If so, are there any suggestions on the best way to get it fixed without spending a fortune? My pool is losing about 100 gallons a day, and nothing visible (above ground) is leaking. It's more than we've seen before with evaporation, and it hasn't slowed down with cooler weather. I'll probably have to hire someone to dig up the concrete patio and track down the leaking pipe(s)--that seems like it could be expensive.
There are companies that have listening devices that find leaks under slabs. I’m not sure if their instruments can find a leak under ground. It has to be relatively quiet while they search so the sound of the pool motor may interfere with them. Sleuth is one company. Google leak detection and call a couple companies in your area. The cost is around 300 dollars a trip.
It's not necessarily an underground pipe, could be the pool itself has a crack or a leak where the skimmer or return meets.
My pool leaks at the skimmer box. Or, at least it did. Pool is currently drained, and new skimmer is being installed tomorrow. Well, that and a new light, drain, plaster, tile, coping, pavers, firepit, etc., lol...
If you are in the Orlando area call Ace Leak Detection. They are the best and very honest. The original builder put my pool in and I have had many leaks over the years. The owner’s name is Billy.
First they will isolate the return pipe that has the leak through a pressure test. Then they will use the sonic equipment to find if it’s under the deck. The sonic equipment does work underground to a certain extent. If it doesn’t they will dig from your pump toward the pool to find it.
yep. I’ve seen them use air pressure in the line or just water pressure. Those companies are pretty good at it. Like other posters have said it can be at the light or skimmer.
Another thing that you can do before the service is try to determine if your pool leaks more when the pump is running. Cut the power to your pump for a day and see if you lose the same or less. A leak in a pipe will lose a lot more water when the pump is running. A leak in the shell (returns, skimmer, light) will be more consistent whether your pump is on or not.
Not sure where you live but it’s about $250 to find the leak in South Florida. Mine was at the skimmer and leaked like crazy. They just epoxied it for now. Worked well but it’s temporary. I’m planning on upgrading the pool anyway so I’ll have a more permanent fix done then.
Well, it is one method of fixing a leak. In reality, we were pretty lucky. Cracks in the skimmer box were high enough that it only leaked when the water level was high. So kind of an automatic overflow feature. It's been patched with epoxy a few times over the years, but that's a temporary fix at best. We've been in the house 8+ years, and the pool is much older than that. Previous owner probably redid the plaster ~15 years ago, and I suspect the skimmer was original to the house (late 80s construction). Time for some updating... Not quite, but not too far off. In addition to the pool, we redid the old paver driveway, added a walking path around to the backyard, we're expanding the pool deck, adding some more hardscape features, landscape lighting. Just happy to have it all moving now, we ordered pavers back in February and it's been this backed up.
The leak is very consistent with the pump on or off--about 1/5 of an inch per day, which is 100 gallons. I tried plugging various openings, and I think I was successful with the returns, but maybe not with the bottom pipe on the skimmers. The pool is 24 years old, so some cracking is probably to be expected.
I took the light out when I replaced the liner a few years ago. There was actually an incident in California where a swimmer was electrocuted in the pool from the light fixture, which shorted out. So I felt a little safer after taking out the pool light. Now I just have to worry about drowning or bashing my head on concrete. Can a Pool Light Electrocute You? | House Caravan Aging Pool Light In Need Of Repair Electrocuted Young Girl
They absolutely can. My water bill was going through the roof and I couldn't find a leak anywhere. Called a leak detector company and they found a broken pipe between the street and my building. A tree root had grown over the pipe 3 feet down and the pressure cracked it.
Pool lights operate on 24V. Not enough to electrocute someone. Never heard of anyone having 110v power in a pool. Do note the 24v transformers that run your lights.
Pool leaks occur at the scuppers or surface cracks in the pool finish. Tree roots are a major cause of drain line leaks. A camera run down those lines will find the culprit. A putty is available to seal underwater cracks and is very easy to apply.
