Leak if there is no bubbles?

[nemeth8]

Good morning, I think I have a leak in my skimmer line (or some intake line). My pool loses water faster than it should, but if I run the pool longer than normal, it goes down quicker. That leads me to think there is a crack in the intake line. But there are zero bubbles coming out of the return lines?

I am losing about an inch a day with a 10k pool. I have done the humidity test as well. I have been suspicious of a small leak for a year now... but have been able to living with it and adding water once or so a week.

So my question is, wouldn't there have to be bubbles if there was a crack or am I confused (happens a lot)? Also, any other theories to what could be causing my loss in water?

Thanks,

 

[Bama Rambler]

Have you performed the bucket test with the pump both on and off?

Normally if the leak is on the suction side you will have bubbles in the pump basket and you will usually lose more water with the pump off than on. However with a leak on the return side, there won't be any bubbles and you'll lose water faster with the pump on than with it off.

From your description, you could have a shell leak or a return line(s) leak.

 

[nemeth8]

Have you performed the bucket test with the pump both on and off?

Normally if the leak is on the suction side you will have bubbles in the pump basket and you will usually lose more water with the pump off than on. However with a leak on the return side, there won't be any bubbles and you'll lose water faster with the pump on than with it off.

From your description, you could have a shell leak or a return line(s) leak.

ahhhhh.... that makes sense. I think I will redo the bucket test again with pump on and off like you suggested. Are there any tests for return line leaks?

 

[Bama Rambler]

The easiest test is to plug it on both ends (plugging the wall fitting and closing a valve will work) and see if it stops leaking.

Depending on how long your piping is, you could get one of those bore-scopes that attach to your phone and run it in the piping to see if you can find something. they make them pretty long and they're really cheap.

 

[nemeth8]

The easiest test is to plug it on both ends (plugging the wall fitting and closing a valve will work) and see if it stops leaking.

Depending on how long your piping is, you could get one of those bore-scopes that attach to your phone and run it in the piping to see if you can find something. they make them pretty long and they're really cheap.

Makes sense. Thanks for the plan!