Leak - Digging around roots

[gmason86]

Hi,

Turns out I have a leak in my return line. Thankfully it's near the surface. But unfortunately there's a bunch of roots all around where I'd dig. The downside to lots of nice looking trees etc.

I've attached some pictures.

From what we could tell, the water is coming from the hard pipe underneath the flex pipe. Basically the black pipe comes from the heater, then splits off into two and heads to the main returns. When the pump is on and on high it appears to be coming out somewhere around that elbow that's hidden underneath the flex hose.

I'm just looking for advice on how best to dig this section out given there's roots all around from the nearby hedges and trees. I did start digging but they make it quite awkward. They're all quite thin at this depth, so I can either pull them apart or probably cut them with something. I'm going to let the area dry a little before doing more digging as it's just very wet and muddy.

Thankfully the leak isn't major. I know that because my water level doesn't drop that drastically and the pressure test from the leak detection guy also supported that. I'm guessing one of the joins has gone bad or crack somewhere. His suspicion was the flex hose resting on top has damaged the one underneath over time.

Once I get this excavated I'll come back with some pictures but looking for advice on the best way to start for now please. First time I've done this.

Thanks all!

 

[Mdragger88]

If the roots are small enough cut them with some pruners. For larger ones you may need a saw. Be careful not to cut the pipe with your shovel or other tools as you excavate.
Those unions should not be buried.

 

[gmason86]

If the roots are small enough cut them with some pruners. For larger ones you may need a saw. Be careful not to cut the pipe with your shovel or other tools as you excavate.
Those unions should not be buried.

Thanks! So just cut the roots and then continue to dig?

How hard would I need to hit or scrape a pipe to cause damage? I'll certainly be careful but pretty much impossible not to touch them at all.

What should I do with the unions? They have been like that for at least as long as we've been in this house (10 years). The leak detection guy suggested using an elbow to bring them up and above the surface, add shutoffs in case I ever need them, and then elbow back down to join on to where they are. I may do that when I get some time but in the short term, am I best just keeping the dirt clear from the area and say adding a piece of wood underneath to support them?

I'm hoping the roots aren't causing the damage. But I don't know when they were planted vs when the pool was put in as it was all before us. Perhaps the pool came after the hedge and trees. It's an evergreen hedge running along the back of our property and another tree (not sure of the type).

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Roots are attracted to pipes especially when there is a leak. Roots like that can easily work their way around a pipe and eventually crush it. Flex PVC is even worse.

Sorry, but you need to clear the roots out of there. If it means losing a few shrubs or trees, so be it. Definitely minimize the amount of buried glue joints as those will be the weakest link and do not ever bury couplings. Everything underground should be straight hard pipe, no flex.

 

[gmason86]

Roots are attracted to pipes especially when there is a leak. Roots like that can easily work their way around a pipe and eventually crush it. Flex PVC is even worse.

Sorry, but you need to clear the roots out of there. If it means losing a few shrubs or trees, so be it. Definitely minimize the amount of buried glue joints as those will be the weakest link and do not ever bury couplings. Everything underground should be straight hard pipe, no flex.

Wondering where to start as this seems like a mammoth task.

Are you suggesting just going for a perimeter around that area in the picture, and cut out as many roots as I can?

The alternative would be excavating the full side of the shed where the pipes start to go underground and doing the same, and then throughout the garden too. I'm trying to determine what is manageable.

At this point the pool has been in a long time, and the hedges etc possibly even longer. I'm not sure if the roots will have done most of their growing by now because they don't appear to have caused damage (except potentially this one). I'm also reasonably confident this minor leak has been like this for at minimum a year, potentially longer.

There are a couple of trees at the side of the shed that seem to have appeared over the years. I'd happily chop them down. I guess I'd then need to kill the stump somehow so it didn't come back? I'm not sure if these roots are from the evergreen hedges or these newer trees.


As for that flex pipe (which is the suction side one), I have no idea how far it travels as flex. The pool was built a long time ago, way before we moved in.

 

[baccanalian]

Wondering where to start as this seems like a mammoth task.

Are you suggesting just going for a perimeter around that area in the picture, and cut out as many roots as I can?

The alternative would be excavating the full side of the shed where the pipes start to go underground and doing the same, and then throughout the garden too. I'm trying to determine what is manageable.

At this point the pool has been in a long time, and the hedges etc possibly even longer. I'm not sure if the roots will have done most of their growing by now because they don't appear to have caused damage (except potentially this one). I'm also reasonably confident this minor leak has been like this for at minimum a year, potentially longer.

There are a couple of trees at the side of the shed that seem to have appeared over the years. I'd happily chop them down. I guess I'd then need to kill the stump somehow so it didn't come back? I'm not sure if these roots are from the evergreen hedges or these newer trees.


As for that flex pipe (which is the suction side one), I have no idea how far it travels as flex. The pool was built a long time ago, way before we moved in.

Here's a little secret. Use a pressure washer to dog holes around pipes to avoid hitting them with a shovel. You will still need to cut roots with a reciprocating saw or a handsaw but the pressure washer will expose the roots for cutting. I have exactly the same problem I'm currently dealing with. I just wait a day for the water to percolate into the ground but some people use wet dry vac. Im heat using a 1800psi unit so it doesn't dig as well as a motorised unit. Basically you just push the tip into the ground