Hey everyone. I have a big leak all summer and can’t find the cause. I have tried dye and can’t find the hole . I’m Losing 1 inch per day and have to fill the inground pool every other day. Yesterday I saw water spots around the metal ladder gaskets at the deep end. I push the ladder down more as it was loose. Do you think it’s possible for the ladder to have a leak? I have bumpers on them as well. Strange thing after I did that I haven’t lost as much water.
Big Water leak
- Thread starter Phildimauro
- Start date
Hi and welcome to TFP! Sorry to be meeting this way 
What kind of inground pool do you have-plaster or vinyl?
What kind of inground pool do you have-plaster or vinyl?
It’s a vinyl PoolHi and welcome to TFP! Sorry to be meeting this way
What kind of inground pool do you have-plaster or vinyl?
Do you have any pics so I can see what you are seeing.
Can you describe this a bit more. Pushed it down?
bumper on the ladder? Pics please.
Those are called escutcheons. They are used to go around around the spout in the tube or the keyhole for fancy key sets, etc.
So you are saying you are losing water. About an 1" each day. You pushed down of the curved part of the ladder to seat it better in the holes in the deck. After you did that you are losing less water each day.
Are there holes in the side of the pool the ladder is seated in or does the end of the ladder just hang over the edge or curve in to sit against the side of the pool?
Is there always water around the ladder around the escutcheons?
So you are saying you are losing water. About an 1" each day. You pushed down of the curved part of the ladder to seat it better in the holes in the deck. After you did that you are losing less water each day.
Are there holes in the side of the pool the ladder is seated in or does the end of the ladder just hang over the edge or curve in to sit against the side of the pool?
Is there always water around the ladder around the escutcheons?
Bill1974
Well-known member
Do you have a light in the pool? Pull the light from the niche and check the conduit connection with the dye test.
I can't see how the ladder would be contributing to a leak, other than where the end in the pool rests again the liner. But that would be pretty easy to see if there is a hole in the liner. I doubt the bottom of the cups the ladder is in are below the water line and there is a siphon though the ladder is happening.
Does your pool have overflow lines or an auto fill? if the lid on the skimmer or overflow/autofill seals perfectly is can siphon water out. Leave the covers loose to check of the water loss continues.
Otherwise you likely have a leaky return line. A leak on the suction side you would likely see the pump is pulling air or looses it's prime.
I can't see how the ladder would be contributing to a leak, other than where the end in the pool rests again the liner. But that would be pretty easy to see if there is a hole in the liner. I doubt the bottom of the cups the ladder is in are below the water line and there is a siphon though the ladder is happening.
Does your pool have overflow lines or an auto fill? if the lid on the skimmer or overflow/autofill seals perfectly is can siphon water out. Leave the covers loose to check of the water loss continues.
Otherwise you likely have a leaky return line. A leak on the suction side you would likely see the pump is pulling air or looses it's prime.
Thank you everyone for replying back. Thus far the water is stable. The bumpers from the ladder wore out the liner, but it doesn’t look like a hole. I patched both sides just in case and water hasn’t dropped since Saturday
In essence there must have been a hole there and now it's not leaking.
Thank you all. I’m Losing normal amount due to evaporation. It’s definitely odd and a rarity how I caught it. Appreciate everyone’s response!