Leak in the pool

[tsar]

Hi folks,

I am near the time for closing of my pool, infact have someone coming in tomorrow. But just realized yest that we def have a leak. The water level is reducing significantly and by several inches in a single day (aka I filled the pool on Friday and now by sunday water line is well below the skimmer.

I tried the dye test for all the returns and the pool light, no luck there. The sink lines are left, water is too cold at this point to go and do a dye test near the sink lines. I'm thinking I'll let the water drain normally to get a better idea.

Asking here for thoughts/ideas on how to proceed, I don't know if it's ok to let the pool be exposed to the sun for a few days?
I have a solar cover that I can put on the pool, maybe to avoid the last bit

It's a gunite pool based on what I had heard from the previous owner and a pool guy who had come initially (def a hard surface, with a rough finish)

Thanks

 

[ajw22]

Let the pool leak and see where the water level stabilizes to get an idea the level where the leak is.

Do the bucket test to confirm it is not evaporation.

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

 

[tsar]

@ajw22 - The waterline has now gone down below the return jet line... it's just become slower over the past couple of days in the speed at which water is going down.... what next? Also who do I reach out to get such a leak fixed? And if anyone can give me an idea how much it costs.

Finally is it a good idea to do this now, or when the pool is opened? I ask because it's going to be closing time soon.

 

[ajw22]

See what level the water stabilizes at.

Are there any penetrations, such as lights, where the water stabilizes?

You need a pool company who maintains and repairs pools to fix it. Cost depends on what the problem is.

 

[tsar]

The waterline is now below everything but the main drains at the bottom. The pool guy who visited said its likely a valve there.

Also is there any concern with basically draining the pool completely. Which is what he has done today?

 

[Texas Splash]

The pool guy who visited said its likely a valve there.

Hydrostatic valve. They can jam-up. Replace it and fill the pool back up ASAP for stability.

 

[tsar]

@Texas Splash my concern is this notion that its the sink valve is speculation. Basically because the water just kept coming down.

According to the pool guy there doesn’t look like there is any leak in the concrete, and thats very unlikely. All the plugs don’t have any leaves around them, i.e. no suction there. So the only possibility is the sink, and the valve in the sink seems to be a common issue.

Once he replaces the valve, fills up water, he is going to close the pool. My worry is that how do i verify that this was indeed the source of the leak. Would it be obvious if we check the current valve that it is indeed the source of the leak.

 

[ajw22]

A hydrostatic relief valve is typically installed in the deep end of the pool as part of a main drain.

 

[tsar]

He replaced the hydrostatic valve, and showed me that there was rust at the bottom, and also that it was jammed? But we still don't know for sure if the leak is now gone with the new one.

For my own edification, what happens if the leak is in the main drain line? How are they fixed? He suggested that it can only be fixed by digging. In between while trying to figure it out, he was convinced that it looks like the dye test was going to the drain, which is why we had this discussion.

 

[Texas Splash]

For my own edification, what happens if the leak is in the main drain line? How are they fixed?

Repair is a costly repair. More than likely it would just be closed off permanently. Operating with just the skimmer(s) is fine.