Newbie With Leak

[p_tp]

Hey all

I have an ongoing issue with a leak(s).

16x32 inground steel walled , cement floor with vinyl liner that is 5 years old, no rips or holes. I have been losing water since opening last spring...all last summer it lost water and i can't figure it out.

The issue is i only lose water when the pump runs. Turn off the pump and the level is fine for days.

I lose about 2 inches a day and its not evaporating that quick.

So...., it started after i changed the skimmer unit (Jacuzzi brand) on the wall. All New unit, new gasket....new everything. I thought it was leaking from the connections in the base of the skimmer so i put a pan under it....nothing

I thought it was from the main floor drain at the bottom of the deep end, i put my scuba gear on and closed that drain hole....no change....i swam every friggin inch of that pool...no issues with the liner.

I thought it was the seals around the jets, they "look" good. Now i think it may be the underground return lines from the filter/pump to the jets....the main return from the skimmer to the pump seems to hold water. Could i lose that much from gaskets around the jets and only when the pump is flowing?...wouldn't it just leak always ?

Now....my big question....can anyone suggest a way to try and troubleshoot a leak in the feed/return lines??

Any kind of pressue test or dye ?

I've heard the pool store suggest to me they have some kind of ultrasound that can see through the ground to detect flow/leak issues....sounds expensive and a bit of hocus pocus. I will have to break up alot of expensive concrete to get to this fix...so i would like to be as accurate as possible.

After all this.....i really appreciate any help you can give me...short of tearing it all up to replace lines....a million thanks and a standing offer of free beer to anyone who stops by...i'm in canada so its a bit out of the way.

cheers-----chris----

[Pool Clown]

Since it only leaks during the pump run, It's got to be in the plumbing (sorry). See if you have a leak detection service in your area. Get ready tho, They tend to be expensive, but they usually can pin point where your leak is. Beats the search and destroy method.

[dagnabit9]

You might want to look for someone in your area that has a small camera on the end of a flexible line (I don't remember for the life of me what that's called) - kinda like when they scope your knee and such. That might pinpoint a crack in one of your inlet or return lines. Hope this helps..

- Jon

[pooltech9]

The leak is in a return line. If you have more than one, isolate and plug them one at a time, run the pump and see which one leaks. You can make your own pressure test kit with a few plumbing supplie so as to use the pressure from your garder hose to run the test. You'll need a valve to turn it off and a pressure guage downstream from the valve.

[p_tp]

Thanks....i am afraid it is a jet/return line...and i have 3 of them....the problem will be after i find the culprit...1000sq ft of concrete deck surrounds my pool...to break that up it gonna be a crappy job. And expensive to replace....damn.

Anyone have a link or some idea as to what i should use to make a pressure test/leak down set-up. I live in a fairly rural part of Canada and i don't think we have any reputable leak specialists...but i will make some calls.

I just want to have a good idea of what it could be, so when i call in the pro's they don't go off on a tangent and cost me alot of $$ or make mistakes....imagine tearing up that deck and its not the issue.....:eek:

Thanks folks....any continued help...or advice i can give....is awesome.

Next issue....solar panels....

[sprint72]

Thanks....i am afraid it is a jet/return line...and i have 3 of them....the problem will be after i find the culprit...1000sq ft of concrete deck surrounds my pool...to break that up it gonna be a crappy job. And expensive to replace....damn.

Anyone have a link or some idea as to what i should use to make a pressure test/leak down set-up. I live in a fairly rural part of Canada and i don't think we have any reputable leak specialists...but i will make some calls.

I just want to have a good idea of what it could be, so when i call in the pro's they don't go off on a tangent and cost me alot of $$ or make mistakes....imagine tearing up that deck and its not the issue.....:eek:

Thanks folks....any continued help...or advice i can give....is awesome.

Next issue....solar panels....

The easiest way to find a leak is to disconnect your lines at the filter. Plug your line at the pool and then fill the line with water. The line should stay full, if it does not there is your problem. It may not work with a small leak but 2 inches a day is not a small leak. Unfortunately the best way to fix this after you find the bad line is to run a new line. If you know where your lines are in the ground you can dig it up in the middle cut it and test again, this way you may narrow down which half of the line is bad.

[Pathfinder]

What part of rural Canada?

[p_tp]

What part of rural Canada?

Espanola....near Sudbury

[Just4fun]

What part of rural Canada?

Espanola....near Sudbury

If your water drops when the pump is running its a pressure leak (from pump to pool).

best way to test is 1) make up a couple of fittings one with a car tire/bicycle fill valve. another with a pressure guage and a couple of sealed ends. 2) attach fittings so the line at the filter is closed off; the opens at the jets into the pool will have a fill valve screwed in and the other with the pressure guage and the last one sealed. Fill the line with air 30 psi is good. make note of the pressure if you have a leak it will keep falling and not hold.

To find leak a pro uses a pair of heavy listening devices(stethescope like) to hear the air escaping under the deck or if you're lucky, under the sod. You may be able to use an upside down clay pot placed on the deck with the drain hole up and listening carefully for the hisss. If you use high enough air pressure the hiss is quite loud. IF the leak is under the sod, the grass /ground area would be green and wet. Sooo its likely under the concrete.

When you find it by listening (moving the pot along the deck from the jet towards the pump.) you'll be able to cut the deck right above the leak. The pipes run along the outside of the pool wall and all gang together when the get close to the filter/pump.

[Higgs]

Thanks....i am afraid it is a jet/return line...and i have 3 of them....the problem will be after i find the culprit...1000sq ft of concrete deck surrounds my pool...to break that up it gonna be a crappy job. And expensive to replace....damn.

Anyone have a link or some idea as to what i should use to make a pressure test/leak down set-up. I live in a fairly rural part of Canada and i don't think we have any reputable leak specialists...but i will make some calls.

I just want to have a good idea of what it could be, so when i call in the pro's they don't go off on a tangent and cost me alot of $$ or make mistakes....imagine tearing up that deck and its not the issue.....:eek:

Thanks folks....any continued help...or advice i can give....is awesome.

Next issue....solar panels....

I just went through this - same deal with concrete burying the pipes. I hired a leak detection agency and they pressure tested the pipes, etc. It was pricey ($400) but I needed to know because of the same issue you have (pulling up concrete). I think it worth the peace of mind but I am sure there are ways you can do it yourself for less..