Possible Leak and an idea for fixing it

[FloopyDoops]

Hi there, I have a leak in my 12,000 gallon Fiberglass pool that’s about 40 years old. I’m losing about a half inch of water a day. I’ve done an ink leak test around the jets and found one spot where it does seem to flow underneath the jet around the rubber gasket. The rubber gasket is definitely frayed so this could be the culprit, or one of them. I can only unscrew the eye of the jet and its surrounding housing, but this leak is under that and would require me digging behind the wall of the pool, which is doable, but not ideal. My other idea was to drain the pool below the leak, rip off that gasket and seal it with something that would be ok underwater in a Salt Water pool, what that would be…maybe you could help. Or if this idea would even be feasible. I also have replacement gaskets that I could possible jam in there, but I don’t know if that would work without proper tension against the housing and the pool wall.

 

[duraleigh]

That eyeball fitting screws onto the return pipe that is protruding through the pool wall, correct?

 

[FloopyDoops]

That eyeball fitting screws onto the return pipe that is protruding through the pool wall, correct?

Yea basically there is the eyeball, the round disc that holds the eyeball and has threading and then there is the actual pipe with the gasket that is stationary and that I suppose has something underground on the other side of the pool that can be tightened? That last part is where the leak is. So I think it is leaking into the ground because the ink doesn’t disappear into the eye of the jet when the Jets are off. Does that answer you?

 

[Texas Splash]

You might look into a Frakenplug. See my experience below. It worked and held me over long enough until I could get the time and courage to dig down there and do the repair right.

Leak Detection (Pressure Side), Results, and Frankenplug

After 9 years it finally happened – the dreaded leak. Here is my story. In the San Antonio area we have black clay soil that is horrible for structural support of any kind and often causes problems for home foundations, fencing, asphalt, pools, etc. When we observed excessive water loss, I...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[FloopyDoops]

That’s a really good idea. I wonder thought if the leak isn’t between the wall of the fiberglass pool and the outside of the pipe, rather than anything inside the pipe. That piece might only fix the inside?

 

[Texas Splash]

That piece might only fix the inside?

They come in different lengths, so if you do a measurement from the outside of the pool wall inside to where the PVC turns (i.e. elbow), then you should know what size plug to get. The plug basically bypasses that part of the line give you a new "tunnel" of sorts for water to flow through.

 

[FloopyDoops]

Just an update, I drained the pool below the jet and saw that the gasket is disintegrating and on the bottom the pipe isn't flush against the wall of the fiberglass. This is definitely letting water escape around the fitting, rather than anything being broken inside the pipe. I put a bunch of resin epoxy around the gasket and I’ll let it set for a day and see what happens when I fill up the pool. It ain’t pretty, but I can always fix it down the road.

 

[User777]

FYI- a great product to seal leaks is Epoxybond pool putty: https://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Epoxy-Pool-Putty-Set/dp/B0002Z0NBY. Feels like silly putty when you apply it, but hardens like plastic when cured.