Discount Swimming Pool Supply

How to look for a leak in my swimming pool

Page history last edited by Gina 2 yrs ago

Pool Leaks

If you routinely need to add more than two inch of water to your pool per week, you may have a leak.Your pool will lose some water naturally to evaporation, some to splash out and some tobackwashing you filter.

Check the obvious first:

Are there any leaks at the equipment pad? Look closely at the filter, pump, heater and the pipe valves. Check the ground for moisture. Are there any wet areas around the pool? Walk around the pool, and by the pool and the equipment. Check for wet soil and sunken or eroding areas. Do you have a vinyl liner pool? Look for tears or separations around all the fittings, skimmers, returns, cleaner line, lights, steps and the corners.

Checking to see if you have a leak:

If you suspect your pool is leaking, there are several ways to check. Try one of these approaches:

Mark the water level of the pool at the skimmer. Useing a peice of tape or grease pencil to mark the water level . Check the mark 24 hours later. Your pool should lose no more than 1/4 inch per day. Otherwise, a leak is indicated.

The bucket test: Place a bucket filled with pool water on a pool step (weight it with a rock or brick). Mark the water level on both the inside and the outside of the bucket. Make sure the water levels are the same inside the bucket as the pool water level outside the bucket. Check the mark 24 hours later. If there's a greater drop in the line on the outside of the bucket, a leak in the pool is indicated. This test needs to be conducted with the pump on, then again with the pump off.

Determining the Location of the Leak:

If you determine that your pool is losing water, turn off the filtration system and note where the water stops dropping. Vinyl Liner pools need to have water in them at all times! Stop this test if you have a liner pool and the water level is dropping rapidly. Start adding water and call a pool professional.

If the water stops at the bottom of skimmer opening, the leak is probably in the skimmer or filtration system (Including the pipes).
If the water stops at the light, the leak is probably at the light housing.
If the water drops below the light, then there may be a leak in the drain at the bottom the pool.

If you suspect you have a leak in the filtration system:

If you see air bubbles in the return lines water when the pool's pump is running, there's a leak in the suction side of the filtration system.

Is the pump basket lid on tight?

Is the lid o-ring lubed and in good condition?

If the pool is losing more water while the pump is running, the leak is on the return line side of the system.

Check the waste or backwash line for running water?

If you suspect you have a leak in the Skimmer, light, liner:

If you see something that looks like a crack,gap or tear.

Using a dye test solution or some of your pH indicator test reagent, drop near it with pump shut off and water still. See if the dye is sucked into the crack,gap or tear.

Fixing leaks:

Skimmer Leaks

The most common leak is a separation between the plastic skimmer and the concrete pool. This is easily fixed with pool putty.

Light Leaks

Often the conduit pipe will come apart, break or separate from the niche. This is difficult to patch. There are various methods to patch a bad conduit connection. A two part epoxy that dries hard, with putty, silicone or caulk are ways to fix this problem.

Liner Leaks

Simply, patch it with a vinyl liner patch kit. If underwater, wet patch kit

Many leaks are not detectable using the suggestions above. Now it's time to call a proffesional!

Thanks to state-of-the-art technology, most pool or spa leaks can be found and repaired without major disruption. Some of the methods used are:

Compressed air is used to pressurize a pipe. The air displaces the water in the pipe until it reaches the leak, at which point bubbles escape from the hole to reveal the problem area. Or, where a pipe fails to maintain a constant air pressure, a leak exists.
Special television camera that is snaked through plumbing pipes to spot leaks.
By injecting air into a pipe, then listening electronically for sounds of air escaping with a supersensitive microphone.

You should expect to pay about $175 to $250 for high-tech leak detection, depending upon the location and complexity of the problem. Repairs are extra.

This article courtesy of www.everything4pools.com

If you can't repair the problem yourself, contact a local pool professional for assistance.