New pool owner Chico, CA

[Joel B]

We have just put in a pool, they put the acid in friday and we are brushing away, anxiously waiting to be able to swim.

I am also dealing with a leak and the pool company is closed until Tuesday so that is exciting.

Is anyone able to tell me what the plumbing with the yellow handles would be? It is dumping water from the green top. I turned the valve off to stop the flooding of the yard but am not sure if I should keep the pump running?

 

[Divin Dave]

Hi Joel,
The thing with yellow handle is a pressure vacuum breaker valve. Its basically a "backflow preventer". The purpose of it is prevent "contaminated" water from being sucked into the drinking water supply in the event the water main line pressure is lost.

The only reason I can think of for it being on a swimming pool is that your autofill (if you have one) is plumbed into the main water line that leads back to your water meter.

If you dont have an autofill, then there is no need for that valve at all.

it might be the source of your water leak. If that valve is lower than the water level in the pool, it will leak. Most city codes require those valves to be either 12 or 16 inches higher than the highest point of ground on the property.

What you can do to see if its the source the leak, is do a bucket test with that valve off. This video shows you how. If you pass the bucket test, the valve is the problem.

 

[Joel B]

I opened the autofill and the leak stopped. It was connected Friday but he did not open the valve.

Fingers crossed that was it

 

[Divin Dave]

Good deal. That probably was it then.

I opened the autofill and the leak stopped. It was connected Friday but he did not open the valve.

Fingers crossed that was it