pool water level issues

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B

bksbeat

Well-known member
Jun 20, 2017
77
Sarasota, Florida
So A few weeks ago our spa water level was dropping to the same level as the pool. After some research we removed the check valve and installed a new one. This was about 2 weeks ago. It was not easy installing it and we had to add some pvc piping and it was not a perfect fit. Initially we had some water coming out of the piping and after some work (glue, etc) it seems to be not leaking anymore.
However, the spa water level has been perfect since, has not gone down at all. But, unfortunately, now the pool water level has been dropping (almost 5-6 inches a week). I have had to refill the pool twice in the past 2 weeks. We never had any pool water level issues before (I had a skimmer leak about a year ago and that was fixed). Today, I switched off the filter and I am going to keep it that way for a few days, to see if it has happening with the filter off. Looking at it now (this is a few hours later) I think it is still going down. Could a faulty install of the check valve cause the pool level water to go down?
Thanks
Gary
 
Gary:

Sorry for your troubles, but you are doing great investigative work. Even if you have to bring the pool to SLAM level for a few hours and shut the down the pump, this is actually the best way of trying to figure out where your leak is. If you continue to add water, then you may not locate the leak. I do not believe that a check valve (for flow) could be the problem. You would see water and the leak. The water leaking is either at the pool level, pump level and piping, or possibly even underground.

With the pump off, allow the pool to come down until the water level stops. You will then have an idea where the leak could be. Leaks can occur at the light niche, returns, skimmers, steps, or even at the liner seam. You also state that 5"-6" per week. For NJ, that would be extreme in this weather, but in Florida, are the temperatures that extreme? Are there aeration devices that could also be contributing to water loss/evaporation? Have you performed a bucket test? Both should be done with the pump off for a day or so.

Good luck and keep us posted!

- - - Updated - - -

(I had a skimmer leak about a year ago and that was fixed).
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Is it possible that the leak was masked and now there is where you are loosing water? If you allow the water to go all the way down to the skimmer and this is where it stops, then this could be the problem. You will find where the leak is when water stops leaking.

Also, is your pool a liner, concrete, fiberglass? Thanks!
 
Thank you for your feedback. Re. your questions & comments:

Yes, I plan to keep the filter off until I see where the water levels stops.
Pool is concret
The leak problem I had some 12-18 months ago, was cracks in the concrete around the pool skimmer. I had hired a specialist for this and he had repaired it. I have not had any problem since, even when the spa was running low, the pool was fine. It had only started occurring now, since the spa level has been running fine, hence I had speculated that perhaps may have something to do with the check valve fix. I had initially thought it had something to do with the water leaking from the piping but considering it is minimal in comparison to the amount of water being lost from the pool. Re. Florida, the humidity we have had thru summer is subsiding, so I am not sure if that increases or decreases water evaporation but 5-6 inches is not normal based on what has occurred in the past.
I will wait and see, with the filter off, how it plays out. Of course, their is possibility that we could have another pool leak with the structure/cement/skimmer, but I just find it strange. From what I have been reading, one could have water loss from air pressure issues (or not?) and I am wondering if the check valve install could be somehow impacting the pressure as we had to replace some new piping and we replaced the unions which hold the check valve. I really dont know, may well have to hire someone again?
 
Sorry, I dont understand your question.

So this is where we are:
I did not run the filter for about 3 or 4 days - The pool water level dropped while the filter was not running every day but after 3/4 days it seemed to stop dropping. Almost at the level of the bottom of the pool skimmer. What is interesting is once the pool water level seemed to stop dropping, the spa water level (which has being perfect since we installed the new check valve) started dropping - not a lot but dropping more than it should.
Now a few other things:

I have noticed something I have never seen before. When I started running the filter a few minutes ago, the skimmer by the pool pump, was consistently bubbling water. Normally and forever I have seen, it normally bubbles for a few seconds when I put the filter on and then you just see air. So, I am not sure what this means but the bubbles keep resurfacing every 10-15 seconds in the actual skimmer.

Re. check valve, we got. I went to Home Depot and was speaking to a plumber there and he said we can use a regular check valve. So we ended up buying and installing one of those PVC inline check valve. He said he used it for his pool and it was fine. It does look very similar to the one that was already in there that I replaced?

So that is where I stand. I dont know, but the bubbles in the pump skimmer seems important and I am starting to think my water loss may have something to do with air pressure. Is that possible? Thanks, Gary
 
So that is where I stand. I dont know, but the bubbles in the pump skimmer seems important and I am starting to think my water loss may have something to do with air pressure. Is that possible? Thanks, Gary
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Gary:

Are you referring to bubbles or air in the pump housing, where the basket is, behind the motor? If so, this is on the suction side. Or is the skimmer near the pool showing the bubbles?

I did not run the filter for about 3 or 4 days - The pool water level dropped while the filter was not running every day but after 3/4 days it seemed to stop dropping. Almost at the level of the bottom of the pool skimmer. What is interesting is once the pool water level seemed to stop dropping, the spa water level (which has being perfect since we installed the new check valve) started dropping - not a lot but dropping more than it should
Click to expand...

Did you fill the pool back up? I would have waited another day or so to see if the water level in the pool continued to drop. If the level stopped at the bottom of the skimmer and only then you had some daily water evaporation, you found your leak. Either at the skimmer or at the spa. The spa, which I believe is a spillover spa, has suction and returns and the skimmer is only on the suction side. What I would do is close the valves for the spa on the suction and return (if you have them), completely drain the spa of water. If you have no water in the pool, and then the level stops again, your leak is at the skimmer. Only thing it could be. Hope this makes sense. You are isolating the spa to determine where the leak could possibly be. If not, drain the spa and plug the suction and return sides with closing plugs (which you may not have as you are in Florida).
 
The bubbles are coming from the pump housing. In the past, you would see bubbles for a few seconds when you put the filter on and then it was air.
Now, it seems the bubbles are appearing all the time whilst I run the filter. Yes, I had filled the pool back because the water level that was dropping had stopped dropping. Yes, I know how to drain the spa. When the pool was dropping the spa was fine so I would think the problem is from the pool? Perhaps, the problem I had a year or 2 back (refer earlier email) cracks around the skimmer which was repaired, has resurfaced?
 
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