Leaking pool?

[adamt]

I'm not 100% sure but it sure looks as if there's a leak in my pool. We had some pretty good rain 2 days ago which filled my pool above the tile line. This morning, with no sun out and a solar blanket on, the water level is at the half way point of the tile. At least down two inches in two days.

Is there something I can do besides wait and measure to see if my pool is leaking and where it could be coming from?

Also, my pool is less than two years old. Should I bring in the contractor to check it out? And what could I expect from him, in terms of him fixing the problem and not being charged?

Thanks,

Adam

 

[triptyx]

There's a great article in Pool School for this:

Pool School - Leak Detection

Looks like you might need to perform a bucket test.

 

[pooldv]

+1 to a bucket test as the first step. 1/8"-1/4" evaporation per day is normal.

 

[Swampwoman]

Don't forget that some pops are built with an overflow drain...if the rain made the water level TOO high, the overflow drain may be what reduced it.

 

[adamt]

Thanks for the replies. I'll be trying the bucket test tomorrow.

Don't forget that some pops are built with an overflow drain...if the rain made the water level TOO high, the overflow drain may be what reduced it.

I've never heard of that. How do I find out if my pump is one of them? Thanks.

 

[pooldv]

Good idea swampy!

A pool overflow will either be a grate in the tile line that is plumbed to a pipe that takes the water away or it will be a hole at the waterline in the autofill or possibly a skimmer that drains the water away from the pool. Do you normally have to pump/drain water out of the pool when it rains? Or does it fill to the top after heavy rain?

 

[Burnthorne Pool Service]

If you have not noticed any leaks prior to this it is more than likely the built-in overflow. Look along your tile line for this, it's usually a white/gray grate or some sort of hole where water can flow when it gets above a certain point.

-Eric

 

[adamt]

If you have not noticed any leaks prior to this it is more than likely the built-in overflow. Look along your tile line for this, it's usually a white/gray grate or some sort of hole where water can flow when it gets above a certain point.

-Eric

Definitely no noticeable built-in overflow. Nothing out of the ordinary in the skimmer either.

- - - Updated - - -

Good idea swampy!

A pool overflow will either be a grate in the tile line that is plumbed to a pipe that takes the water away or it will be a hole at the waterline in the autofill or possibly a skimmer that drains the water away from the pool. Do you normally have to pump/drain water out of the pool when it rains? Or does it fill to the top after heavy rain?

The last big storm we had, I backwashed some water out to get the high water level down to normal.

 

[Swampwoman]

In the skimmer the of overflow drain there will be a 1" hole at the back of te skimmer BC. Skimmers cme with this hoe ready for knock-out if the builder chooses to use. Call your PB and ask if he installed an verfl. Alternately, the bucket test will tell you what's up in another day or so

 

[miles267]

Can someone post a pic of what this skimmer knockout hole looks like?


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[adamt]

A quick question about the bucket test for this problem...how do I plug the outlets and inlets? Does the local pool store sell a plug or cover?

 

[triptyx]

Can someone post a pic of what this skimmer knockout hole looks like?

http://wiredstar.com/images/AutoDrain.jpg

 

[miles267]

Thanks. Doesn't appear my Sta Rite U3 skimmers have this option.


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[adamt]

Did a 12 hour bucket test. It wasn't perfect because it rained last night, however the water level in the bucket went up slightly while the pool level went down about an inch.

So what's my next step?

Thanks

 

[zea3]

You can try plugging the returns and skimmer line and see if the leak continues. If you have a main drain you will also need to plug it. Once all the lines are plugged try the bucket test again. If the water level holds then 1 of your lines may have a break underground. Unplug one line at a time and use the bucket test to identify which line is leaking.

If that does not identify a leak check for leaks by squirting food color or leak detector dye around the light fixture and any other openings in the shell of the pool. You are looking for the dye to be sucked into the leak and not just dissipate in the water.

If those methods don't identify a leak you can let the leak go and see how far down it leaks. If it leaks past the lights and returns then your problem may be in the main drain or a crack somewhere in the shell of the pool.