I performed the bucket test and found I am losing 1/2 an inch of water a day (15k gallon fiberglass pool). It appears to lose water the most at night after the pump is off (added water in the morning and did not notice any water loss in the evening). From search of previous threads, I may be losing water from a leak at the skimmer? Below are pictures I took near the basket. It appears the old seal has deteriorated and even missing in some areas. Next I turned off the pump. When the water was still, I squirted some red food color near the holes at the edge of the basket missing the seal. Didn't see the food coloring get sucked in. The food coloring just stayed suspended in the water. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.
Trying to source a leak
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Have you tried letting it leak until it stops and see if it stops at the bottom of the skimmer?
Does it lose the same amount of water no mater if the pump is running or not?
May try plugging all plumbing lines in the pool to make sure it's not the plumbing. ( skimmers, returns, vac lines)
What type of filter do you have?
Have you checked the light niche?
May try plugging all plumbing lines in the pool to make sure it's not the plumbing. ( skimmers, returns, vac lines)
What type of filter do you have?
Have you checked the light niche?
Bama Rambler said:
I have a Pentair IntelliFlo Variable Speed Pump. Do I need to turn off all equipment and just let it leak til below skimmer and observe if water lever continues to leak? Or keep the pump at regular schedule? I'm guessing the pump will shut off once it cannot get prime.
uncfan1573 said:
I have a Pentair Clean and Clear Plus 420 Cartridge Filter.
Safe to shut off the pump for 24hours to check if water lose is the same as pump running half the day?
I will try plugging to test to rule out the plumbing. Have not checked the light niche. How to test that area? Thanks.
Where do you live? What type of weather do you have right now?
You can take the light out by unscrewing the set screw ( should be one single screw in the top middle). And the light will come out. You can put die down in the niche and see if it sucks into the conduit.
You can take the light out by unscrewing the set screw ( should be one single screw in the top middle). And the light will come out. You can put die down in the niche and see if it sucks into the conduit.
Just shut everything off, as long as it's not going to freeze, and let it leak down to the bottom of the skimmer and see if it stops there.
I live in San Jose, California. 60's day and 40's at night. Have lots of trees so evaporation is (I think) negligible. I'll try shutting down everything and test the light conduit. Thanks.
You will be fine to turn it off. I would also plug the plumbing to see if it leaks. If it dosent leAk tonight. Maybe unplug the skimmer and see if it leaks.
No winterizing plugs at Leslies...have to wait a few days for plugs to come in the mail...
That ring around the inside of the skimmer is just hold the basket, I have seen the skimmer structure cracked behind them but its rare.