Just filled pool and leaking

[kbradford]

Well we just filled our pool yesterday, and we're losing about 2" of water per day. They are coming in about an hour to turn it on, but I'm already trying to troubleshoot.

One area I'm immediatley concerened about is the skimmer. Attached are pictures. The access is on so tight I can't even open it, and then when I look in I see an uncut PVC pipe.

Is this skimmer not fully installed? Could that be a cause of the leak?

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Look around the equipment pad, the yard and behind/around the skimmer for any wet spots. That can help you find the leak sometimes.

Thankfully your pool builder is still responsible and will have to fix this issue.

Maddie

 

[MAPR-Austin]

If you have any food coloring you can use it to test around fittings to see if you can see if it gets sucked in. There is also a leak detecting dye you can get at pool supply stores, it hold together much better in water than the food coloring.

The pipe you see is probably there to keep debris out of the skimmer line, they will probably remove it prior to starting the pool up.

Good luck, leaks can be a pain to find and fix sometimes - but many times it is simple and easy.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Leak Detection

A number of things can cause leaks in your pool. You can learn tricks for leak detection and how to pinpoint where your pool is losing water.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[kbradford]

They found a light that had not been installed completely and think that’s where the water was going. They put a plug in for now and said to watch it overnight. Fingers crossed!

 

[YippeeSkippy]

 

[kimkats]

How is the water level today?

 

[kbradford]

Thanks for checking! It’s down, but not as much as before. So maybe 1” per day now.

 

[kimkats]

I have a 'test" for you to do to see if it is normal for you area or a leak in the pool. The bucket test:
Bucket Test (psst @Leebo the link in this is broken)

 

[kbradford]

Thanks, I’ll give that a shot today. We do have some rain but I think that should be fine since the bucket and pool would fill at the same rate.

 

[kbradford]

Just checked, and showing 1/4" loss already. In the bucket hasn't moved.

 

[kimkats]

well darn! A leak hunting you will a go

 

[kbradford]

Around 2” in the last 24 hours. Calling the builder first thing and will go get some leak dye this afternoon too.

 

[Jimrahbe]

K,

Leak dye, is iffy at best.

Let the pool builder find and fix it..

I suggest that you see if you have the leak when the pump is off.

Also, if you just let it leak down, it will stop at the leak.

Most gunite leaks are at the..

Skimmer
Pool light
Pool returns
Main drain

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[kbradford]

They came by and "re-set" the main drain. Not quite sure what that means, but I've refilled and running the bucket test again!

 

[kimkats]

hummmmmmmmmmmmmmm interesting.......... please ask them what that means so we can learn from this with you.

 

[kbradford]

Ha, well it doesn’t really matter cause still leaking at the same rate.

 

[kbradford]

Wanted to give an update on our leak. Contractor plugged the main drain and it seemed to help, so they replaced with a heavier duty valve and all seemed good. They also scheduled a sump line below the pool to run nightly for a couple hours

All seemed great until the last couple days. During the day it’s rock solid, but suddenly overnight we’re losing 1-2”.

The pump is still running 24/7, so the only overnight thing I know of is this sump line opening.

It had been working fine for 2 weeks, but now is leaking a ton overnight.

Any ideas? I plan to call the contractor in the morning.

 

[MAPR-Austin]

Have them turn off the sump line, see if that stops the overnight leak. Seems too coincidental for them not to be related, but I don't know how they would be without seeing how everything is set up.

 

[kbradford]

They came out today and ran the sump line, put about 2 inches of water back in the pool. And now they've turned it off for tonight to see if we lose water. I'm really at a loss why it'd put water back in right now, but won't overnight.