Pool Leak

[Mcfalcons15]

Hello. My pool is leaking and I have no clue where it could be coming from. I'll try to detail the best I can below.

My pool ws finished last October. I left the pool open for about a month to care for the new plaster, then scheduled to have the pool closed by a professional. When I opened the pool, I think the water was at about the light level (not 100% sure).

The pool loses a lot of water, but loses more when the water is higher (at skimmer height or above). If I put the water halfway up the tile, and let the skimmer run overnight, but the morning, the water is at the bottom of the skimmer, and the skimmer is no longer pulling in enough water to be effective (pulling in air). When the water is at or above the skimmer line, whether the equipment is on or not, you can see the water flowing out of the hill on the side of the pool. I noticed it when I was surveying the hill for a retaining wall. The water was just running right out and down the hill. I checked around the tile, and top of the pool plaster for cracks, but didn't see any. There is also wet soil at the deep end looking like it is starting at the light housing, and running around the edge of the pool/cement patio. There is also a small circular wet soil spot at the outlet that was installed since the pool was not within 20 feet of my outlet on the rear of my house.

Once the water is below the skimmer line, the water no longer flows out of the hillside, but the area still looks a bit wet, but the soil around the deep end/cement patio, remains wet. This made me think it was the light conduit, since I know the electric runs under where the wet soil is, but there is also water pipes under there, but we had a professional close, and I opened this spring, so I'm sure it is not a leak from a cracked pipe due to frozen water. Maybe a bad seal from installation.

Anyway, I am still under warranty, and was instructed to let the pool leak until it stops, which I think will be at about the light level, then they said they will come out and patch up the light, as they believe that is what is leaking. Does this sound accurate? I have a brother-in-law who is a plumber, and he said he didn't think it was the light, since the water coming out of the hillside is above the light level, and the water would not flow upwards. I'm not sure if that is accurate or not. Also, why would it only flow out of the hillside, when the water is at or above the hillside??? If it was the light, wouldn't the leak be the same as long as the water level is above the light?

Here is a video of the water leaking out the hill. https://vimeo.com/user98050780/review/333807368/c80c8ee08c

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[ajw22]

Start with the easiest fix first. Leaks from the seal around the light wire and is a natural thing to check first.

 

[DorsalSpine]

I have a similar problem. From what I've read online and heard from my pool guy it is not uncommon for there to be a leak around the light wiring. Mine is a 20 year old pool and it was due for a new liner anyway. I'm replacing the liner next week and they will dig into the light at the same time.

 

[Mcfalcons15]

Thanks. I'll let the water run down, then have them come out. Hopefully that will be the fix.

 

[Becky9007]

Your pictures look very similar to what my pool looks like (new construction May 2018) with water around the deck and running off outside the concrete decking. It has been doing this since a few days after we filled it! We finally discovered that it is a leak/crack in the skimmer. Over the course of the year, they have repaired other pinhole sized leaks, but those repairs never solved the problem of water coming out of our deck seams. Good luck to you! I'll be following to see if someone has good advice that may help us as well!

 

[mysunenergy]

I am facing this problem thanks for helping us.

 

[Mcfalcons15]

So an update on this situation. The pool company was supposed to schedule someone to come out to look at the light, but because of the rain, and the warranty specialist being away for a few days, this still hasn't happened. Anyway, during a pretty hard rain during the day, I could notice dirt building up around the light, then moving around the entire pool. At this point, I'm pretty sure the light is the culprit, but wanted to post the pics here, just in case anyone has any insight on this.

If it is the light, is it a simple outside pool to plaster seal fix, or will they need to seal up the cracks from inside the light housing? I'm so done with the pool company, I want to get this done myself, since pool season is fast approaching.

Thanks!

 

[tstex]

Your leak seems to be at the light since you have an influx of foreign debris into the pool However, it doesn't mean that there is also not a leak at the skimmer or higher than the light, but you have to start at the lowest point first, then fill w water.

If you suspect water loss elsewhere, have the pool repair person drop some dye near the skimmer if there's no wind and water is very still; this will give you peace of mind,,,,

 

[cancuntom]

tstex,
Thanks for the reply. We have done the dye tests with no results. The pool pro just left and he will be back on Monday. He is going to run a pressure leak down test on the 3 lights. It means digging the lawn up in 3 spots and if we get lucky and find the one we suspect may be where the problem is some repair work and new water (again). Fortunately we have a well down into an cenote on the property. I have a sump pump and a timer on it and use it to sprinkle my lawn and for make up water in the pool. Wish us luck. ..........Tom

 

[Texas Splash]

If the light niche is confirmed as the culprit, often times it's because the soil moved and the conduit cracked where it goes to the niche. But we'll be curious to see what the pool techs discover during their investigation.

 

[cancuntom]

I have a question that perhaps you could reply to? When the 2 skimmers were originally put in as the pool was being built I noted that there are 2 drop outs of their bottoms. The pool builder tee'd them together just out of the skimmers and I've always thought that one pipe should be go back to the pump to protect against water level falling below the rectangular skimmer intakes in the side of the pool. That way those pipes could provide water from 18" lower in the pool? Thanks. ......Tom

 

[Texas Splash]

Skimmers by design are sometimes made with two holes. In some pools, one hole goes to a main drain and they share suction back to the pump. For pools that don't use a main drain, they usually plug the unused hole. In your case, I guess they decided to simply connect them both to the same line (skimmer).