I got lucky, and noticed a leak when it was minor, and the pool only had 2 inches of water in it.
So, food coloring looked like it was going to work, and drops placed around the perimeter DID all head to the correct end of the pool, but that did not help, as I saw where the puddle under the pool had "started".
Long story short, a vinyl Intex pool of the gray-colored type of vinyl they use in their larger pools will show "white whiskers" of the inner fibers coming out of the pinhole, so it is EASY to see, if one inspects the bottom of the pool after unfolding it.
What worked? The "Aqua-EZ" pool repair kit - the self-adhesive YELLOW material with the instructions printed in the yellow side. Like the instructions say, clean with isopropol, let dry, and apply to inside and outside, wait overnight, and done. The printed yellow part is what peels off to reveal the sticky surface.
What did NOT work? Oatey "leak detection" fluid for plumbing leaks. Looks a nice dark blue, but does not show up in pool water at all. A 1oz bottle or red food coloring DID show up well, but with a pinhole, it did not reveal the exact site.
What else did NOT work? "Flex-Tape" from the fat liar with the carnival pitch style TV commercials. No, it did not work under water, it did not work on clean, dry prepped surfaces, it is junk unfit for the emergency use it is shown as satisfying on the commercials. With only 1 inch of water above the pinhole, water pressure alone defeated inside/outside application.
So, food coloring looked like it was going to work, and drops placed around the perimeter DID all head to the correct end of the pool, but that did not help, as I saw where the puddle under the pool had "started".
Long story short, a vinyl Intex pool of the gray-colored type of vinyl they use in their larger pools will show "white whiskers" of the inner fibers coming out of the pinhole, so it is EASY to see, if one inspects the bottom of the pool after unfolding it.
What worked? The "Aqua-EZ" pool repair kit - the self-adhesive YELLOW material with the instructions printed in the yellow side. Like the instructions say, clean with isopropol, let dry, and apply to inside and outside, wait overnight, and done. The printed yellow part is what peels off to reveal the sticky surface.
What did NOT work? Oatey "leak detection" fluid for plumbing leaks. Looks a nice dark blue, but does not show up in pool water at all. A 1oz bottle or red food coloring DID show up well, but with a pinhole, it did not reveal the exact site.
What else did NOT work? "Flex-Tape" from the fat liar with the carnival pitch style TV commercials. No, it did not work under water, it did not work on clean, dry prepped surfaces, it is junk unfit for the emergency use it is shown as satisfying on the commercials. With only 1 inch of water above the pinhole, water pressure alone defeated inside/outside application.
