Inground Pool Leak Questions

[bungholio]

I have an inground gunite pool with a built-in spa and caretaker system. Both the pool and spa are leaking 3/4" -> 1" of water per day.

I performed the "bucket test" and validated water loss is the same in the pool and spa, and that the water loss is the same with the pump ON and OFF.

If I understand correctly, this implies either a leak on the suction side or in the structure (drain, sweep, light, skimmer, etc).

I hired a professional that tested the suction side, the skimmer, and the pool sweep return. He told me no leaks were present there and recommended I tape the conduit in the pool light.

I've been looking for leaks with dye around the lights, caretaker returns, and main drains, and I cannot find any leaks.

Questions:
1. Is a 3/4" -> 1" per day leak fast enough to find with dye?
2. I don't see any epoxy or tape around the conduit inside my light (light removed), but I don't see any leaks there with dye either. Should I see a leak with dye when a leak that slow?
3. What's the expected behavior from the dye around a hole/leak in the gunite? Would it settle there, or draw in?

Any thoughts or suggestions appreciated at this point. Cheers!

 

[drsipe]

What was the water loss differential between the bucket and the pool and the bucket and the spa?

 

[BDY]

If bucket and pool/spa are losing at same rate it’s evaporation. Do you have an autofill or manual fill? Evap is much more noticeable with a manual fill. You can google the current evaporation rates for your area too and apply to the SF of your pool as a check to see too - I think someone posted a link recently in another thread but I can’t find it quickly looking

 

[bungholio]

Evaporation loss for both pool and spa was 1/8" -> 1/4" per day.

Total water loss for both pool and spa was ~1" per day.

Pool is manual fill

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

Answers:
#1 Yes
#2 possibly
#3 The dye should be pulled inside the crack visibly.

 

[bungholio]

Answers:
#1 Yes
#2 possibly
#3 The dye should be pulled inside the crack visibly.

Can you elaborate on #2 ? What are the possibilities per your experience ?

 

[tradewinds]

Try this online tool below. For my zip code the evaporation can be 1/2- inch/day. I am thinking I had a leak but this seems about what I'm seeing, so maybe I don't have a leak. I don't have the auto-leveler hooked up as yet.

I have three laminar deck jets, a waterfall and bubbler. Deck jets and waterfall on about 8 hours a day and then bubbler stays on all day. When deck jets and waterfall are off, pump runs at 500/rpm for rest of day. I assume all this contributes to evaporation water loss?

Anderson Manufacturing Company, Inc.

: Helping The Pool Professional Solve Leak Problems

www.leaktools.com

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

I personally don’t use dye tests. They at time will give a positive negative (no leak).
Hiring a professional leak detection specialist can pinpoint the leak or leaks.