Question about a leak in my gunite pool

[Mark Sil]

Hello everyone, we own a large gunite pool with a hot tub in the shallow end and a large deep end. I recently paid to have the skimmers replaced all the tile replaced and coping stone and expansion joint. I did not redo the plaster which saved about half the cost of the project.

Unfortunately, I am now experiencing a loss of water that is significant. I had a leak detection company here and they tested all my lines and they held pressure. They found a small leak where the skimmer interface to the pool shell that was fixed

the pool is still leaking it actually loses water even when below the skimmers and returns

so my question is, is it possible or even Probable that the shell the pool is actually losing water The plaster on top of the shell is pretty old probably 17 years old or so. I actually thought the leaking I saw last year was from the skimmer so I was hoping replacing the skimmers would fix the leak

So my fundamental question is even without obvious cracks, can the thinning plaster cause the pool to lose water? I don’t know what else to do at this point other than pay to have it re plastered and cross my fingers.

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

How much does the pool leak per day or per week?

Have you done the bucket test?

Read…

Leak Detection

A number of things can cause leaks in your pool. You can learn tricks for leak detection and how to pinpoint where your pool is losing water.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Mark Sil]

I lose over an inch a day. I have done the bucket test and dramatic difference between water loss in the pool, losing much more than the bucket.

In addition, it does appear that I continue to lose water even after the water level is below pretty much every line and I have lost water when the plumbing is not running and I’ve plugged pretty much everything

 

[ajw22]

Do you have main drains?

Do you have a hydrostatic valve?

 

[Mark Sil]

There is a main drain at the very bottom of the deep end

the Pool company that did my tile work indicated that it wasn’t leaking and or didn’t really function.

I have dye tested pretty much every opening except for that one.

Also, when the pool was empty, it did hold water nicely when we got rain earlier this spring so it wasn’t leaking with a little bit of water in it

is it likely that old plaster can actually begin to let the pool seep, losing water through the shell itself?

 

[ajw22]

I have dye tested pretty much every opening except for that one.

I would carefully look at the main drain area.

Also, when the pool was empty, it did hold water nicely when we got rain earlier this spring so it wasn’t leaking with a little bit of water in it

You need to let the pool leak and see where the water stabilizes.

is it likely that old plaster can actually begin to let the pool seep, losing water through the shell itself?

Unlikely but all it takes is one real crack someplace.

 

[Mark Sil]

I have just let it sit. Here’s a picture of the pool not able to run the filtration system really at this point so you can see it’s green, but that level seems to be where it’s stopping. In other words no more Leak. It seems to be holding water at this level.

I would think it’s unlikely it’s the hydrostatic valve in the deep end or it would just keep leaking. I would think.?

Logic seems to point to some form of a leak in the pool shell or plaster at about that level, correct?

Again, it actually continued to draw down to about this level, which is well below any of the skimmers and all of the returns

 

[bmoreswim]

I'm glad you reached the point where it stopped. I would now add about 1" of water to the pool so it will leak again and then die test around the entire perimeter of the pool.

Also, measure down from the tile to the current height so you have on record the exact level where the water stops leaking in case that is needed at some point.

You don't have to have green water. You can add chlorine and brush it around. My pool was just under construction and I kept it algae free this way for the week.

 

[Mark Sil]

Thank you

Great advice!