Leak Detection In Ground Pool with SPA and floor cleaners

[DudeJayStarr]

Hey Ya'll,

Just bought a home. Guess what, Pool leaks. I got tired of filling pool daily so I let it leak to see how low it would go. It's about a foot below the skimmer and it finally stopped. The spa sits about a foot above the pool level and it is just below the spa jets. However on the pool sit it is well below the jets or anything that could leak with the exception of the "fancy" floor cleaners the spa and pool has.

Since it finally stopped leaking I no longer suspect the floor cleaners to be the route of the issue. Maybe where the spa connects to the pool? I have never been able to see damp areas around the pool or the equipment. I do have a pool deck as well so I assume it would be beneath. I have been waiting for a leak detection for about 2 months and it just got pushed out again so I am eager to see what I can do myself?

How would I be able to identify where the leak is coming from without digging everything up? Any tips or tricks that I can try and then update this thread with pictures or things I can do before I shell out way too much $$$.

Any help is appreciated as I am a new younger home owner and my wife and I have baby #2 on the way in 2 months and money has already been tight.

Thank you in advance.

 

[JohnT]

Welcome to TFP!
How about pool lights?

Fill us in on what kind of pool. Main drain? Equipment below the pool water level?

 

[Lake Placid]

Here are some leak detection tips on the site to help give you some familiarity.

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

Personally, after eliminating plumbing as a leak source in my pool, it came down to scouring the shell, skimmer, and all the returns and other fittings. I’ve found leaks in the pool floor, small cracks in the skimmer, and believe it or not holes from age in the return fixtures where they mount to the walls. In the shell I look for any areas that may be suspect for water leakage - cracks, paint chips, missing plaster chips, etc. Once you identify potential areas, turn off all pumps and use leak detection dye to see if your suspect areas draw the dye in. I’ve had good success with the following dye

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JFM8BXV?ref_=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_W8YK7Z2YVFXM73AFFEBA

As an alternate to pressure testing plumbing, you can flood dye towards the return holes, main drain etc. if there is an unseen leak in the plumbing they will draw dye as well.