Let's play "Where's my leak?"

[SinistrV6]

OK. Pool definitely has a leak. Lost 4" in 24 hours (this is a new development but has been losing water for a week at a slower rate). When I came home today to the 4" loss, I turned off the starving pump and began to refill the pool. The level yesterday was at the "full" indicator on the skimmer housing. This evening it was below the skimmer housing but above the return eyes.

I searched the forum and I'm leaning toward a main drain (it has 2 that tie into one suction line) leak. I'm filling it again just so that I can observe the system in operation to make sure that the valve on the sand filter isn't letting water go to "waste" while it's circulating. It discharges under the fence into a drainage ditch and with the heat and lack of rain, any evidence disappears pretty quickly.

We replaced the lateral assembly and filter sand two days ago, btw. I saw no damage to any of the laterals but I was getting dirt/sand in the pool.

Hmmmm..... dirt and sand in the pool....did I just talk myself into thinking the return line (discharge to the eyes) is leaking.....letting water out and educting some dirt in??

Your thoughts?

 

[ajw22]

Have you gone through the steps described below ...

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

 

[SinistrV6]

Have you gone through the steps described below ...

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

Starting that today. I got enough water in it last night about 11pm to restart the circulation. As of 8am it's lost a 1/2 inch. I was able to rule out the Vari-Flo Valve on the sand filter though. Nothing discharging to "waste".

 

[SinistrV6]

Blocked the 4 discharge "eyeballs" today around 11am. Almost 12 hours later...no water loss. I think it's safe to say that I've located the line(s) that are leaking. Now, I guess I have to dig it up.....

 

[duraleigh]

We replaced the lateral assembly and filter sand two days ago, btw. I saw no damage to any of the laterals but I was getting dirt/sand in the pool.

Richard 320 has a great saying, "The last thing you fixed is the first thing to break"

As a precaution before you dig up pipes, I would make darn sure that repair was buttoned up properly.

I can't understand how blocking the returns would stop any leak??

 

[SinistrV6]

Richard 320 has a great saying, "The last thing you fixed is the first thing to break"

As a precaution before you dig up pipes, I would make darn sure that repair was buttoned up properly.

I can't understand how blocking the returns would stop any leak??

Blocking the returns doesn't allow water to back down the piping when the pump is down. If the pump is running, of course it's pumping out through the leak. Blocking the returns and suctions just proves the integrity of the pool itself and shows that the plumbing is leaking.

 

[SinistrV6]

Richard 320 has a great saying, "The last thing you fixed is the first thing to break"

As a precaution before you dig up pipes, I would make darn sure that repair was buttoned up properly.

I can't understand how blocking the returns would stop any leak??

Not sure how the sand and lateral change in the filter could cause a leak without being able to see it (either spraying out or discharging to Waste). It's all tight and no leaks.

 

[pookiesunshine]

are you seeing any damp areas between the filter and the pool along the run of the return lines or are the return lines mostly covered by concrete?

 

[SinistrV6]

are you seeing any damp areas between the filter and the pool along the run of the return lines or are the return lines mostly covered by concrete?

Not yet. I've looked and felt around alot.

 

[duraleigh]

I get it with blocking the returns AND the suction side.......that makes sense.

Just a reminder to review your repair which it seems you have done. No sense digging until you are positive.

 

[SinistrV6]

I get it with blocking the returns AND the suction side.......that makes sense.

Just a reminder to review your repair which it seems you have done. No sense digging until you are positive.

The reason I blocked the discharges and not the suctions is two fold. It lost water well below the skimmer level so those as a source of the loss seems highly unlikely. Also, the pipe plugs I bought wouldn't fit the skimmers and I was holding off trying the Main Drains until last.

When I blocked all the returns, the water loss stopped. Just luck that it happened in that order.

Update: Since I lost no water with all 4 discharges blocked, I opened them up, 1 at a time in 4 hours intervals with the pump running. 3 open so far, with no loss. They're all branches of the same return line, so it really shouldn't matter but I'm grasping at straws.

 

[SinistrV6]

Update: No water loss overnight (about 13 hours with the pump off). Set pool back to normal and observing.

 

[SinistrV6]

Sooo..... I experienced no water loss since my last post (over a month ago) until yesterday. Suddenly lost 3" last night.

 

[sktn77a]

Let's see......... its not October 31st yet but I think your pool may be haunted!

 

[SinistrV6]

Let's see......... its not October 31st yet but I think your pool may be haunted!

LOL, that's as good a theory as any!!

 

[wjr75]

Have a non-vinyl pool but my leaks have been around the skimmer plate. Buy some red die for detecting leaks in put a few drops in without the pumps on around the skimmer plate. A liner leak probably tougher to solve. I didn't see the earlier posts when I posted this originally . I did have my hydro staic valve in my spa and pool main drain leak twice in the past.

 

[SinistrV6]

Additional info: I'm seeing bubbles in the return jets. Pulling air into a suction line somewhere?
Anyone?

 

[ajw22]

Additional info: I'm seeing bubbles in the return jets. Pulling air into a suction line somewhere?
Anyone?

Leak from the O ring on the pump lid is often the culprit. You use Pool Lube on it?

Suction Side Air Leaks

If you see air bubbles coming out of the return lines in your pool, you likely have a leak. Some signs that a suction side plumbing leak has occurred include: Read more

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[SinistrV6]

Leak from the O ring on the pump lid is often the culprit. You use Pool Lube on it?

Suction Side Air Leaks

If you see air bubbles coming out of the return lines in your pool, you likely have a leak. Some signs that a suction side plumbing leak has occurred include: Read more

www.troublefreepool.com

I'll look at that. May account for the bubbles but not the massive leak. I guess it's time to start digging.......ugh!

 

[mas985]

The bubbles and leak may not be connected. A suction side leak will not leak water when the pump is on so leave the pump on for 24 hrs and see if you have the same leak. It should only leak water out when the pump is off. A return side leak is faster with pump on vs off. If it is the same with the pump on or off, it is probably not in the plumbing.