensive repair bill, you need to be able to anticipate when your pool is likely to need repairs.

Luckily, there are clues that can guide you. Take a look at these symptoms and a few tips on what to do if they apply to your situation.

1. Your pool hosts a lot of people or encounters a lot of debris.

If a lot of people are constantly using your pool, your filtration system likely works harder than normal. This is also likely true if your pool is surrounded by trees or other items that are likely to release debris into the water.

In these cases, your filter has to work extremely hard to keep your pool clean, and as a result, it may need maintenance more often than recommended by the manufacturer.

Don't wait for your motor to wear out or your filter to get clogged. Instead, prevent issues from starting -- if you know that your filter has to work hard, schedule regular cleanings for it or consider installing a stronger filter to prevent repairs down the road.

2. Your liner has hairline cracks.

If you see hairline cracks in the lining of your pool, don't worry. They don't necessarily herald the fact that your pool has a leak or that your liner needs to be repaired immediately.

However, you should treat them as a warning that your liner will need to be repaired or replaced eventually, and you should start planning and budgeting for that repair.

3. Your don't have enough time to take care of your pool.

Pools, unfortunately, can be a lot of hard work, and if you don't have time to give your pool the attention it needs, it may develop problems. For example, if you don't have time to clean your filters, they may get clogged and damaged, and that could necessitate an expensive repair.

Similarly, if you don't have time to add chlorine on a regular basis, your water may not be clean enough, and in extreme situations, that may cause illnesses.

If you don't have time to take care of your pool, don't wait for it to devolve into a state of disrepair. Instead, hire someone to take care of it, or consider investing in an automated pool. The right automated system can do anything from automatically dispensing chlorine to turning on your underwater lights at nightfall.