Leaking Light for 3 years!

swimspaguyy11 · May 8, 2024

My dad has been on this 3 year journey of trying to fix a leak in his inground pool. First we got a new liner, then the liner company said the light was leaking and fixed it and it kept leaking. Eventually the liner company hired a diver and said the light could still be leaking and fixed it and it kept leaking. Then my dad hired a leak find/fix company and they said the light and they fixed it and it kept leaking! Ruined the pool for 2 full seasons having to constantly add freezing cold water since they have no heater.

So this year we decided to drain the pool down so we can examine the light in dry conditions and this is what we found:

It just kept pouring out of there too. I guess so much water is in the ground from leaking that its all coming back in. One thing is for certain though, if the water can get in then it can get out too.

My plan is the following:

1) remove all that tape.
2) make a plug around the wire with heavy rubber coax seal
3) firmly insert the rubber plug.
4) epoxy over the top with the 2 part stick pool repair epoxy.

Any other suggestions or tips? Should I seal that ground screw terminal just in case its leaking there too? I dont know if its possible to leak from there or not.

Thanks.

1poolman1 · May 8, 2024

swimspaguyy11 said:
My dad has been on this 3 year journey of trying to fix a leak in his inground pool. First we got a new liner, then the liner company said the light was leaking and fixed it and it kept leaking. Eventually the liner company hired a diver and said the light could still be leaking and fixed it and it kept leaking. Then my dad hired a leak find/fix company and they said the light and they fixed it and it kept leaking! Ruined the pool for 2 full seasons having to constantly add freezing cold water since they have no heater.

So this year we decided to drain the pool down so we can examine the light in dry conditions and this is what we found:

It just kept pouring out of there too. I guess so much water is in the ground from leaking that its all coming back in. One thing is for certain though, if the water can get in then it can get out too.

My plan is the following:

1) remove all that tape.
2) make a plug around the wire with heavy rubber coax seal
3) firmly insert the rubber plug.
4) epoxy over the top with the 2 part stick pool repair epoxy.

Any other suggestions or tips? Should I seal that ground screw terminal just in case its leaking there too? I dont know if its possible to leak from there or not.

Thanks.

You do not want to epoxy over the conduit hole. That water could be from the conduit itself. Try one of these. Be sure to put some silicone sealant over the outside of the plug as it will help it to move into the conduit easier and farther:

Pool Light Cord Stopper - 1 Inch 2-Hole - Retrofit for Bonding Ground Light - Q-CS9

This Light Cord Stopper has 2-holes and is for 1 inch pipe and retrofits for bonding ground installations. Light Cord Stoppers help eliminate water leaks at the pool light. Stop wondering if that light niche conduit is sealed. Cord Stoppers can be used on new or old installations. The 1 inch...

www.poolweb.com

swimspaguyy11 · May 9, 2024

1poolman1 said:
You do not want to epoxy over the conduit hole. That water could be from the conduit itself. Try one of these. Be sure to put some silicone sealant over the outside of the plug as it will help it to move into the conduit easier and farther:

Pool Light Cord Stopper - 1 Inch 2-Hole - Retrofit for Bonding Ground Light - Q-CS9

This Light Cord Stopper has 2-holes and is for 1 inch pipe and retrofits for bonding ground installations. Light Cord Stoppers help eliminate water leaks at the pool light. Stop wondering if that light niche conduit is sealed. Cord Stoppers can be used on new or old installations. The 1 inch...

www.poolweb.com

View attachment 571149

Unfortunately I saw your response after I attempted the repair.

After draining the water and removing the old terrible repair attempt, I learned the problem is not the conduit, the problem is the light housing. the entire hub for the conduit has snappeed off from the back of thee light housing leaving a neaarly silver dollar sized hole in the back of the light and you can see and feel dirt.

I took all the rubberized stuff they tried to seal the leak with and filled the entire hole with it, and then i used nearly an entire stick of pool epoxy (after scratching the meetal up with sand paper) and sealed it up pretty good. No idea if this is going to work, there is a lot of pressure at that depth.

I am going to let it fully cure before we test it with water. I forgot to take a picture of the hole.

My dad doesnt care if the light works anymore, he just wants to be able to use his pool and not have it leak.

If this doesnt work, do we have the option to just take light ring out, fiill the light housing cavity with something and then just glue a piece of liner over the light hole and eliminate this light? they dont use the pool at night because of severe mosquitos anyways.

1poolman1 · May 9, 2024

swimspaguyy11 said:
Unfortunately I saw your response after I attempted the repair.

After draining the water and removing the old terrible repair attempt, I learned the problem is not the conduit, the problem is the light housing. the entire hub for the conduit has snappeed off from the back of thee light housing leaving a neaarly silver dollar sized hole in the back of the light and you can see and feel dirt.

I took all the rubberized stuff they tried to seal the leak with and filled the entire hole with it, and then i used nearly an entire stick of pool epoxy (after scratching the meetal up with sand paper) and sealed it up pretty good. No idea if this is going to work, there is a lot of pressure at that depth.

I am going to let it fully cure before we test it with water. I forgot to take a picture of the hole.

My dad doesnt care if the light works anymore, he just wants to be able to use his pool and not have it leak.

If this doesnt work, do we have the option to just take light ring out, fiill the light housing cavity with something and then just glue a piece of liner over the light hole and eliminate this light? they dont use the pool at night because of severe mosquitos anyways.

View attachment 571362

If the light no longer works and the leak stops, cut the cord off the light and at the back of the niche. Disconnect it at the junction box (very important). Re-install the light and you won't have to deal with the liner. Will look better, too. Or just disconnect it at the junction box and re-install. Using epoxy means a new light would be very hard to install.

swimspaguyy11 · May 10, 2024

1poolman1 said:
If the light no longer works and the leak stops, cut the cord off the light and at the back of the niche. Disconnect it at the junction box (very important). Re-install the light and you won't have to deal with the liner. Will look better, too. Or just disconnect it at the junction box and re-install. Using epoxy means a new light would be very hard to install.

Yeah I knew going into this that the light is toast by epoxying it like that, I've replaced lights before and know you have to be able to pull the new wire through with a rope

However, I was thinking what my options are if the leak is NOT stopped by my epoxy repair. I am worried if this epoxy can seal a hole that big without using fiberglass or carbon fiber to give it strength. Also if it will stick to the metal housing.

I was just trying to think what my options are to seal this light housing hole up completely as a last resort. I was thinking maybe I could epoxy the light into the housing as a giant plug of sorts as well.