If my pool fills up more than halfway above the weir door, the water level recedes back to the middle of the weir door with in12 hours. Is this a leak or normal? It is a kidney shaped, in-ground pool.
Water Level
- Thread starter JustinG.
- Start date
It's hard to say without knowing more. Do you have an auto-drain? DO you have an auto-fill? Does the water drop below the middle of the weir door if you don't add water?
No. It drops about an inch a week when its about halfway up the weir door, but that's normal here in Florida during this time of year from what I'm told.
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No to all your question.
You may have a crack in the skimmer housing or some place else that when the water reaches it, it drains out. An inch a week with no auto-fill is like you said, normal. As long as the water doesn’t drain rapidly past the halfway mark on the weir door, I wouldn’t drive yourself nuts trying to find it.
Having said that, it wouldn’t hurt to check the easy places first.
~Rob
Having said that, it wouldn’t hurt to check the easy places first.
~Rob
- Nov 12, 2017
- 11,846
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
That's exactly what an overflow system would do. Are you sure you don't have one? It could be a simple hole in the tile. Or a small grate. Mine is in my auto-fill canister, under a cover that is next to my skimmer cover. Kind'a hidden. I didn't know what it was, at first.
Has the pool always done this? Or is it something that started up recently?
Has the pool always done this? Or is it something that started up recently?
- Nov 12, 2017
- 11,846
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Respectfully, I would hunt it down. While a leak acting like an overflow preventer sounds like it's doing you a favor, it depends on where it's leaking to. Depending on the soil and other considerations, water getting behind the shell of an IG pool can cause all kinds of issues. If it's not actually an overflow system, you need to find and fix the leak...
I have a small grate on the pool wall, but it is always under water. Does it open when a certain level is reached?
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thank you
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Thank you
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thank you
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Thank you
- Nov 12, 2017
- 11,846
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
The way my overflow works: the inlet for it is well under water. The outlet for it is above the normal water line. When the pool fills up, the water level equalizes between the inlet and the outlet, and the excess water flows out of the outlet, safely away from the pool. This set up is superior to just having the grate (or hole) in the side of the pool at the water line, because the height of the outlet could be adjusted, by trimming or extending the outlet pipe, something a permanent grate or hole at the water line could not do. I'm in another thread here where the waterline grate is getting clogged with leaves, which is another plus for having it underwater, like yours.
So... that grate could be a lot of things, but it could also be leading to your overflow system. You need to find the other end to verify that. Wait until the water is over the half way point on your skimmer, or maybe even have someone hold a running hose to it, sealed up to the grate as much as possible, and see if you can walk around your yard to find where it's coming out. You could just start filling your pool until it's overflowing, but that might take a lot of water.
I doubt it connects to your sewer system. But it might be coming out in front of your house, into the gutter or street. It could be anywhere...
So... that grate could be a lot of things, but it could also be leading to your overflow system. You need to find the other end to verify that. Wait until the water is over the half way point on your skimmer, or maybe even have someone hold a running hose to it, sealed up to the grate as much as possible, and see if you can walk around your yard to find where it's coming out. You could just start filling your pool until it's overflowing, but that might take a lot of water.
I doubt it connects to your sewer system. But it might be coming out in front of your house, into the gutter or street. It could be anywhere...
- Nov 12, 2017
- 11,846
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Do you have any mystery covers in your deck? Similar to, or maybe smaller than, your skimmer cover? It might be screwed down. Or some other access-type cover? It would likely be straight out from the grate.
- Nov 12, 2017
- 11,846
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Oh I hear you and agree, hence my....
in my response.
Right-o, I just didn't want the OP to leave here without understanding the potential risk of putting this off... No matter, I think he's got an overflow system and just hasn't found it yet...
Yup yup. I know most pools in Florida do have some sort of overflow due to the heavy rains they get down there. It usually drains off to a dry well or sandy soil area of the backyard.
I used to live in Tampa, and that’s how the house I was renting had it set-up.
I used to live in Tampa, and that’s how the house I was renting had it set-up.
- Nov 12, 2017
- 11,846
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
I was chatting with a guy that was doing a new build in Florida, but with no autofill. Something about how much it rains. I have the PoolMiser, that handles both fill and drain, without me having to give it a thought. Why anyone would build a new pool without one, no matter where they lived, is beyond me... Sounds like the OP doesn't have auto-fill. Does it rain so much there that you all never have to put a hose in your pool?
No spillover on mine, just auto fill. We get so little rain here in AZ, that there’s no reason for one. But in Florida, oh they get rain for an hour or so everyday through the summer months. (Depending on where in Florida)
- Nov 12, 2017
- 11,846
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
So how else could the OP hunt down the other end of his spillover? Mine is obvious. It's right by the inlet, then runs on to the sump in my yard that collects all the excess rain and drainage. I can hear when the pool is spilling into it.
He needs a water-beetle cam!
He needs a water-beetle cam!
Yeah a scope, or if it was me, I’d toss the hose in the pool and start filling it, then wait a bit then start walking around the yard. You might get lucky and find a squishy spot in the turf, if it’s not a visible out pipe.
- Nov 12, 2017
- 11,846
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Yep, that's all I came up with, too. Get water flowing through it, however, and go look for water pumping into his yard somewhere...
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