zoomy32

Just thought I would add on to the above post now that I have the ground dug up. The pool company originally installed the pool using a black poly pipe with a red stripe to both jets and the skimmer. The lines were installed under the concrete apron that surrounds the pool. Following the pipes to the apron from the pump shed, they sort of rise and drop like a roller coaster from about 2 feet down to a foot down. I dug a trench along side the apron and am tunneling into the side of the pool to the connection point. I am going to install new lines in the trench that have a slope downward towards the pool jet and skimmer. I decided to go with black poly pipe with a white stripe. It is the same pressure rating as the red but is not CSA approved for Potable water. It is rated at 75 psi. I figure if these lines don't last then I am only out $125 approx. as I bought a $100 ft roll. I have found the leak by removing the winter plug (which is under water) and listening for the gush of water from the leak. The leak is about 1/2 way from the jet to the pump shed under the concrete. This is the same type of line that is used buried in the ground for wells other then the white stripe is not approved for use for drinking water supply. I am guessing that the line originally split either because the rise and fall of the line created pockets of water that I could not blow out easily, or the frost heaved it to the point where it broke. Well poly pipe is buried at least 3 ft below to protect it from frost. I guess I will see how this lasts. If it doesn't last, I will post my results. Great site by the way

I live in Canada too, and the frost can heave anything above 36" depending on the cold and thaw experienced. Last year I noticed my water level dropping down to the level of the jets. I paid the pool company $2000 to repair it. They first brought in a camera, scoped the plumbing, and at that point they said they had to change a line to one of the jets. Instead of digging up the concrete apron entirely, they cut a narrow slot, and routed a second pipe (flexible) out to the grass and back to the pump while leaving the first one (rigid) buried under the concrete apron. The original pipe where it exited the apron and went under the grass back to the pump was only down about a foot. I had blown all the lines out the previous fall and installed pool antifreeze in them. The pipe still broke. This year the same thing happened on the opposited side of the pool to my second jet. The water level started dropping after I pulled the winter plugs out. I could tell it is this jet because you can feel a suction on the jet if you put your hand on it. This is with the pump off and all other winter plugs removed. I also feel the same suction at the pipe from the skimmer to the pump. I am guessing I have two leaks this year. The suction would probably be normal if it were immediatly after you pulled the plugs as the pipes have to fill up, but this was an hour afterwards and my water level had already dropped about 6 inches. I recognize the concerns of frost by the above poster "Fullspectrum". I would think the flexible pipe would have some give to it, while the rigid wouldn't. My new flexible pipe installed by the pool company less then a foot under the surface of the ground is fine this year. Another option I thought of but much less attractive would be to use a black pipe above ground. This would absorb heat from the sun resulting in warmer water. One would only have to route it downwards to the jets or skimmer at the end of the pool.