My house is on a barrier island in the southeast USA. Lots of construction around me as 50+ year old houses are torn down, dozens of pilings driven 35 feet into the "ground", and then up go the mini-mansions. This has played havoc on my pool. The first two leaks (about 8 years ago and 4 years ago) were on the low pressure side, and it wasn't too difficult or costly for the leak detection professional to determine the source and complete repairs. Earlier this year the third leak was where the PVC pipe joint below the skimmer cracked apart. The repair, which cost over $2500, entailed chopping apart the concrete block encasing the skimmer, replacing all the plastic parts (skimmer & PVC pipe), and pouring new concrete. Instructions were not to use the pool pump for one week afterwards. And the cleanup job, which the repairman left for me, was lengthy and messy. Concrete was all over inside the pool near the skimmer, both chunks and sand. I washed the filter twice, once pumping resumed (I do that myself too). If I ever move again, NO POOL !! Just an above-ground spa.
Initially I thought the bucket idea was a great way to detect leaks, but it made me think that evaporation rates would be different between a bucket and the pool. Surface to volume ratio has a huge effect on evaporation rate, as well as surface agitation. I don’t think it’s safe to assume the two vastly different bodies of water should have the same evaporation rate. Just a thought, as a small business owner in the industry I greatly appreciate your content!
Looking forward perhaps a follow up video that piggy back on the end of this one where you share your seasoned insights regarding pool leaking detection and tips and tricks to determine if leak is in the supply or return or those elements you mentioned.
For several years I had a substantial pool leak (losing almost an inch of water a day). I finally bit the bullet and decided to have the pool leak tested. No leak was found in my lines, so the obvious culprit was the skimmer. But we did not see any cracks in the skimmer, nor was a leak found in that skimmer line when tested. I bought a new one, dug out the entire skimmer line myself, replaced it with PVC pipe (I'm in the Midwest US) reconnected that pipe temporarily to the old skimmer (before the pool guys could come back to break up the concrete and replace the skimmer). Still there was a leak of one inch per day. I watched a bunch of YT videos and one person explained that skimmers can leak when the skimmer gasket (that sits on the vinyl liner at the mouth opening) is NOT adequately sealed and tightened. I ran outside, got a big fat screwdriver and tried to tighten the stainless steel screws around the skimmer plate. I was able to tighten them all significantly, some even several revolutions. This exercise fixed the problem. I no longer have a leak, nor do I have a $500 water bill. The guys who had installed my new liner a few years before really screwed me over.
Brilliant info just in the process of draining my fiberglass pool now as it has a crack in the bottom was a bit dubious about the light and plumbing ect so will def check the light cheers 👍
90 degree down, I wish I would have known this prior to my remodel three years ago. So far no leaks, fingers crossed. Thanks for all your insight over the years.
Would the 90 degrees down still be susceptible to the terrain settlement vS having the pipe run in parallel to the pool wall by 30 cm or so? It seems like this is inevitable but the 90 degree downwards and have the pipe run along the outer pool wall (maybe centimetres of the wall) of sounds like it’s less prone. I’m doing a pool right now and made this suggestion but my contractor thinks it won’t make much of a difference. Would love your input! Cheers.
My jacuzzi is about 5 inches down every morning. While pump is on there’s water on the outside of jacuzzi. So it’s when it’s above a certain spot. There’s tiles cracked. But I’m not sure if it’s the concrete too.
This was an outstanding video, thanks so much. But one question, I see a lot of pool installers ( I like watching here on youtube), throwing away the gaskets for jets, skimmers, returns, etc, and only using caulking. They claim that the gaskets leak. Your thoughts on this ?
I have an in ground pool that has been neglect for years. I was able to restore the pool to clear water before but I thought is was still leaking somewhere . It's now been 3 years since the the pump has ran. My question is that the pool doesn't flood when I get rain but I recently tried the pump and I cant get any suction even if primed. If the top pipe connected to my filter has broken from freezing but my second pipe deeper is still working. Will there be a be void under the cement along the top pipe. I have trees popping through the cement. The pool area is a jungle. Can I stop the bleeding by installing a plug to the top pipe in the skimmer until I can fully restore the pool and not worry that I;m creating a sinkhole in my backyard?
Dear god, why did i not find steve years ago, mistakes were made. But im redoing the whole patio, all the lines, fittings and plumbing right this time.
Curious about your thoughts on spas? I'm thinking of getting a pool. Is a spa/pool combo worth it? Or pool/hottub combo better? I know spa jets can leak. Are they easier to fix one or the other?
The most common leak we come across is an old spider-gasket in the MPV, and water slowly leaks down the filter waste line. That’s always our first place to check.
@@colinarner790 the ball valve would be a massive issue with regular pool employees, new guys would be bound to forget to open up the valve before backwashing.
These leaks you described would be fast very obvious leaks, usually I see pudding on the ground surface . My pool leaks very slow , too much to be evaporating yet for 3 years now I can’t find it, new liner, main drain, return lines ? Very frustrating. Thanks.
My house is on a barrier island in the southeast USA. Lots of construction around me as 50+ year old houses are torn down, dozens of pilings driven 35 feet into the "ground", and then up go the mini-mansions. This has played havoc on my pool. The first two leaks (about 8 years ago and 4 years ago) were on the low pressure side, and it wasn't too difficult or costly for the leak detection professional to determine the source and complete repairs.
Earlier this year the third leak was where the PVC pipe joint below the skimmer cracked apart. The repair, which cost over $2500, entailed chopping apart the concrete block encasing the skimmer, replacing all the plastic parts (skimmer & PVC pipe), and pouring new concrete. Instructions were not to use the pool pump for one week afterwards. And the cleanup job, which the repairman left for me, was lengthy and messy. Concrete was all over inside the pool near the skimmer, both chunks and sand. I washed the filter twice, once pumping resumed (I do that myself too).
If I ever move again, NO POOL !!
Just an above-ground spa.
Initially I thought the bucket idea was a great way to detect leaks, but it made me think that evaporation rates would be different between a bucket and the pool. Surface to volume ratio has a huge effect on evaporation rate, as well as surface agitation. I don’t think it’s safe to assume the two vastly different bodies of water should have the same evaporation rate. Just a thought, as a small business owner in the industry I greatly appreciate your content!
Looking forward perhaps a follow up video that piggy back on the end of this one where you share your seasoned insights regarding pool leaking detection and tips and tricks to determine if leak is in the supply or return or those elements you mentioned.
Here is a page I wrote about pool leak detection you might find helpful www.swimmingpoolsteve.com/pages/leak-detection.html
Came to learn about pool patching and resurfacing. Wish I have seen this years ago. SO good!
almost done building my pool and still getting valuable nuggets from steve!
For several years I had a substantial pool leak (losing almost an inch of water a day). I finally bit the bullet and decided to have the pool leak tested. No leak was found in my lines, so the obvious culprit was the skimmer. But we did not see any cracks in the skimmer, nor was a leak found in that skimmer line when tested. I bought a new one, dug out the entire skimmer line myself, replaced it with PVC pipe (I'm in the Midwest US) reconnected that pipe temporarily to the old skimmer (before the pool guys could come back to break up the concrete and replace the skimmer). Still there was a leak of one inch per day. I watched a bunch of YT videos and one person explained that skimmers can leak when the skimmer gasket (that sits on the vinyl liner at the mouth opening) is NOT adequately sealed and tightened. I ran outside, got a big fat screwdriver and tried to tighten the stainless steel screws around the skimmer plate. I was able to tighten them all significantly, some even several revolutions. This exercise fixed the problem. I no longer have a leak, nor do I have a $500 water bill. The guys who had installed my new liner a few years before really screwed me over.
Brilliant info just in the process of draining my fiberglass pool now as it has a crack in the bottom was a bit dubious about the light and plumbing ect so will def check the light cheers 👍
90 degree down, I wish I would have known this prior to my remodel three years ago. So far no leaks, fingers crossed. Thanks for all your insight over the years.
The age of pools I am digging up with this leak problem is like 15 to 25 years. It takes a long time, and the leak starts small.
Would the 90 degrees down still be susceptible to the terrain settlement vS having the pipe run in parallel to the pool wall by 30 cm or so? It seems like this is inevitable but the 90 degree downwards and have the pipe run along the outer pool wall (maybe centimetres of the wall) of sounds like it’s less prone. I’m doing a pool right now and made this suggestion but my contractor thinks it won’t make much of a difference. Would love your input! Cheers.
My jacuzzi is about 5 inches down every morning. While pump is on there’s water on the outside of jacuzzi. So it’s when it’s above a certain spot. There’s tiles cracked. But I’m not sure if it’s the concrete too.
This was an outstanding video, thanks so much. But one question, I see a lot of pool installers ( I like watching here on youtube), throwing away the gaskets for jets, skimmers, returns, etc, and only using caulking. They claim that the gaskets leak. Your thoughts on this ?
Can you demonstrate all these three leaks in the next video ! Thanks
I have an in ground pool that has been neglect for years. I was able to restore the pool to clear water before but I thought is was still leaking somewhere . It's now been 3 years since the the pump has ran. My question is that the pool doesn't flood when I get rain but I recently tried the pump and I cant get any suction even if primed. If the top pipe connected to my filter has broken from freezing but my second pipe deeper is still working. Will there be a be void under the cement along the top pipe. I have trees popping through the cement. The pool area is a jungle. Can I stop the bleeding by installing a plug to the top pipe in the skimmer until I can fully restore the pool and not worry that I;m creating a sinkhole in my backyard?
What's your thoughts on DIY mastic replacement vs hiring out?
Dear god, why did i not find steve years ago, mistakes were made. But im redoing the whole patio, all the lines, fittings and plumbing right this time.
Curious about your thoughts on spas? I'm thinking of getting a pool. Is a spa/pool combo worth it? Or pool/hottub combo better? I know spa jets can leak. Are they easier to fix one or the other?
The most common leak we come across is an old spider-gasket in the MPV, and water slowly leaks down the filter waste line. That’s always our first place to check.
Great feedback for areas with a lot of hard plumbed backwash lines where this can happen a lot before anyone notices!
That’s why when building we always put a ball valve on the waste line off filter, super common issue here in nc
@@colinarner790 the ball valve would be a massive issue with regular pool employees, new guys would be bound to forget to open up the valve before backwashing.
I just had to re-plumb two skimmers all the way to the suction manifold again in the beginning of the season. Paver deck
Seemed like most of the time for me it was skimmers or lights.
These leaks you described would be fast very obvious leaks, usually I see pudding on the ground surface . My pool leaks very slow , too much to be evaporating yet for 3 years now I can’t find it, new liner, main drain, return lines ? Very frustrating. Thanks.
How far down does it leak? It’s likely in the skimmer.
@@tommyjensen6 every thing is newly replaced, yes below the skimmers, funny thing, during the winter it doesn’t leak at all. Thanks.
@@duffmeister6480it doesn’t leak when you close your pool and aren’t running the pump?
@@americanskarbie4430 no leaks during the off season ?