Pool Leak Detection
In Depth Guide to finding a pool leak.
It’s hard to keep water in a pool. Every swimming pool, spa, or landscape pond is probably going to start leaking at some point in its useful life. These pesky problems can be more than just an inconvenience. An un-repaired hole the size of a pencil tip can result in hundreds of gallons of water lost per day. In addition to the replacement cost of the water, a swimming pool leak will increase chemical demands, and may lead to more serious structural and mechanical problems. Fortunately, effective leak location and leak repair solutions are available.
To prepare your swimming pool for leak detection and repair service, please have your swimming pool clear and clean so we can find your pool leak. Pool Leaks as large as 1″ in diameter could be missed until the dirt covering the leak is vacuumed or brushed away.
Make sure the water is clean and not green. If it is green, the water may contain molds, fungus, larvae or other contaminants that could make you sick, besides making it almost impossible to test.
Information we need before you can schedule your your professional swimming pool leak repair:
- Is it a pool only or does it include a spa?
- Is the pool equipment above or below ground?
- How many pumps are there?
- Is the pool constructed of fiberglass, gunite, marcite or vinyl?
- How many skimmers are there?
- Does the pool leak more with the filter on or with it off?
- Are there any pool fittings in the floor of the pool other than the main drain?
- How much swimming pool water leaks out of the pool in a 24-hour period?
Signs you have a swimming pool leak:
- Swimming Pool leaks more water than regular evaporation (about 1/4 inch)
- Pool has air in the plumbing system.
- Equipment / pool pump loses prime and is hard to prime.
- You see cracks and settling in your pool deck and the pool deck is sinking or lifting.
- There are soggy spots around the pool
Pool leak symptoms resulting from water loss
By far the most common indication of a leak is that the water level is dropping faster than what is normally attributable to evaporation or splash-out. Often leaks are big enough that excess water loss is obvious. If you wake-up to find that your pool has dropped several inches overnight you know you’ve got a problem. The bigger challenges are the smaller, yet just as serious, leaks that may develop slowly. In these cases it is important to determine what is “normal water loss” and thus avoid wasting time looking for and worrying about a leak that really isn’t there. Here are some tips on how to find pool leak A simple way to account for evaporation and confirm a leak is to do a Bucket Test, or for more accurate results to purchase and use a Check-A-Leak System.
If you have an automatic fill device on your pool a dropping water level may not be evident; high water bills may be the first indication of a leak problem. You may also notice an increase in the chemicals required to maintain proper balance, or that there is excess algae growth because the new water that’s being put into the pool is untreated.
Other pool leak symptoms may be actual evidence of the water that has escaped from your pool. Wet, mushy, or unusually “healthy” spots in the lawn may be evidence of underground plumbing leaks. Structural damage, cracks, and settling to the deck or pool may also be indications of underground leaks. If left un-repaired, these problems can quickly become more serious.
Air in the pump or blowing into the pool:
A pool leak in the suction side plumbing (from skimmers and main drains to equipment), may pull air into the plumbing lines that will show up in the pump or be blown back into the pool through the returns. Air leaks such as this can be just as damaging to your pool even though you may never notice symptoms of water loss. Evidence of air in the system can also be caused by a blockage or obstruction in the suction lines. Either situation will require professional attention to avoid causing mechanical damage to your pool equipment.
Finding and fixing your leak is the next step:
Once you know you have a pool leak it’s time for action. The longer a leaking pipe, liner or pool shell is left un-repaired the more costly the eventual fix will be. You have options, some pool leaks can be easy to find and fix yourself. In most cases however a qualified, and experienced pool leak professional using sophisticated electronic equipment will be able to provide more efficient and effective pool leak location and pool leak repair solutions that get you back into the water quickly.
For a more detailed description of the pool leak detection process, view our How To Find Pool Leaks article.
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