Repairing underground PVC lines

[aga080]

Hello everyone, I was referred to this forum by an individual on facebook, after reading through some of the sections...what an amazing resource I have stumbled upon! I can't wait to begin reading further about pool chemistry in the future.

The reason I am posting is that I am in a situation with a current pool specialist where he is apprehensive as to how to complete the repair of my pool. In the essence of time, as I am working outside today currently with the inviduals on tiling/accents I am going to copy my posts from facebook as quotations:

"Hello everyone, thank you for accepting me into the group. I am currently restoring a pool that I believe has a collapsed vacuum and skimmer line underneath plaster/concrete. I've brought in an individual that owns a large pool company out of NJ, and he is a little bit apprehensive about our situation and completing the work. Does anyone have any tips/tricks/protocols for locating a collapsed section of pipe accurately and then repairing? Quickly, the process I am considering is using a USB endoscope camera and then cutting, hammering and digging out the section of the collapse and repairing the pipe. Thank you for your time, potential advice, and for reading this, greatly appreciated. "

and

"hey everyone, i really appreciate the replies and the discussion in here. the pool is fairly large 28k gallons with sizable pvc pipes. I have an endoscope camera/snake cam coming today from amazon. I was told years ago by whoever replastered the pool ~2001 that in the process they believe they may have crushed the vacuum line and/or one of the skimmer lines. Mind you this was the company that built the entire pool 10 years before that, so I expected them to return to fix...they unfortunately went out of business. ....... Back to the main point... once I isolate the location of the collapse...what is the process that you would typically follow to repair? "


I hope this provides some of the information that I am looking for, I believe I may have finally found a group online that can accurately help me with my questions. I am in Allentown, Pa FYI. If this is someones specialty and you are regional, please let me know in this thread and I will reach out. I will of course compensate for your time. Thank you everyone.

 

[sktn77a]

If the pipes truly are crushed then that's going to be a relatively simple but large job (digging up the decking, digging down to the plumbing and replacing it). Definitely get the endocam and confirm what the problem is before doing anything else.

 

[jp22lv]

I have a similar situation and I can't even get a call back from any of the local pool service contractors. And my deck is concrete all around. Good luck!

 

[duraleigh]

I just skimmed this thread......are you confidant the pipes are collapsed? Does the circulatory system work at all?

 

[mattcv]

you may wish to look into a plumbing contractor that has specialty equipment, specifically someone that does sewer linings. In some cases they can shoot a liner or epoxy coat a line without digging. This used to be only done on large diameter pipes, but were now doing it with much smaller equipment and I’m doing 1-1/2”-2” pipes. Also, the Ridgid tool company has a camera called the Nano Reel that is specifically made for tiny diameter pipes that will have a 35’-50’ cable on it.