I recently redid my pool and refilled it. Well now I’m losing water. I did a dye test and the only thing I’ve found was the dye goin back into my return jet. What could that be?
Leak
- Thread starter Rvirgil1
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,759
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
I'll get this one started and let some others follow. A couple questions for you that might help us all to help you:
1 - Water back into the return jets (assuming water (pump) is off) would indicate backflow as if there was a small leak back towards the filter or even before the filter. Any chance your strainer basket lid gasket is bad, not lubed, or loose? Maybe a filter gauge leaking? Bad multiport valve? Those kind of things will pull water backwards. If you had a leak in one of your return jet pipes, I would suspect you'd see soft or wet ground where that line flows along the ground as water pressure (when system is on) would push water out of that line.
2 - What did you do when you had the pool re-done? Pool surface, water lines, equipment, etc? That may help as well.
Let's start there and see what else we can do to help.
1 - Water back into the return jets (assuming water (pump) is off) would indicate backflow as if there was a small leak back towards the filter or even before the filter. Any chance your strainer basket lid gasket is bad, not lubed, or loose? Maybe a filter gauge leaking? Bad multiport valve? Those kind of things will pull water backwards. If you had a leak in one of your return jet pipes, I would suspect you'd see soft or wet ground where that line flows along the ground as water pressure (when system is on) would push water out of that line.
2 - What did you do when you had the pool re-done? Pool surface, water lines, equipment, etc? That may help as well.
Let's start there and see what else we can do to help.
I would suspect the hydrostatic relief valve (aka hydrostat).
Did you check it while the pool was empty?
Was the pool replastered, painted or fiberglassed?
Did you check it while the pool was empty?
Was the pool replastered, painted or fiberglassed?
Pool was painted and the pump was off when i put dye in it to find the leak. I refilled it and it’s loosing about a half inch to an inch per day.
If the pool held water before draining, then it's unlikely that the returns suddenly failed. Try plugging the all of the plumbing to see if the leak stops.
Remove the pump lid to make sure that the plumbing is all isolated when doing the overnight test with the lines plugged.
Did you check the hydrostat?
Remove the pump lid to make sure that the plumbing is all isolated when doing the overnight test with the lines plugged.
Did you check the hydrostat?
No they didn’t because when i bought the house the owner said the main drain did not work. When it was drained it was filled with sand
The hydrostat is a check valve that opens to allow ground water into the pool. If it partly opened, it probably got sand in the seal. It could be the hydrostat, a plug where the hydrostat would go or a plug in the main drain line.
I suspect that the main drain line leaked and that it's plugged. Is the main drain line tied into the plumbing at the pad?
As far as the dye test at the returns goes, that's tricky to do. You have to isolate the lines by opening the pump lid and you have to create only a tiny hole at the returns.
Try plugging all lines with the pump off and the pump lid off.
If plugging the lines makes no difference, you're probably going to need to dive down, vacuum the sand out of the main drain and check for leaks.
Was the pool leaking before draining?
I suspect that the main drain line leaked and that it's plugged. Is the main drain line tied into the plumbing at the pad?
As far as the dye test at the returns goes, that's tricky to do. You have to isolate the lines by opening the pump lid and you have to create only a tiny hole at the returns.
Try plugging all lines with the pump off and the pump lid off.
If plugging the lines makes no difference, you're probably going to need to dive down, vacuum the sand out of the main drain and check for leaks.
Was the pool leaking before draining?
I suspected there was a leak prior to draining because it would lose water when the pump would run but never just sitting. Now the water is leaking while the pump is off
Plug all lines, remove the pump lid and check for loss overnight.
There could be more than one leak.
There could be more than one leak.
Update. My water level has gotten under the return jet and hasn’t moved since yesterday.
How far is your pool from the equipment pad in feet?
How many returns and drains do you have?
What are the surfaces like from your pool to the equipment pad? ie, decking materials, patio area, grass, etc.
If you have one or more leaks in your return lines, you are going to need a company w a reputable/proven track record to fix this type of issue. Furthermore, some of the board experts here will probably recommend that all your valves, seals, O-rings, unions from PVC to equipment are all thoroughly checked and air-tight.
Finally, how long ago did you buy the house and was there an inspection of the pool? Did the previous owner disclose anything about this issue [sold "as is"] ? If not, and he knew about it, and did not disclose it, you may have some recourse. But, this depends on your sales agreement and local law.
good luck, tstex
How many returns and drains do you have?
What are the surfaces like from your pool to the equipment pad? ie, decking materials, patio area, grass, etc.
If you have one or more leaks in your return lines, you are going to need a company w a reputable/proven track record to fix this type of issue. Furthermore, some of the board experts here will probably recommend that all your valves, seals, O-rings, unions from PVC to equipment are all thoroughly checked and air-tight.
Finally, how long ago did you buy the house and was there an inspection of the pool? Did the previous owner disclose anything about this issue [sold "as is"] ? If not, and he knew about it, and did not disclose it, you may have some recourse. But, this depends on your sales agreement and local law.
good luck, tstex