Leak! Eek!

[ProspectHill]

First, let me say I’m not at my house so all info is coming from house sitters, helpful pool cleaner guy and the plumber who did all the original work.

my pool began leaking and went through these detection steps:

turn off the pump.
use dark dye to detect any leaks. None found.
examine structure for cracks, in and out. None found.
let the water drop past the skimmer. Didn’t stop leaking.
let the water drop past the return jets. Didn’t stop leaking.
shut down all power to pool equipment, all valves off. water stopped dropping.

Plumber determined the drain valve in the pump room is the problem.
no water anywhere near pool equipment.
plumber tells me he will replace drain valve.
he comes to do the work, does something…
tells me there was sediment and something in the pipes for drainage…
should be fine now.
his bill includes labor for replacing valve and the cost of valve.

the water stops leaking for a few days, then starts again.
It’s losing an inch every 9 hours.
pits a 9000 gallon pool.
14x 30. Not deep.

my house sitters have turned off the skimmer so it doesn’t suck air.

pool cleanger tells me the valve was not replaced.
it’s the exact same valve. No cuts made in pipes, the same handle with the same label.

I don’t know what the plumber did.
don’t know why it held for a few days, don’t know why it started leaking again.

I suspect the diagnosis of faulty valve is still correct.

any thoughts?

thank you.
marcia

 

[mknauss]

Your signature shows a cartridge filter. What are they calling a 'drain valve'?

 

[ProspectHill]

The diverter valve that opens to drain water out from the main drain.
to drop the water level after a big rain.
we did have a lot of rain and needed to get water out but used a small pump to do it.

 

[mknauss]

OK -- that is not a normal plumbing setup.

What type of valve is it? If a Jandy NeverLube, then the internals can be replaced and there would be no sign of any cutting, gluing, etc.

 

[ProspectHill]

Not much about my plumbing is normal…as I’m finding out.

it’s a no lube … but I don’t know the brand. It must be a three way.
can a faulty valve be fixed without replacing it…?

the leak would happen with the pump off or on.
he pressure tested all the returns, took the covers off the main drains, did all the dye tests. That drain valve has only been opened and closed twice since installing. Once just recently. After a big rain.
that’s when the leak started.

 

[ProspectHill]

I wonder if I can just abandon this drain pipe altogether?
I never use it. If I need to get water out of the pool I either use a small pump or siphon with the vacuum hose.

 

[mknauss]

It can be repaired without replacing the valve body.

Easiest is to cut the drain line after (or before) the valve and cap it off.

 

[ProspectHill]

That’s a good idea. Then a faulty valve will just be eliminated.

assuming that’s where the leak is.
but everything else was eliminated.

thank you!