Stumped on this leak.

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M

mikelv1970

Member
Oct 9, 2022
5
Las Vegas NV
Hello.. So, we have a large inground pool built prob 30yrs ago. It has 2 cracks that are leaking some water (used dye). Not sure on the volume yet. I think 1 light is also leaking. Those leaks i will fix but i have a much larger leak somewhere else. Its leaking weather pump is on or off. More when running. No air anywhere in system from suction side. But.... When i turn off pump, regardless for length of time, every return jet is sucking water backwards. To clarify.. Pump is off... 1 hour or 48 hours makes no difference. I can take the dye & every return nozzle in the pool will suck the dye into the return. Ive checked the drain line where it connects to the waste water going out to sewer line, & its dry. Pump doesnt ever get any air or lose prime. I started digging the return line from pump out towards pool, because i was sure the leak was on return line & it runs directly under a stupid tree my mom planted years ago trying to hide the equipment from view. But now im not sure. Ugh.. Im only like 5-6 ' from tree, & i would have thought i should see wet dirt & sand by now, but no. Im losing 2-3 " of water in 24hrs. I stopped my digging last night to see how far the level is gonna drop. Any ideas would be great. Im stumped on the water being sucked backwards though. Im gonna make some contraption so i can use the dye to look at both drains. Thanks for all ideas.
 
Mike,

On most pools all the return lines are tied together.

This means that if one return line is leaking then they all are leaking.

I have never had any luck using the dye test.

If this were my pool, I'd plug all the returns and make sure that the leak stops. If the leak does not stop, then the problem has to be somewhere else. If it does stop, at least you know you are in the right track.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Have you tried a leak detection company to try to find the leak (or general area of the leak) so you know where you should dig? It appears to be on the return lines, but you need to know where and as Jim stated, mostly likely the returns are all on a single line around the pool so it may not be on the line from the equipment pad but elsewhere on the loop.
 
I nevrr found the leak.. our pool had 2 skimmers that Teed into a single 2" line, then to pump inlet. Well i took the line from far skimmer & made it my return. I also had a dedicated 1" line from pump area that fed a pool sweep at the 1/2 way mark. I put a reduced 90 that i can change flow. I thought i would have a dead spot in 1 area, but i was wrong. Wow i cant believe how much 2" pvc fittings are now. Anyway, im more than happy w/outcome. The psi is even perfect i ball valved every line in case i needed to reduce flow on any line.
 
I did consider the stop leak stuff.. very seriously. But i read that if the leak isnt on the lower 1/2 of the pipes, your outa luck. I also read some people said it workedfor 1 season then leak returned. To be honest.. after all the digging, & different attempts to locate the leak, going the way i did just made the best sense. But i will say.. 2" PVC fittings have gone through the roof price wise.
 

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