Help finding and repairing a leak in the lines...

doncaruana

Gold Supporter
Bronze Supporter
LifeTime Supporter
Aug 25, 2011
589
Northville, Mi
Pool Size
15500
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Rented a tent for my daughter's graduation. I had a work call (with my boss' boss) so I wasn't there when they started driving stakes (Friday). Noticed yesterday I probably lost 1.5" of water during the day (with people swimming) and another 1/4" or so overnight (I marked it late last night with pump off). I don't lose water normally (especially not that much!), so, they got a line. The pool was installed 10 years ago so honestly it's difficult to tell exactly where the lines are. But this is where I start to need help...

The pump basket is running tight - no issues pulling water and no air as it's up to the top with just the normal air bubble that the pump lid has there. That part looks great. So I'm kind of thinking they got one of the return lines and not one of the suction side lines or I would be having issues and a lot of air. Is this a rational thought?

I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have got one of the lines from the pump to the filter (filter, heater, and chlorinator are all on a pad about 20 feet away and uphill about 8 feet). The lines run down that hill from the chlorinator on to the pool right through the area where they drove about 4 stakes. (I think they were trying to play Battleship). Based on the condition of the pump, is this a reasonable conclusion?

The ground is still sopping wet all through the area because we had so much rain this week, so I can't really just go by "feel". At least not until some stuff dries out. The lines are only maybe a foot or so underground - is there a better way to find where they got it than waiting for the water to be obvious (I have *no* equipment to test anything)? To that end, the lines are flexible PVC - I'm kind of afraid that whatever they did has the puncture partially sealed and when they pull the stakes I'm going to have a disaster on my hands. Is that an appropriate fear or they just don't work like that?

Also, it's mid-July and finding competent pool repair people is like finding a needle in a haystack right now. I'd have to find someone to help me do the digging even if I can figure out where they got it. But, if I go there, how hard is it to repair flexible PVC? And, for that matter, how reliable are they once they've been repaired?

Thanks all...loving having the second half of my summer ruined, so your help and advice is eagerly anticipated. :(
 
It could be either type of line, since they are buried you won't suck in air. If you have hard packed clay soil you won't even suck in a little dirt. You can do as cowboycasey suggested and dig up the area with the stakes, or you can hire a leak detection company. They used to charge around $300 just to detect the leak, but I don't know if the going rate has changed.
 
I would dig down where they put the stakes and find the pipe they hit.. then you can fix it with a coupler..

I don't think those couplers work for flexible pvc pipe. Finding a couple for these size lines might be a little tough too but I can check.

It could be either type of line, since they are buried you won't suck in air. If you have hard packed clay soil you won't even suck in a little dirt. You can do as cowboycasey suggested and dig up the area with the stakes, or you can hire a leak detection company. They used to charge around $300 just to detect the leak, but I don't know if the going rate has changed.
We have a lot of clay here, but these pipes aren't very deep at all. It's mostly loose soil. Either way, that sadly answers my question. :( I know leak detection is pricey from the last time I called a place and seems kinda unnecessary here - I know it's at the bottom of one of these stake holes. :(
 
flex pipe... that sucks... you may have to dig up about 5 feet, cut right at the hole and install a coupler..


this one would be better as it has longer coupling length

Use this glue..
That looks like standard rigid pvc pipe stuff...will that work?
 
Last edited:
If there's 4 highly suspect spots, and the pipe is only (approx) 1 foot below ground, I'd just dig those 4 up and see what's there. Mark ALL the tent pegs just in case those 4 don't provide answers. Keep digging until you find it.

Andrew
 
If there's 4 highly suspect spots, and the pipe is only (approx) 1 foot below ground, I'd just dig those 4 up and see what's there. Mark ALL the tent pegs just in case those 4 don't provide answers. Keep digging until you find it.

Andrew
That's actually exactly the plan for now (particularly marking all of the tent stakes). :) I'm not physically up for the digging personally, so trying to figure out that part. Not even sure I trust myself to do the repair if I'm being completely honest. But we'll see.
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
any plumber can be hired to do the repair it will just cost more...
The company I had close for me (who are slammed) gave me the number of their "plumber" and another company I've dealt with that I like gave me a quote on the line repair if I can find them the leak (saves on leak detection). I'm leaning toward the line repair ($140) just because they would likely have the equipment/knowledge to make sure everything is working better than the guy who just does the pool plumbing. Seems like he'd just sort of hand it over to the others to make sure it's "pool sound". I'll only try it myself if lead time is too long or situation is too drastic. I have plugs for the returns if I have to shut things down. :( Now that I think about it, I should have done that last night. If I plugged the returns and didn't lose any water, I'd know for sure if it was a return line.
 
Can't even start to dig until tent people remove their stakes so I did some math based on marks I put. I'm losing water about 4-4.5 times as fast with the pump running than I did overnight with it off.

Not sure if the lines where they staked are below the water level so I guess none of that tells me very much. :(
 
After the tent stakes came out, I expected some of the holes to fill up...nothing. So I plugged the two returns and the skimmer overnight and marked the water level. If I lose water overnight, I know for sure it's the main drain because the deck jets are above the water and shut off via diverter valve so it couldn't be that line. If I don't lose water tonight, I'll run it with the skimmer plugged and see if I lose water, which will determine if it's the skimmer line or the return line. If it's the skimmer, I can at least manage it while I get the repair figured out.
 
Still lost about 5/16 of an inch from 12 hours overnight. Pool was at 88 degrees and the weather was about 87 yesterday and then got down to a little below 70 overnight. So it looks like my leak is from the main drain line unfortunately. Wish I could get a good handle on how much of that overnight loss was evaporation, but I'm pretty sure over a quarter inch is too much to write off to evaporation. :(
 
Do a bucket test to see how much loss from evep... :)
Yeah, I was telling my wife about that this morning. :) But that would still be a lot of water to lose overnight just to evaporation so I don't think that's it. But I'll do one tonight anyway I think, just to be sure.
 
You never know.. I can lose 1/2 inch overnight.. slight wind, warm pool, cold front, temp drop and bam, where did all my water go... :)
 
Well we just plugged the returns for a few seconds at a time to create some back pressure expecting water to shoot up a hole. Nope. Had a knowledgeable pool guy out here who seemed pretty convinced it was the main drain unfortunately. :( he didn't charge me so I know he wasn't just fishing. :)
 
many a main drain are now plugged off for that exact reason.... I am specifically not doing one... :)

I run it at like 90% toward the skimmer anyway! I'm going to look into getting in there with some plugs and just plug it off. Lost about 100 gallons overnight, so that's 200 a day. Probably 2-3 times-ish what I would lose just to evaporation. So that alone is manageable (have main completed shut off at the diverter right now). If I plug it, I should be able to run normal until I can get it repaired... Maybe a shovelful a day while I wait! LOL
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.