Ok so I will start off with a brief overview of my setup.
I bought the house in 2016 from 3rd owner. Pool was built in 1999 by the first owner and I have no documentation, schematics etc. about the build.
1. Gunite pool, not shotcrete. When I had pebbletec done (originally white plaster/quartz) they had to rebuild the bench of the spa because it was full of rebound.
2. Pool has one skimmer, spa that spills into pool and a water fall (pulls from main drain line)
I started noticing air bubbles in the returns about 2 months ago and began assessing my equipment on the pad including valves etc.. No leaks there. Two days ago I had American Leak detection come out and do a pressure test on main drain and skimmer and both have a leak. They put 10lbs of air on them and the main drain dropped to 7psi in about 2 mins and then within 5 min was down to 5psi but wouldnt go any lower; The skimmer line dropped about 3 psi in 5 min.
They plugged the main drain and closed the valves and the plan was to run off the skimmer until fall. He could not find the main drain leak with his listening device so he said it probably runs directly under the pool and spa before turning over to the pad. The skimmer leak he heard about 3 ft from the skimmer box. I demoed the flagstone and 4" of concrete and dug up dirt but never could find the line. I cant find any lines period. The bottom of the elbow in the skimmer is 30", it appears to 45 back to the wall of the pool (one pipe is the equalization).
I am in construction and do gunite and shotcrete but not for pools (industrial furnaces). I am aware of how the whole process works and everything that goes along with it.
The soil was basically virgin 12" below the slab and above that was a 4" or so layer of rebound, which im sure was just them throwing the rebound over the side of the pool when gunning and trimming. I cant find anything though, not even a return that is basically right where I dug the hole. Is all of the piping burried in the bond beam of the pool? Something else that I noticed which was odd but maybe normal. There is a seep of water right where the bond beam and the wall meet. Its not a fast loss of water but basically moist constantly and my hole is about 4' long and it was the entire length I could see.
The hole I dug filled up with water and is equalizing with the water in the pool.....
The pool was not losing water really until after this pressure test, now I lost about 5" overnight. He is coming back monday to make sure when he plugged the pool that he didnt put the hydrostatic valve in the bottom in a bind and perhaps cause a leak there.
Anyones initial thoughts are appreciated.
I bought the house in 2016 from 3rd owner. Pool was built in 1999 by the first owner and I have no documentation, schematics etc. about the build.
1. Gunite pool, not shotcrete. When I had pebbletec done (originally white plaster/quartz) they had to rebuild the bench of the spa because it was full of rebound.
2. Pool has one skimmer, spa that spills into pool and a water fall (pulls from main drain line)
I started noticing air bubbles in the returns about 2 months ago and began assessing my equipment on the pad including valves etc.. No leaks there. Two days ago I had American Leak detection come out and do a pressure test on main drain and skimmer and both have a leak. They put 10lbs of air on them and the main drain dropped to 7psi in about 2 mins and then within 5 min was down to 5psi but wouldnt go any lower; The skimmer line dropped about 3 psi in 5 min.
They plugged the main drain and closed the valves and the plan was to run off the skimmer until fall. He could not find the main drain leak with his listening device so he said it probably runs directly under the pool and spa before turning over to the pad. The skimmer leak he heard about 3 ft from the skimmer box. I demoed the flagstone and 4" of concrete and dug up dirt but never could find the line. I cant find any lines period. The bottom of the elbow in the skimmer is 30", it appears to 45 back to the wall of the pool (one pipe is the equalization).
I am in construction and do gunite and shotcrete but not for pools (industrial furnaces). I am aware of how the whole process works and everything that goes along with it.
The soil was basically virgin 12" below the slab and above that was a 4" or so layer of rebound, which im sure was just them throwing the rebound over the side of the pool when gunning and trimming. I cant find anything though, not even a return that is basically right where I dug the hole. Is all of the piping burried in the bond beam of the pool? Something else that I noticed which was odd but maybe normal. There is a seep of water right where the bond beam and the wall meet. Its not a fast loss of water but basically moist constantly and my hole is about 4' long and it was the entire length I could see.
The hole I dug filled up with water and is equalizing with the water in the pool.....
The pool was not losing water really until after this pressure test, now I lost about 5" overnight. He is coming back monday to make sure when he plugged the pool that he didnt put the hydrostatic valve in the bottom in a bind and perhaps cause a leak there.
Anyones initial thoughts are appreciated.
