So, my new build (owner/builder) was just plastered (Pebble Fina Bella Blue). I specifically asked the Plaster company if they take care of the drains as part of the plaster job and they advised yes. Well, plaster is complete and pool had a leak. Plaster company made me hire a leak detection company on my own dime and they found the leak at the hydrostatic pipe. The plaster company cut the pipe flush with the floor and never installed the hydrostatic relief valve. Company is waiting for report from leak detection company but am I correct in assuming they should have installed the valve? If they refuse to fix, how difficult of a job is it for DIY?
Pool Leak After Plaster New Build
- Thread starter aaronc1976
- Start date
- May 23, 2015
- 24,450
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
I've only ever heard of plaster companies installing the return eyeball fittings and drain covers after plaster is complete. The hydrostatic valve is the plumber's job. Depending on the diameter of the pipe in the main drain, it could be as simple as gluing on the valve ...
Question though - do you honestly need a hydrostat? Typically you only need those if ground water is close to the surface. My pool has no hydrostatic valve because the nearest source of ground water is a couple of hundred feet below the surface ...
Question though - do you honestly need a hydrostat? Typically you only need those if ground water is close to the surface. My pool has no hydrostatic valve because the nearest source of ground water is a couple of hundred feet below the surface ...
- Jul 21, 2013
- 52,964
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
A hydrostatic relief valve screws into a threaded pipe. Your plumber should have setup the appropriate pipe for it to be installed in.
Your main drain should have a side port for the suction and a threaded bottom hole for the valve or a plug.
The plasterer just installs the drain covers.
Your main drain should have a side port for the suction and a threaded bottom hole for the valve or a plug.
The plasterer just installs the drain covers.
Plumber just stubbed up through the shotcrete and capped off pipe. Plaster company cut both pipes flush and stuck a drain cover on it. The pipe was a 1 1/2 PVC pipe with holes drilled into it that went a couple feet down into crushed rock. Why would the plaster company cut a pipe with a bunch of holes in it flush knowing it would leak?
- Jul 21, 2013
- 52,964
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
You had a failure to communicate. A proper main drain fixture should have been used by the plumber.
Plaster company thought they were looking at suction pipes.
Is there any way to get one in there now? Like an inside coupler and female adapter without having to chip away at the plaster?
- Jul 21, 2013
- 52,964
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Not likely. You need to get the main drain fixture flush with the plaster. You need to chip out a hole to recess the fixture.
I would just plug the pipes you have there now if groundwater around you is not a problem.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 52,964
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
- Jul 21, 2013
- 52,964
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
I think you will need to drain the pool to get to the pipes for whatever way you want to fix it.
If you are good with diving down or have scuba gear you can put in a rubber winterizing plug in the pipes temporarily.
If you are good with diving down or have scuba gear you can put in a rubber winterizing plug in the pipes temporarily.
How long will those winterizing plugs be good for until I can figure out how to fix?
- Jul 21, 2013
- 52,964
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Hard to say. A few weeks maybe months if you get them in really solid.
How deep is your pool by those pipes?
Will you have clearance to get the drain cover over the plugs to protect them?
Any pool cleaner will dislodge them.
Pool is only 3.5 feet everywhere. Not sure about clearance. Pipes are recessed down maybe an inch to inch and a half and the cover bubbles upward probably the same.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 52,964
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
If the plugs get kicked they will probably leak or pop out. You can use the rubber plugs if no one will be in the pool.
And they can injure feet if stepped on.
And they can injure feet if stepped on.
Do you think I could get an inside coupler (one that slips inside the PVC pipe and a female adapter and put either the hydrostatic valve (non stepped version like one with only 1 1/2 npt threads) or a threaded plug?
- Jul 21, 2013
- 52,964
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
You need to see if your buildup will fit under the drain cover.
Get some PVC and an extra drain cover and mock it up on land to test the fit before you try it in the pool.
That is how it is inside the pool, so recessed a little. I will try as you say on land otherwise perhaps those expandable rubber plugs will fit in there and allow me to get the drain cover back on.
- May 23, 2015
- 24,450
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Just to be clear - there is no main drain sump there, it's just two PVC pipes running up through the gunite shell? Hard to tell which pipe is doing what function ...
Smaller diameter pipe is the hydrostatic pipe which is causing the leak. Larger diameter pipe is the suction line.