Vinyl liner leak

[pagreenpool]

I have a leak somewhere in my pool, hoping to get some tips from people who have been down this. A few days ago my pool was at the proper level, half way up the skimmer. I noticed it dropping after a couple days and was hoping it was evaporating a little. But then it lost another couple inches after a day. So something is wrong. The water level is now below the skimmer, not sure if it is still dropping... time will tell.

I was looking around the grass around the pool for anything suspicious, and we seem to have a "depression" in the grass that wasn't there before that is slightly wetter than the grass around it (but not overly wet). I was hoping maybe to dig this out (see pictures) and find an issue, but haven't hit anything yet... but only did some minor digging.

Any tips where to go next? I don't really have a "pool guy", I do most of the work myself but if we need to, can definitely go that route. I know if it's a small hole in the liner, I won't be able to tell. Are there other ways to figure out if it's a liner vs returns/skimmers? Do you just wait for it to drain and see where it stops?

Finding these return/jet pipes might be tough, I was thinking of renting a pipe finder... any thoughts on that?

Basically the depression in the yard has me suspicious it is something there, that is 8-10 feet away from the edge of the pool. How does a small leak in the liner usually present itself? Where is that water going?

We had a lot of rain in this area a couple weeks ago (hurricane aftermath)... 8 inches in about 15 hours. Could that have triggered pool issues?

Thanks!

edit: having trouble adding pictures, will try again tomorrow

 

[Texas Splash]

Do you just wait for it to drain and see where it stops?

That's often times a good indicator as long as the leak isn't so far down that the pool runs dry, especially if your water table is elevated. We know nothing about your pool since your signature is blank, so if you can update the signature that could help. Also, we're having website issues with posting pics. Try again in a few as they are actively working it. Pics often help.

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

 

[pagreenpool]

That's often times a good indicator as long as the leak isn't so far down that the pool runs dry, especially if your water table is elevated. We know nothing about your pool since your signature is blank, so if you can update the signature that could help. Also, we're having website issues with posting pics. Try again in a few as they are actively working it. Pics often help.

I got the pictures added... since I've posted it, the water has continued to drain so it is right at the jets in the spa. I am going to monitor for a couple more days and see if it levels out there. If it does, I would assume that is a pretty good indication of a supply problem in those lines.

My question is how to do further troubleshooting. Fill the pool and plug those jets and run the pool with only one jet? Has anyone ever rented a pipe finder to try to locate these supply lines underground? How deep is this stuff usually?

 

[Texas Splash]

Some people will use their own scope to get a bird's eye view in the plumbing, but that may only travel so far. Some returns share a source line, so that can be challenging as well. If you can't confirm a leak through the options noted in the link above, dye tests, plugging/isolating parts of the pool/spa, then you might have to call a specialist who can pressurize the system and listen to find a potential leak precisely.

 

[Tcadwall0]

No pro here, but if you don't have a suction side leak (air in your pump basket / filter) then how would plugging the returns help. If you could shut off the valves to those returns AND plug the returns I could see how that might help more. Pictures of the equipment pad might also help the pro's here.

 

[pagreenpool]

No pro here, but if you don't have a suction side leak (air in your pump basket / filter) then how would plugging the returns help. If you could shut off the valves to those returns AND plug the returns I could see how that might help more. Pictures of the equipment pad might also help the pro's here.

Pictures of the pool right now. It seems the draining has stopped at the water level even with the jets in the seats (see pictures). The water is way below the skimmers and slightly below both other jets (we have 4 altogether). See pictures below.

I can shut off the valves to the returns, yes... and plug those jets. However I am trying to get some help from people who have been down this road before. Like I said we have a depression in our grass that must be where the water is escaping too.

My options are (as far as I can tell)
1) leave water level where it is, dig and hopefully find leak in PVC supplying the spa seats
2) leave water level, rent pipe locator to try to find pipe... not sure if this will work, was hoping to get some feedback
3) fill pool, plug spa seats and turn off that return. Run pool and see if it drains. Would confirm what I already suspect with the water level

Leaning toward 1 but was hoping to get some info here, especially with regard to renting a pipe locator. How deep are these pipes usually?