Pools bring a great deal of enjoyment to life. Waterfalls and pools not only beautify properties, but they also provide relief from the heat, opportunities to exercise, and a great environment to relax and enjoy your friends and family. If you’re a pool person, once you have a pool, you wonder how you could ever live without it! Then, one day you notice the water level is lower than usual. You suspect a leak, and yet you see no evidence. Thankfully, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can take to identify whether you need underwater leak repair.
1. Is it Just Evaporation?
Typically, pool evaporation accounts for about one-quarter inch of water loss per day. If you think you’re experiencing a great deal more than that, perform this bucket test to be sure:
- Place a five-gallon bucket on the first step of your pool
- Fill the bucket half-way full and mark the level inside with a permanent marker
- Then mark the pool water level on the outside of the bucket with the marker
- Do not backwash for 24 hours, then compare the two measurements
- The water lost from the bucket should equal the pool’s loss level. If there is a significant difference between the two, there is likely a leak.
2. Check the Filter and Pump
Begin by looking around your filter and pump to see if you detect water spots or damp areas. Especially check your pipe connections, as connections on pipes may leak on occasion. Then try turning on the pump to see if the water spot spreads. A small drip on the pump or filter is not typically responsible for causing a considerable change in the pool’s water level, so it will now be essential to address potential leaking pipe connections.
3. Isolate the Plumbing
To isolate the plumbing, begin by using expandable freeze plugs or threaded plugs to plug all the holes in the pool, including the skimmer, return fittings, cleaner fittings, vacuum lines, and main drain. You can isolate the pool’s body from the plumbing system by turning off the pool’s circulation system and plugging the skimmer and return ports. With all the pool suction and return lines plugged, let the pool sit for a full 24-hours. Then compare the rate of water loss to the amount of loss you noted before inserting the plugs. If the pool loses no water with the returns and skimmer lines plugged but does lose water once you remove these plugs, then the leak is located in the pool plumbing lines, and it’s time to call American Sealants Inc. to repair your underwater leak.
American Sealants Inc. not only creates unique custom pools and world-class water features for zoos, aquariums, and corporations, we also provide onsite inspection and underwater leak repair services for structure surfaces, concrete tank leaks, main drains, viewing panel seals, and filtration equipment. If you suspect a leak, you can troubleshoot and then give us a call, or simply allow us to address your concern. It’s what we do!
