Leak at equipment, what to do?

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Mikey311

Well-known member
May 31, 2016
81
Powder Springs, GA
I suspected I was losing water this summer via a leak but had a few leaks at my pumps and with the Georgia heat / spillover on my spa, was not sure my water loss water related to those items or something else.

I fixed the leaks/seals at my pump and added pebbles to my pool equipment shed. Shortly thereafter, it became obvious that certain areas of the pebbles were remaining wet. I outlined the area below about the area I am referring to. (B).

A = back wash pipe
B = leak area
C = pool return
D = spa return

So based on the location of the wet pebbles it seems like there is potentially a leak in one of my pool return lines. Unfortunately, its close to all of my power lines so I have been apprehensive to just start digging.

Any of you professionals have any advice on how I should tackle further troubleshooting this leak? Thanks.

20220820_180139.jpg
 
Mike,

I am not sure that is where it is leaking or just where the water collects... :scratch:

Pool pumps have a weep hole in the bottom, I am not sure your booster pump has one, but I'd double check that the booster pump is not leaking from underneath.

Underground pipes can have leaks, but it is not the normal failure point.

I'd dig a couple of "exploratory wells" about a foot deep in your wet patch and see if one of them fills with water.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Jimrahbe said:
Mike,

I am not sure that is where it is leaking or just where the water collects... :scratch:

Pool pumps have a weep hole in the bottom, I am not sure your booster pump has one, but I'd double check that the booster pump is not leaking from underneath.

Underground pipes can have leaks, but it is not the normal failure point.

I'd dig a couple of "exploratory wells" about a foot deep in your wet patch and see if one of them fills with water.

Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...

I recently replaced the seal in my main pump as I had a leak in the bottom of that pump but haven't seen the booster pump leaking from it pump itself.... but can certainly double check. thanks for the tip on the wells.
 
Mikey311 said:
I suspected I was losing water this summer via a leak but had a few leaks at my pumps and with the Georgia heat / spillover on my spa, was not sure my water loss water related to those items or something else.

I fixed the leaks/seals at my pump and added pebbles to my pool equipment shed. Shortly thereafter, it became obvious that certain areas of the pebbles were remaining wet. I outlined the area below about the area I am referring to. (B).

A = back wash pipe
B = leak area
C = pool return
D = spa return

So based on the location of the wet pebbles it seems like there is potentially a leak in one of my pool return lines. Unfortunately, its close to all of my power lines so I have been apprehensive to just start digging.

Any of you professionals have any advice on how I should tackle further troubleshooting this leak? Thanks.

View attachment 454129
Click to expand...
With the system running, including the booster pump, feel under the booster right at the bottom of the motor flange. There is a small notch in the flange that allows water to drip out if the seal is leaking. Also, feel under the motor at the front vent. The seal on that pump may be leaking.
 
Just as others have said, turn everything on and check for leaks. If your lucky you will find a leak and can fix it with digging. If no leak found, start digging. Get a few 5 gallon buckets to put stone in and maybe a tarp to put soil on to make easier to put back nicely. Just don't at the ground with a mattock, dig carefully. Everything is in PVC pipe or conduit so it's somewhat durable. If the leak is underground the challenge will be moving the pipe to be able to get a coupling on it. Might be a good time to invest in some unions too.
 
Before you dig, perform the bucket test. Determine exactly how much water you are losing.

Place a 5 gal bucket (or near that size) on the pool steps and fill to get the water level exactly the same both in and outside the bucket. 24 hours later see if you have lost more water outside the bucket than inside.

Digging should be a last resort.
 
duraleigh said:
Before you dig, perform the bucket test. Determine exactly how much water you are losing.

Place a 5 gal bucket (or near that size) on the pool steps and fill to get the water level exactly the same both in and outside the bucket. 24 hours later see if you have lost more water outside the bucket than inside.

Digging should be a last resort.
Click to expand...

Already done the bucket test and done a pretty thorough inspection of the filter and booster pump and do not see any leaks. I did replace the main pump seal, which was leaking, since I did the bucket test, so it is prob worth doing today one last time since it will be back in the 90s..... b/c I certainly have no interest in digging in that small space with all of the pvc lines and conduit in such close quarters (but starting to think it is inevitable).

Something else I noticed recently, is the GFCI that is running off of my breaker will NOT reset. I just replaced it this morning with a new one to make sure it wasnt bad and the new GFCI wont reset either.

I am in year 2 of ownership and have been chasing issues like this from day 1. I replaced the automation panel, salt cell, etc and was hoping at least that part of the equipment would be good for a few years ... but since the pool lights are ran from the GFCI, they now dont work currently either so I have to figure out why that wont reset.

The fun continues, thanks for the help so far... will report back.
 

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Already done the bucket test and done a pretty thorough inspection of the filter and booster pump and do not see any leaks.
Click to expand...
If you have passed the bucket test then that's not pool water that is getting the ground wet, right?

Confirm that bucket test result because there is no sense chasing a leak that is not there.
 
duraleigh said:
If you have passed the bucket test then that's not pool water that is getting the ground wet, right?

Confirm that bucket test result because there is no sense chasing a leak that is not there.
Click to expand...

Sorry-I performed the test and confirmed the pool level was dropping faster than the bucket. However, at the time, I knew I had other leaks from the pumps which have since been fixed so I will run the test again with those fixed to be 100% sure.

There is definitely water keeping that pebble area damp from my pic in the original post and its not a small area.
 
actually went to run a new bucket test and realized pool had drained so much it was almost starving pump for water and I had just filled it up a few days ago so it dropped 3-4 inches in just a few days.

Its probably hard to tell from the photo but the area is red all obviously shows different levels of dampness ....

Seems like there has to be a leak in the return from the pool....

20220921_105453.jpg
 
Mike,

If this were my pool, I'd carefully dig a small hole down about a foot or two right next the pool return and cleaner pipes.

I'd try to expose the two pipes so you could follow them down to see how deep they are before turning and going to the pool.

Seems to me if you have a leak of any size, it will fill the hole with water in a few hours.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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Jimrahbe said:
Mike,

If this were my pool, I'd carefully dig a small hole down about a foot or two right next the pool return and cleaner pipes.

I'd try to expose the two pipes so you could follow them down to see how deep they are before turning and going to the pool.

Seems to me if you have a leak of any size, it will fill the hole with water in a few hours.

Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...

Thanks Jim, appreciate the advice. Will start digging soon and report back.
 
Last edited:
Jimrahbe said:
Mike,

If this were my pool, I'd carefully dig a small hole down about a foot or two right next the pool return and cleaner pipes.

I'd try to expose the two pipes so you could follow them down to see how deep they are before turning and going to the pool.

Seems to me if you have a leak of any size, it will fill the hole with water in a few hours.

Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...

I dug this hole a few days ago and so far no water is filling it up so perhaps the leak is not in this area. I did run into the conduit so wasnt able to dig as low as I might liked to.... but did get close to a foot deep.

At this point, not sure what to try next... guess i need to go back to square one researching all the methods to diagnose a leak..... or just hire a company to come out and do it....

20220928_123948.jpg
 
Mike,

It appears to me that your wet gravel is getting water from above and not below the hole you dug.

If your pipe were leaking it would have filled the hole, or at least made the area damp.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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