Looking for Advice on My Leak Saga

Apr 17, 2017
13
Indianapolis
Good Morning Pool-owning Brothers and Sisters! I've had a leak in my pool all summer after a liner replacement. I'd like to lay out the issues and get your opinions/advice/similar stories.

May 15 - Liner replaced
May 17 - Noticed loss of 2+ inches

It would only leak to bottom of skimmer face and hold.

May 27 - Pool guy came back and added silicone around skimmer and steps.

June 15 - Leak is back

June 15 - August 1 - Pool guy MIA. Refilled pool several times, all this time it never leaked below skimmer face, ran pump on main drains only most of summer unless I had filled it and could watch it, tried my own food color tests around and inside skimmer, step gaskets...nothing. NOTHING.

August 6 - Pool dropped to lowest level! At least 6-9" inches below skimmer face, exposing 1/2 of the returns. still 1" or so above top of light (remember this)

August 15 - Pool guy MIA all summer, so I break down and call in the Leak Detection Company. They find leak in light niche. Mine is plastic. Screws were so tight they broke the anchor screw taking light out. Patched a few areas, including the conduit which didn't need it, but just to be safe they said. When they got here the water level was above the area it had been stopping all summer until the August 6 level (which was right at bottom of face plate on skimmer). I say to them "that is so weird because it never leaked to the light, always stopped above it." They double check after and nope, that was only leak.

August 16 - Oh boy, dropped 1/2" over night. Continued to drop August 17...never got below skimmer faceplate.

August 18 - I over fill it because I am going out of town and Leak Detectors coming back on Saturday the 19th. Level was basically covering the skimmer opening, plus maybe 1/2"

August 19 - Text message from Leak Company that it was in light again. Two more leaks plus one they had already repaired either "got bigger or sucked the epoxy through" (his words) but, again, no other leaks detected.

August 21 - Lost water to bottom of skimmer face plate AGAIN. It's sat like that all week now.

August 23 - Finally texted Leak company and informed. He said "probably in the light again." They guaranteed to fix leak, and no reason to think they won't be back, but no plans yet as I haven't asked when they are coming back. I wanted to get into the pool myself and look at light niche, do food coloring test (light is still out floating in pool), but it got cold this week and I have no heater on pool :) I still feel like I want to get in and look at it myself and devise a plan before they come again (like drain past light so they can do a dry repair maybe??)


Any thoughts on this? Is it weird or not that the leak stops (except that one time August 6) at the exact bottom of the skimmer face plate and, even August 6, never got to light? I have seen NO evidence of the leak, but the light niche is below an auto cover box and the yard slopes steeply past the pool down to a pond. But geez, all of the thousands of gallons I've dumped this summer and yet no wetness anywhere?

I will add some pictures in a bit.

Thank you!
 
I guess what I am really interested in knowing is can the leak really only be in the light niche when it doesn't leak below the skimmer. The picture above is where it has stayed for a week now. It is down about 6" (below skimmer face) but well above light niche.

Thanks!
 
Typically the leak is where the water stops falling. So if they say it is in the light but never gets to the light I would assume it is the conduit that has broke somewhere from the light to where it comes out of the ground. I wouldn't think it's the skimmer if it keeps leaking down past the skimmer.

I would also send a certified letter to the the place the put the liner in. That will be your first step in getting your money back. If they don't respond contact the BBB to file a complaint. Then either contact a lawyer or file the suit yourself.
 
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