Who could possible give this video a thumbs down?!? It was perfectly done!!! Bravo to an amazing job! Going to start utilizing what you taught me right away to isolate my leak.
Man this video delivered! I've been working on figuring out where my leak is at and this seriously helped. Hurricane Harvey destroyed a lot here in Houston. Luckily my family and I stayed up all night and bailed, mopped, sopped up, water that was trying to flood our house. We used ever single bit of towels, clothing, bed sheets, comforters...ANYTHING that could pick up water. We had water flooding in but also leaking in from the now damaged sun room. Needless to say, it was a bad night for Houston. For us, in the end, our biggest damage was our back yard and pool (which no one covers and isn't qualified for aid). The water level was above our pool which meant our backyard was now our pool and eventually the weight of the water cracked and broke the concrete. Right below this broken slab of concrete is a return line and the water settles at that level any time after we have rain. Next time it rains I am going to plug that one line and see if it drains. Anyways, all that to say, thank you for the information. It's something I haven't been able to tackle but now I am pretty confident in being able to find the problem area. Here's hoping I can get it fixed without spending too much and that my family will be able to enjoy the pool again this summer.
Hi Mark You are amazing!! I appreciate your wonderful you tube video.. You described everything beautifully and your photo is perfect. I know more about pools than I have ever known over 20 years of having a pool. I am in Mississauga, Toronto Ontario Canada and sincerely wish you were hear. I would hire you to fix my pool and install a new liner in a heartbeat. I am a Realtor here and have never known anyone to provide this much expertise to people is a god send. I want to personally thank you. We can’t leave the leak… water leaking like that all winter til April would destroy our pool. After watching your video 4 times it is highly possible it is the light and maybe the drain we have never touched it. Putting a plug in it resolves that issue if it is . The Light was installed but I don’t think the pool person ever put any puddy anywhere. We never used it for years and last year I wanted a light so we had him put it in. Maybe water got behind the liner due to the rains and damaged the broken line - can it be damaged from behind?? Thank you for reaching out to me and providing some suggestions and guidance. We are in the midst of doing these tests you have suggested. Thank you so much Mark.. I sincerely appreciate you !!
Best video I've seen in regards to determing where I might have my pool leak. Now I just have to go out and check each possibility so I can call my pool repairman and give some good history
A great video to explain to the lay person what they need to look for in determining where a leak may be. Very clear, simple explanation and a great help, thanks.
I have an above ground pool and find myself adding water every 4-5 days. Thanks for this info! Will start testing to see if i can find out which type of leak I have
This is helping me immensely understand how to tackle and be informed about my pool leak and proceed by myself or at what point I need a pool professional. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and may God give you abundantly a whole lot more!
This tutorial is unfortunately, exactly what I need. Just bought a pool home in Florida, two weeks after taking possession I found the pool leaked. I'm heart broken but trying to stay positive and this video helped just a bit with that.
I live in Florida too, and have had a pool for over 23 years. I thought it would be great to own a house with a pool, but have come to realize the novelty quickly wears off, and soon it is just something to throw money 💰 into. I would never buy another house with a pool.
@@Dave-co1cv OH No. I would never own a home in Florida without a pool! We do everything in our Lanai. It's our #1 living area. We cool off, eat, sleep, cook, play games, relax, party...everything in our pool/Lanai. Our pool wasn't leaking by the way. It was evaporation. I wasn't use to the massive evaporation in FL.
Wow. Simply the best explanation/directions on how to systematically and quickly find a leak. Even with the low tech drawings (which are awesome), this is by far the best!
I have been watching all Mark's movies and I am really impressed with the details and with his level of knowledge . I am working to find leaks on my pool ..., not easy but I hope with his help I will find out soon where the leak is. Thank you very much Mark !
This is a great find. Though we're at the end of the season, I am still trying to figure out why my above ground pool continues to lose water. I will try this approach over the next few days and report back. Thanks.
Wow. Now that is how to explain in detail a complex troubleshooting technic. Good job! I suspect a leak in my inground pool as I have to fill a 20x40 pool each day as it loses an inch of water that I refill with the hose. It even happens overnight. I am however going to do the bucket test properly by leaving it in the steps with water at the same level in the bucket as in the pool just to eliminate evaporation. Although i seems excessive. I will lose my chemicals quick and my salt if it is a leak. There are patches on the steps where return lines must of been. Especially since the pool shed wall says "steps". A color dye should find tnat one easy.
Super professional Sir mine was a combo .Skimmer guilty , and a bit of grout repair crack repair and surface drain . The cool part is Didn't need to drain the pool all structural above the second row of tiles thx sir
Definitely a thumbs up video because it was very informative and well done. My only critique and perhaps this will be addressed in the other videos is where is this magical place in the world where all pools have threaded wall returns and drain pipes? In nearly 2 decades of pool work in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area I’ve yet to see a single threaded drain. I’ve lost count of how many drain covers I’ve replaced and not once has a drain pipe been threaded. As far as returns I don’t know if it’s 50/50 or something similar but some returns are threaded and some are pressed. This video has me wishing everything was threaded.
Thanks for your input, l have noticed this as well. There are 4 parts to this video series where l have mentioned this. Some drains have deeper wells that still have enough thread to screw into. Drains or returns that are not threaded or do not have enough thread left, you can use an expandable rubber plug to seal it off. Thanks for watching.
Thanks Mark! I appreciate the information. Our local pool maintenance company (PAP) are crooks and total idiots. I plan to follow your recommendations and will keep you posted.
Excellent info, trying to determine my pool leak now, no drain after plugging the skimmer holes, now checking return lines, also heard of a natural dye test to check holes. Cheers
My man out here saving lots of money and headaches!!! We just bought a new house and there's an inground pool, previous owner has never had a leak or other issues. I just started it and it's losing about 2 inches a day. We found cracks in the stairs, so hopefully the putty will be the solution to my sleepless nights lol.
❤❤Your AWSOME! I just paid a pool place and they can't find the leak so thank you . They didn't do anything you did .they just squrited dye . So I am hoping I can do some of this , per your Excellent Instructions. QUESTION... I'm ordering the 1022 from Amazon. But someone from leslies pool supply told me , if I had an inground pool 30k gallons that i needed a 2inch for my skimmer baskets , so im a little confused. could you please address this . And if I do need a 2 inch what would I get ? I didnt see a 2 inch 1022 ... Also is there any reason to turn the skimmer basket valves off when plugged ,because of pressure on the motor? Thank you in advanced , im gonna follow you i hope you share more info on pools , and anything else . I lost my husband and im trying to learn to care for the home ....and pool ❤❤❤❤❤❤🙏🏼
There are a lot of questions that l have. (Size of pump, filter, number of skimmers and the type of pool and the equipment that you have etc.) In order to help you better, check out my patreon page where l can work with you one on one. I not only do phone sessions but l also do virtual service calls and l can even help with the leak that you have. If you need this l will be glad to help. Thanks for watching.
Wow! Finally understand how to find where the leak is. I explained the exact symptoms to repair pros and got different answers. One actually came out and told me to drain the pool and install a new master drain unit. The minute I took the old one out I knew that wasn't the problem. It was nice and tight with no sign of a leak. Filled up the pool and still detected a leak of about an 1 1/2 inch a day. I'm betting it's a pressure return line since it only seems to leak when the pump is off. So where is the water going? I don't see anything in the backwash line or any sign of water anywhere around the pool.
Amazing! Well done Mark. You answered my questions without any blather. Some of those guys just have too much to say without saying much. Thank you for information that is actually beneficial and practical. Keep up the good work. I hope they pay you well.
Great explanation of how to actually diagnose the leak. I flew airplanes for a living. What is wrong, how to you fix it, and how do you know? Great questions. Too many "professionals" jump to well this is the usual solution to the common problem. Could be, but show me why. I seem to have an intermittent leak. Goes down below the light, returns, skimmer intake when we close in the Fall.. Filled up last spring. After initial fill it stayed pretty level, added water like once a week, and added a bag of salt like once a month. Figured I had a manageable leak. Left for CO in Sept for a week. Came back. Pool was down 6 inches. Got my attention. Closed it after a few weeks of filling and adding salt. Pool went down to below light, skimmer Inlet, returns, and pool sweep fitting. I have a salt chlorine generator, but given the leak, I am using chlorine shock/tabs. Had a pool leak service come out.. Stated all return lines were good. The pool sweep line was good six inches in.. Line from skimmer to pump was good. When I vacuum with the skimmer cover in place, I get lots of air. Started vacuuming with hose direct to the intake. No air, so tells me the hose is intact. After reviewing video, I will start process again. Though I believe plugging the drain line and the lower skimmer input line will stop the leak. Great video. This is one you can follow the logic. I like that.
Wow! Very well presented. Thank you for sharing your knowledge as I think I discovered where the leak is now because I though that if the water is above the light, it can't be the light! Thanks again!
I am so happy to have found this video I've been frustrated beyond my mental capacity because the groundin and around my pool is muddy and obviously there's some type of a leak and I did not know where to start I dug holes maybe 10 12 feet apart from each other to see how high the water raises and this is the side of the pool that is between the light and the skimmer on the right side of the pool and this video I believe is going to give me the tools I need to attack this correctly my pool was built-in 1996 so it's a bit older in ground plaster pool. And I'm not sure if the plugs and so on you mentioned will work but I'm so happy to at least have a starting point and a plan to follow. thank you for the honest approach. simple clear video on how to attack a leak in your swimming pool I've got my fingers crossed say a prayer for me. I'm going to give it a try wish me luck.🙏👍🇺🇲🍀
I very rarely spend hours finding a leak. Can usually do it in about 15 minutes. Where the water stops is a pretty good indicator of where the leak is.
Thank you. I think this is a great educational video for a homeowner to identify the type of leak, but I never had a technician visit our house and take my word on the cause of the problem. How do you rule out the evaporation rate? I swear I lose 1/4-in to 1/2-in per day to evaporation. If you have a leak in the backwash line while in filter then that must mean you have bad seal in the filter?
@@PappyNet01 If you are leaking out of the backwash line while in the filter position this is a leak that could account for the loss of water that you are experiencing. You need to check the spider gasket or the diverter gasket inside the multiport valve. I have videos that deal with multiport repair that will help, however you have to watch the video that pertains to the type of valve that you have because there are different valves. You can have evaporation, however the amount of water loss is determined by the outside temperature compared to the temperature in the pool. For example, if the pool is warm and the outside temperature drops at night you will have more evaporation. Thanks for watching.
@@HallmarkPoolSupplies Thank you for a quick response. We have a Hayward Sand Filter and I believe the control valve is a Jandy Vari-Flo Diverter Valve on top of our sand filter. I will check you videos
Hi Mark, great series of videos. I have an old gunite pool with fiberglass sides built in the 60's. It's been leaking water for the last several years but we haven't address it. We lost most of the water over the winter (live in Michigan) and before filling it I want to replace the valve but it's brass and I'm not sure the best tool to use. The water is green so I'll have to pump it all out so I can work on it but I don't want to leave it dry long. Any suggestions/tools to remove it? Should I place it with brass or a pvc fitting? If I have to torque on it too much I'll just leave it and just add water, I don't want to open a can of worms. Thanks.
You can use a pair of channel locks. Most hydrostatic valves today are PVC. I would recommend to drain and clean the pool first, then inspect the valve, then put about a foot of water over your drain and mark the water level. Come back 24 hrs and if it holds then you should be fine. If the water drops then I would replace the valve before filling the pool all the way up.
Thank you for the very well detailed video. I just paid someone to "fix" a leak in our pool that cost me thousands 😢 I can't afford to pay anymore for more "fixing." Two days later my pool is still leaking almost an inch in 24 hours. Im going to attempt and figure this out myself. My pool returns dont have eye balls that come off, they seem to be all one piece. I'm wondering if they are old return fittings? If so is there another way?
The eye ball fittings in the returns should screw out if you are trying to plug them. If you have an older concrete pool, you may have a straight pipe for the returns. If this is the case, then you would just plug the pipe. Some older pools have return fittings that are glued in. If you email some pictures of your return jets l will be glad to take a look at it for you. Thanks for watching.
@@KayaK0791 A structural leak is not related to plumbing (suction or pressure). A structural leak can be a crack or hole in the surface of the pool, using a mask underwater will magnify and makes it easier to see. If you find a spot that is questionable you can use dye, however the water has to be still and you have to be right on the spot in question to see if the dye disappears. Structural leaks can also be a cracked skimmer, light, or steps just to name a few. It will be a process of elimination. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for these videos. I'm hoping you're still seeing comments/questions...I'm making the assumption that whether the pool is "on" or "off" for each of these tests, the autofill must always be turned off, correct?
Great informative video! So I now ran the initial test and found more water was leaking when the equipment was on. Next step being is to plug the return lines and see what happens. If water is still dropping, I guess it's safe to assume it's coming from somewhere in the vinyl liner?
According to what you’ve said, there’s a good possibility it is in the return lines if it was leaking more while the equipment was on. Feel free to call me if you have any questions. Our hours are Tuesday - Saturday 10-5pm est.
@@HallmarkPoolSupplies thanks for the quick reply. I ordered some liquid solar cover and am going to test that out before I continue searching for leaks. There's a very good chance I'm losing water due to evaporation.
Evaporation does occur, however it’s usually minimal but can be more depending on temperatures and time of year. If you are experiencing more loss of water than normal you may have a leak. In time, leaks usually get worse. Thanks for watching.
Great video & I love the process of elimination approach. I'll add, of greater value is there's no substitute for experience, your experience! We are experiencing water leakage with the pump off. Would you consider the Hydrostatic Relief Valve as a normal maintenance/replacement item? Secondly, is the 1.5" valve size more common than the 2"? I have subscribed.
@@HallmarkPoolSupplies Tks for your reply. Yes there's a working single light. Also a waterfall stone fountain. You have sparked my interest in the HRV as it's probably the original with the previous owners of the house and the "spool" built some 10yrs plus. My understanding the HRV has a life expectancy of 5-7yrs. We do frequently use the Hayward 350 propane heater on chilly nights. I think I'll tackle the obvious & just replace the relief valve as a process of elimination. That's why I was asking about routine maintenance. I'll go into your trouble shooting process chart if I don't see a major improvement. BTW, in Central Florida. Thanks again.
@@miszced The HRV by Hayward is for both 1.5” and 2”. Hopefully this will fix the leak. If you need to troubleshoot more feel free to call me anytime. I will be back in the office on Monday.
@@HallmarkPoolSupplies thanks Mark. We have already ordered the Hayward HRV through Amazon. Next quest is the removal tool. Rather surprised at its cost for a one time use. A neighbor had mentioned some tools are rentable at the pool supply companies. Here we have Pinch-a-Penny & Leslie. So far costs vs benefits has worked out well & it's worth the momentary headache. Also, if I learned something that's a bonus. Thanks, I'll probably take you up on the email.
Thank you so much! This is great! My pool was down to the return line this morning and now I have an idea what the problem could be. My return is just a flat cut pipe. I would like to see a video (if it is possible) how to convert to a fitting so I can install a return powered fountain. thanks!
Glad I could help. I will consider that for one of my upcoming videos. If you like, give me call and I could discuss a few things regarding your return fitting.
Thank you kindly I don’t have a drain line at the bottom of the pool. It’s sitting on the side rather about 2 feet from the surface of the pool. Would I consider plugging that while running the pool to check for leak? I’m worried that if I plug it, it would create more leaks. Thanks
@@azrak555 You can plug the drain and run the pool off the skimmer line. Isolating each line is a process of elimination in order to help you find the source of the leak. There are 4 parts to this video, once you have determined the type of leak that you have you can watch the next video. If you need more help check out my Patreon page and l will be glad to go into more detail on this issue. Thanks for watching.
When doing the first few steps in measuring the difference of water loss between the filter on and off, does the water level need to be above the skimmers?
Only when running the pool 24 hrs on, when you are checking the pool 24 hrs off it does not matter. If you have any questions feel free to contact me I will be glad to help.
Awesome tutorial on leak detection Mark! (I hope you are still monitoring this video!?) I'm only loosing 1" of water when the system is running in 7 hours, (presumed pressure loss) so how can I test that scenario if all 5 returns are plugged but requires pressure for the loss? (No backwash equipment loss) How can I be sure the return lines aren't leaking if the system has to be running to loose water? Could a leak be above the water line on suction side but requires pressure to reach the higher elevation (of a suspected) leak? FYI- I do loose the prime sometimes, but not always. May be the window gasket that I'll clean and re-grease)
If you have a pressure leak it will leak regardless if the pump is on or off, however, it will leak more when the pump is on. I will be glad to help you, feel free to contact me and I can discuss this further with you.
A leak in the suction line would cause a lot of air/bubbles while the pump is running . When the pump is off it would leak like any other static leak. Correct? Is dye a good way to check for leaks when you don't want to wait 24 hrs?
I discovered that the 2" Jandy valves on the suction line can also be an air leak source. Behind the valve cover is an o-ring seal. Both valves on my system had cracked o-rings. I replaced them and used some silicone grease around them, and no more leaks. No video even mentions this.
Hi, when you close the skimmer or return jets and wait for 24 hours to check the leak, is the pool pump needs to be turned OFF? Thanks in advance for your response.
Hi, thank you for this video. Last night around 7pm when I shut my filter & pump off to my in ground pool I marked the water line. I woke up at 8am to see my water line approx an inch below my mark from the night before. So it seems I’m losing water with my pump off. Does that mean my leak is likely on the suction side? I have no backwash line leak. Today at 10am I shut off filter/pump & I plugged both skimmers & marked water line. If water level holds I assume my leak is on suction side? Thank you!
The only comment I have is to include (maybe first thing)--to check pool liner to see if any patches of holes or thin tear lines--let alone sun damages areas.
Very good way of explaining.. im new to pool home and its been ten days water is going low and lower.. I suspect to be a drain or light now.. since it is way below than skimmer and return lines. Thanks for the video
Sir Mark, question please. I have two return lines. What if hypothetically, one of them has a leak after doing the test you just demonstated, is it okay to plug one of the return and only use one of the two? Thanks in advance
No, if you plug one return you will still have a leak. The return lines are tied together, so you will have to find and repair the leak. Thanks for watching.
Yes, you’ll want to plug it but there are a lot of variables in regards to the question you asked. If you’d like to go into greater depth, give me a call sometime Tuesday- Saturday 10-5 pm est.
I stumbled across your videos a couple weeks ago. I have been trying to locate a leak in my fiberglass pool all summer. It loses about 1.5 inches a day when the pool is on, less when it is off 0.5-0.75 inches. I have plugged all the valves, return jets, skimmer and 2 main drains. It is still losing water. I have been working with a local pool company, he thought it was the main drain. The ground near main drain is noticeably soft from water. I went down with my snorkel mask and plugged the main drains, still leaking!!! They have pressure tested all the lines, but I’m questioning the deck jets line. Everytime we open the automatic cover. I see water in the deck jets and they are not on. Is there a way I can isolate that line? We also had a leak a few years back and they replaced the skimmer box front plate. That seemed to fix the issue then. I have used dye, no noticeable leaks. The water goes well below the skimmer, which doesn’t make sense if it’s the front plate. Could it be a light? I was maybe going to call the pool guy and have him seal everything he could😩
@@karenmason-y4q You should be able to isolate the deck jets but it depends on how they are plumed in from the system to the pool. There are 4 parts to this video series, the next video deals with structural leaks (for example the light). Here is the link to this video, hopefully this will help. Thanks for watching. ua-cam.com/video/dAUxk52kBZ4/v-deo.htmlsi=HX2COdKit-a1MjB0
Might be the best video on UA-cam explaining pool leaks and variety of causes. I just started to look for pool leaks in my pool.
Who could possible give this video a thumbs down?!? It was perfectly done!!! Bravo to an amazing job! Going to start utilizing what you taught me right away to isolate my leak.
I'll tell you who -- it's the pool repair guys...hahahahahahaha
The people who gave it a thumbs down clearly found a serious leak 😂
Perfect, logical, 🎉 presentation
This is for rich people pools…lol
I have a 15x30 oval above ground pool. There’s no drains and my filtering is all above ground….lol
It only takes three days to hopefully identify the leak.
Man this video delivered! I've been working on figuring out where my leak is at and this seriously helped. Hurricane Harvey destroyed a lot here in Houston. Luckily my family and I stayed up all night and bailed, mopped, sopped up, water that was trying to flood our house. We used ever single bit of towels, clothing, bed sheets, comforters...ANYTHING that could pick up water. We had water flooding in but also leaking in from the now damaged sun room. Needless to say, it was a bad night for Houston. For us, in the end, our biggest damage was our back yard and pool (which no one covers and isn't qualified for aid). The water level was above our pool which meant our backyard was now our pool and eventually the weight of the water cracked and broke the concrete. Right below this broken slab of concrete is a return line and the water settles at that level any time after we have rain. Next time it rains I am going to plug that one line and see if it drains.
Anyways, all that to say, thank you for the information. It's something I haven't been able to tackle but now I am pretty confident in being able to find the problem area. Here's hoping I can get it fixed without spending too much and that my family will be able to enjoy the pool again this summer.
this was the best "find the swimming pool leak" video I have found - great explanation
Agreed!!
Agree too
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Hi Mark You are amazing!! I appreciate your wonderful you tube video.. You described everything beautifully and your photo is perfect. I know more about pools than I have ever known over 20 years of having a pool. I am in Mississauga, Toronto Ontario Canada and sincerely wish you were hear. I would hire you to fix my pool and install a new liner in a heartbeat. I am a Realtor here and have never known anyone to provide this much expertise to people is a god send. I want to personally thank you. We can’t leave the leak… water leaking like that all winter til April would destroy our pool. After watching your video 4 times it is highly possible it is the light and maybe the drain we have never touched it. Putting a plug in it resolves that issue if it is .
The Light was installed but I don’t think the pool person ever put any puddy anywhere. We never used it for years and last year I wanted a light so we had him put it in.
Maybe water got behind the liner due to the rains and damaged the broken line - can it be damaged from behind?? Thank you for reaching out to me and providing some suggestions and guidance. We are in the midst of doing these tests you have suggested. Thank you so much Mark.. I sincerely appreciate you !!
Best video I've seen in regards to determing where I might have my pool leak. Now I just have to go out and check each possibility so I can call my pool repairman and give some good history
Thanks for this. My pool water level drops way past the skimmer when not running.
Fabulous video Mark, I have been working on and building pools since 1986, and
I give your video 5 out of 5 inflatable palm trees 🌴 🌴 🌴 🌴 🌴
A great video to explain to the lay person what they need to look for in determining where a leak may be. Very clear, simple explanation and a great help, thanks.
Top shelf instructions. I love UA-cam, and i love you. You’ve saved me thousands. Mark! Your the man!
I have an above ground pool and find myself adding water every 4-5 days. Thanks for this info! Will start testing to see if i can find out which type of leak I have
Very informative, your diagram really gave me a sound understanding of how my pool is plumbed and works. Thank You!
This is helping me immensely understand how to tackle and be informed about my pool leak and proceed by myself or at what point I need a pool professional.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and may God give you abundantly a whole lot more!
Excellent video. When you say to cut off the pool to test for suction and pressure leaks, do I also cut off the valves to my skimmers and drain?
When you turn off the pool you do not have to cut off the drain or skimmer valves. Thanks for watching.
I am now enjoying your follow up videos. Thanks for making them. @@HallmarkPoolSupplies
This tutorial is unfortunately, exactly what I need. Just bought a pool home in Florida, two weeks after taking possession I found the pool leaked. I'm heart broken but trying to stay positive and this video helped just a bit with that.
I live in Florida too, and have had a pool for over 23 years. I thought it would be great to own a house with a pool, but have come to realize the novelty quickly wears off, and soon it is just something to throw money 💰 into. I would never buy another house with a pool.
@@Dave-co1cv OH No. I would never own a home in Florida without a pool! We do everything in our Lanai. It's our #1 living area. We cool off, eat, sleep, cook, play games, relax, party...everything in our pool/Lanai. Our pool wasn't leaking by the way. It was evaporation. I wasn't use to the massive evaporation in FL.
@@RH-qk5lt Most people I know with pools (and I know a lot), almost all echo my sentiment. I'm glad you at least enjoy your pool.
Wow. Simply the best explanation/directions on how to systematically and quickly find a leak. Even with the low tech drawings (which are awesome), this is by far the best!
Quickly? lol
I have been watching all Mark's movies and I am really impressed with the details and with his level of knowledge . I am working to find leaks on my pool ..., not easy but I hope with his help I will find
out soon where the leak is. Thank you very much Mark !
This was an absolutey outstanding video. By far the best I've seen. Thankyou very much for this!
This is a great find. Though we're at the end of the season, I am still trying to figure out why my above ground pool continues to lose water. I will try this approach over the next few days and report back. Thanks.
Thank you so much for taking the time to teach us. God bless you so very much Mark!!
Mark this is the best video I have seen on finding a leak in pools. Thank you for sharing.
This is the best explanation on how to find the leak in the line. Thank you!
Wow. Now that is how to explain in detail a complex troubleshooting technic. Good job! I suspect a leak in my inground pool as I have to fill a 20x40 pool each day as it loses an inch of water that I refill with the hose. It even happens overnight. I am however going to do the bucket test properly by leaving it in the steps with water at the same level in the bucket as in the pool just to eliminate evaporation. Although i seems excessive. I will lose my chemicals quick and my salt if it is a leak. There are patches on the steps where return lines must of been. Especially since the pool shed wall says "steps". A color dye should find tnat one easy.
Thanks for such a detailed explanation. It provides a good understanding of the leak issue.
An excellent explanation of determining a leak. Thank you. Found my leak in the skimmer. Small hole
Super professional Sir mine was a combo .Skimmer guilty , and a bit of grout repair crack repair and surface drain . The cool part is Didn't need to drain the pool all structural above the second row of tiles thx sir
Thank you so much! I hope it’s a simple light that is my problem. It’s been dead for months and now something’s leaking. Will check!!! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Definitely a thumbs up video because it was very informative and well done. My only critique and perhaps this will be addressed in the other videos is where is this magical place in the world where all pools have threaded wall returns and drain pipes? In nearly 2 decades of pool work in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area I’ve yet to see a single threaded drain. I’ve lost count of how many drain covers I’ve replaced and not once has a drain pipe been threaded. As far as returns I don’t know if it’s 50/50 or something similar but some returns are threaded and some are pressed. This video has me wishing everything was threaded.
Thanks for your input, l have noticed this as well. There are 4 parts to this video series where l have mentioned this. Some drains have deeper wells that still have enough thread to screw into. Drains or returns that are not threaded or do not have enough thread left, you can use an expandable rubber plug to seal it off. Thanks for watching.
Thanks Mark! I appreciate the information. Our local pool maintenance company (PAP) are crooks and total idiots. I plan to follow your recommendations and will keep you posted.
Protect this man at all cost😂 thank you
Excellent info, trying to determine my pool leak now, no drain after plugging the skimmer holes, now checking return lines, also heard of a natural dye test to check holes. Cheers
Let us know if you have any other questions.
Sr, you explain pretty good and with a lots of knowledge
great, really clear- I'm going to try it out now
My man out here saving lots of money and headaches!!! We just bought a new house and there's an inground pool, previous owner has never had a leak or other issues. I just started it and it's losing about 2 inches a day. We found cracks in the stairs, so hopefully the putty will be the solution to my sleepless nights lol.
❤❤Your AWSOME!
I just paid a pool place and they can't find the leak so thank you . They didn't do anything you did .they just squrited dye . So I am hoping I can do some of this , per your Excellent Instructions.
QUESTION...
I'm ordering the 1022 from Amazon. But someone from leslies pool supply told me , if I had an inground pool 30k gallons that i needed a 2inch for my skimmer baskets , so im a little confused. could you please address this . And if I do need a 2 inch what would I get ?
I didnt see a 2 inch 1022 ...
Also is there any reason to turn the skimmer basket valves off when plugged ,because of pressure on the motor?
Thank you in advanced , im gonna follow you i hope you share more info on pools , and anything else . I lost my husband and im trying to learn to care for the home ....and pool ❤❤❤❤❤❤🙏🏼
There are a lot of questions that l have. (Size of pump, filter, number of skimmers and the type of pool and the equipment that you have etc.) In order to help you better, check out my patreon page where l can work with you one on one. I not only do phone sessions but l also do virtual service calls and l can even help with the leak that you have. If you need this l will be glad to help. Thanks for watching.
Excellent video - best tutorial on UA-cam for sure! Thanks for sharing the wisdom!
You're actually great and you're very helpful!
Great video explaining to check lights too for leaks well done Mark.
What an amazing teacher! Thank you so much Mark❤
Wow! Finally understand how to find where the leak is. I explained the exact symptoms to repair pros and got different answers. One actually came out and told me to drain the pool and install a new master drain unit. The minute I took the old one out I knew that wasn't the problem. It was nice and tight with no sign of a leak. Filled up the pool and still detected a leak of about an 1 1/2 inch a day. I'm betting it's a pressure return line since it only seems to leak when the pump is off. So where is the water going? I don't see anything in the backwash line or any sign of water anywhere around the pool.
Leaks typically go in the ground where you can’t see them. However, if you have any questions give me a call to work one on one.
Thank you !
Mark you’re the man !!
Amazing! Well done Mark. You answered my questions without any blather. Some of those guys just have too much to say without saying much. Thank you for information that is actually beneficial and practical. Keep up the good work. I hope they pay you well.
Great explanation of how to actually diagnose the leak. I flew airplanes for a living. What is wrong, how to you fix it, and how do you know? Great questions.
Too many "professionals" jump to well this is the usual solution to the common problem.
Could be, but show me why.
I seem to have an intermittent leak. Goes down below the light, returns, skimmer intake when we close in the Fall..
Filled up last spring. After initial fill it stayed pretty level, added water like once a week, and added a bag of salt like once a month. Figured I had a manageable leak.
Left for CO in Sept for a week. Came back. Pool was down 6 inches. Got my attention.
Closed it after a few weeks of filling and adding salt.
Pool went down to below light, skimmer Inlet, returns, and pool sweep fitting.
I have a salt chlorine generator, but given the leak, I am using chlorine shock/tabs.
Had a pool leak service come out.. Stated all return lines were good. The pool sweep line was good six inches in.. Line from skimmer to pump was good.
When I vacuum with the skimmer cover in place, I get lots of air. Started vacuuming with hose direct to the intake. No air, so tells me the hose is intact.
After reviewing video, I will start process again. Though I believe plugging the drain line and the lower skimmer input line will stop the leak.
Great video. This is one you can follow the logic. I like that.
Thanks, feel free to contact me to trouble shoot or if you need help.I will be glad to help.
Amazing, professional, friendly, well explained video! 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! Thank you!
Mate you're a bloody legend..... brilliant video, if you're ever in Australia I'll buy you a few beers
Wow! Very well presented. Thank you for sharing your knowledge as I think I discovered where the leak is now because I though that if the water is above the light, it can't be the light! Thanks again!
I am so happy to have found this video I've been frustrated beyond my mental capacity because the groundin and around my pool is muddy and obviously there's some type of a leak and I did not know where to start I dug holes maybe 10 12 feet apart from each other to see how high the water raises and this is the side of the pool that is between the light and the skimmer on the right side of the pool and this video I believe is going to give me the tools I need to attack this correctly my pool was built-in 1996 so it's a bit older in ground plaster pool. And I'm not sure if the plugs and so on you mentioned will work but I'm so happy to at least have a starting point and a plan to follow. thank you for the honest approach. simple clear video on how to attack a leak in your swimming pool I've got my fingers crossed say a prayer for me.
I'm going to give it a try wish me luck.🙏👍🇺🇲🍀
this is the best video on the subject, thanks so much.
Very helpful Mark, thank you so much.
I very rarely spend hours finding a leak. Can usually do it in about 15 minutes. Where the water stops is a pretty good indicator of where the leak is.
Explained well & great visual diagram!
This is a very good video. I'll try to find the leak in my pool right away. Thank you.
Thank you. I think this is a great educational video for a homeowner to identify the type of leak, but I never had a technician visit our house and take my word on the cause of the problem. How do you rule out the evaporation rate? I swear I lose 1/4-in to 1/2-in per day to evaporation. If you have a leak in the backwash line while in filter then that must mean you have bad seal in the filter?
@@PappyNet01 If you are leaking out of the backwash line while in the filter position this is a leak that could account for the loss of water that you are experiencing. You need to check the spider gasket or the diverter gasket inside the multiport valve. I have videos that deal with multiport repair that will help, however you have to watch the video that pertains to the type of valve that you have because there are different valves. You can have evaporation, however the amount of water loss is determined by the outside temperature compared to the temperature in the pool. For example, if the pool is warm and the outside temperature drops at night you will have more evaporation. Thanks for watching.
@@HallmarkPoolSupplies Thank you for a quick response. We have a Hayward Sand Filter and I believe the control valve is a Jandy Vari-Flo Diverter Valve on top of our sand filter. I will check you videos
great content! Great teacher! Nice to see someone who is passionate in the trade!
Great idea smart way to detecting leak thank you so much
Hi Mark, great series of videos. I have an old gunite pool with fiberglass sides built in the 60's. It's been leaking water for the last several years but we haven't address it. We lost most of the water over the winter (live in Michigan) and before filling it I want to replace the valve but it's brass and I'm not sure the best tool to use. The water is green so I'll have to pump it all out so I can work on it but I don't want to leave it dry long. Any suggestions/tools to remove it? Should I place it with brass or a pvc fitting? If I have to torque on it too much I'll just leave it and just add water, I don't want to open a can of worms. Thanks.
You can use a pair of channel locks. Most hydrostatic valves today are PVC. I would recommend to drain and clean the pool first, then inspect the valve, then put about a foot of water over your drain and mark the water level. Come back 24 hrs and if it holds then you should be fine. If the water drops then I would replace the valve before filling the pool all the way up.
Very well explained. Thank you!
This is a fantastic channel! Thank you for all of the information, clearly explained... AWESOME!
This was very helpful. Now to apply what I've learned.
Very informative and very helpful video. More power to your channel.
Great video and well explained!
Thank you for the very well detailed video. I just paid someone to "fix" a leak in our pool that cost me thousands 😢 I can't afford to pay anymore for more "fixing." Two days later my pool is still leaking almost an inch in 24 hours. Im going to attempt and figure this out myself. My pool returns dont have eye balls that come off, they seem to be all one piece. I'm wondering if they are old return fittings? If so is there another way?
The eye ball fittings in the returns should screw out if you are trying to plug them. If you have an older concrete pool, you may have a straight pipe for the returns. If this is the case, then you would just plug the pipe. Some older pools have return fittings that are glued in. If you email some pictures of your return jets l will be glad to take a look at it for you. Thanks for watching.
Dang this video helped soo much, best one I’ve seen. Thank you!
Fantastic video!!!
If its a STRUCTURAL LEAK could you tell us how to go about finding it
@@KayaK0791 A structural leak is not related to plumbing (suction or pressure). A structural leak can be a crack or hole in the surface of the pool, using a mask underwater will magnify and makes it easier to see. If you find a spot that is questionable you can use dye, however the water has to be still and you have to be right on the spot in question to see if the dye disappears. Structural leaks can also be a cracked skimmer, light, or steps just to name a few. It will be a process of elimination. Thanks for watching.
Outstanding Mark. Very helpful.
Wow!!! Ain’t nobody better!!! Thanks!
Thank you for posting this! I will use this to find my own leak and save about 200 dollars.
Great video!
Can i apply Shmear over pool putty? ...or nust i remove the pool putty somehow?
@@bcbarc7044 No, you need to remove the putty before you schmear. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for these videos. I'm hoping you're still seeing comments/questions...I'm making the assumption that whether the pool is "on" or "off" for each of these tests, the autofill must always be turned off, correct?
Yes, this way you can get a more accurate measurement of water loss. Thanks for watching.
Great informative video! So I now ran the initial test and found more water was leaking when the equipment was on. Next step being is to plug the return lines and see what happens. If water is still dropping, I guess it's safe to assume it's coming from somewhere in the vinyl liner?
According to what you’ve said, there’s a good possibility it is in the return lines if it was leaking more while the equipment was on. Feel free to call me if you have any questions. Our hours are Tuesday - Saturday 10-5pm est.
@@HallmarkPoolSupplies thanks for the quick reply. I ordered some liquid solar cover and am going to test that out before I continue searching for leaks. There's a very good chance I'm losing water due to evaporation.
Great video.
My pool guy says a lot of his clients have pool go low likely due to evaporation. How would you go about this.
Thank you
Evaporation does occur, however it’s usually minimal but can be more depending on temperatures and time of year. If you are experiencing more loss of water than normal you may have a leak. In time, leaks usually get worse. Thanks for watching.
Great video & I love the process of elimination approach. I'll add, of greater value is there's no substitute for experience, your experience! We are experiencing water leakage with the pump off. Would you consider the Hydrostatic Relief Valve as a normal maintenance/replacement item? Secondly, is the 1.5" valve size more common than the 2"? I have subscribed.
That is possible. Does your pool have a light?
@@HallmarkPoolSupplies Tks for your reply. Yes there's a working single light. Also a waterfall stone fountain. You have sparked my interest in the HRV as it's probably the original with the previous owners of the house and the "spool" built some 10yrs plus. My understanding the HRV has a life expectancy of 5-7yrs. We do frequently use the Hayward 350 propane heater on chilly nights. I think I'll tackle the obvious & just replace the relief valve as a process of elimination. That's why I was asking about routine maintenance. I'll go into your trouble shooting process chart if I don't see a major improvement. BTW, in Central Florida. Thanks again.
@@miszced The HRV by Hayward is for both 1.5” and 2”. Hopefully this will fix the leak. If you need to troubleshoot more feel free to call me anytime. I will be back in the office on Monday.
@@HallmarkPoolSupplies thanks Mark. We have already ordered the Hayward HRV through Amazon. Next quest is the removal tool. Rather surprised at its cost for a one time use. A neighbor had mentioned some tools are rentable at the pool supply companies. Here we have Pinch-a-Penny & Leslie. So far costs vs benefits has worked out well & it's worth the momentary headache. Also, if I learned something that's a bonus. Thanks, I'll probably take you up on the email.
Thank you so much! This is great! My pool was down to the return line this morning and now I have an idea what the problem could be. My return is just a flat cut pipe. I would like to see a video (if it is possible) how to convert to a fitting so I can install a return powered fountain. thanks!
Glad I could help. I will consider that for one of my upcoming videos. If you like, give me call and I could discuss a few things regarding your return fitting.
Thank you kindly I don’t have a drain line at the bottom of the pool. It’s sitting on the side rather about 2 feet from the surface of the pool. Would I consider plugging that while running the pool to check for leak? I’m worried that if I plug it, it would create more leaks. Thanks
@@azrak555 You can plug the drain and run the pool off the skimmer line. Isolating each line is a process of elimination in order to help you find the source of the leak. There are 4 parts to this video, once you have determined the type of leak that you have you can watch the next video. If you need more help check out my Patreon page and l will be glad to go into more detail on this issue. Thanks for watching.
Excellent info! Thanks!
When doing the first few steps in measuring the difference of water loss between the filter on and off, does the water level need to be above the skimmers?
Only when running the pool 24 hrs on, when you are checking the pool 24 hrs off it does not matter. If you have any questions feel free to contact me I will be glad to help.
Thumb up for this video. Thanks very much Mark!
Thanks Mark.... that'll help me on my new pool job
Best videos I have seen yet
A Excellent & Great video, I learned alot & thank you for your time & Knowledge!
Rockstar Video!
well done direct and very informative
You are the Pool King!
Awesome tutorial on leak detection Mark! (I hope you are still monitoring this video!?)
I'm only loosing 1" of water when the system is running in 7 hours, (presumed pressure loss) so how can I test that scenario if all 5 returns are plugged but requires pressure for the loss? (No backwash equipment loss) How can I be sure the return lines aren't leaking if the system has to be running to loose water? Could a leak be above the water line on suction side but requires pressure to reach the higher elevation (of a suspected) leak? FYI- I do loose the prime sometimes, but not always. May be the window gasket that I'll clean and re-grease)
If you have a pressure leak it will leak regardless if the pump is on or off, however, it will leak more when the pump is on. I will be glad to help you, feel free to contact me and I can discuss this further with you.
Excellent explanation! Thank you!
Great video! Very informative. Thank you 🙏
A leak in the suction line would cause a lot of air/bubbles while the pump is running . When the pump is off it would leak like any other static leak. Correct?
Is dye a good way to check for leaks when you don't want to wait 24 hrs?
Nevermind. I watched your other videos.
@@lrc87290 Thanks for watching.
This is probably a dumb question, but when you plug the jets, skimmer, etc. do you leave the water pump running?
No, make sure the pump is off when you plug your jets. Thanks for watching.
I discovered that the 2" Jandy valves on the suction line can also be an air leak source. Behind the valve cover is an o-ring seal. Both valves on my system had cracked o-rings. I replaced them and used some silicone grease around them, and no more leaks. No video even mentions this.
His teaching water leaks..o ring seal would be air leak suction if it is on the intake line.. won't cause water Level to drop
WOW, thank you this video was sooo informative.
Great video, thanks.
Hi, when you close the skimmer or return jets and wait for 24 hours to check the leak, is the pool pump needs to be turned OFF? Thanks in advance for your response.
Yes, never run the pump with the lines closed.
Hi, thank you for this video. Last night around 7pm when I shut my filter & pump off to my in ground pool I marked the water line. I woke up at 8am to see my water line approx an inch below my mark from the night before. So it seems I’m losing water with my pump off. Does that mean my leak is likely on the suction side? I have no backwash line leak. Today at 10am I shut off filter/pump & I plugged both skimmers & marked water line. If water level holds I assume my leak is on suction side?
Thank you!
The only comment I have is to include (maybe first thing)--to check pool liner to see if any patches of holes or thin tear lines--let alone sun damages areas.
Very good way of explaining.. im new to pool home and its been ten days water is going low and lower.. I suspect to be a drain or light now.. since it is way below than skimmer and return lines. Thanks for the video
Sir Mark, question please. I have two return lines. What if hypothetically, one of them has a leak after doing the test you just demonstated, is it okay to plug one of the return and only use one of the two? Thanks in advance
No, if you plug one return you will still have a leak. The return lines are tied together, so you will have to find and repair the leak. Thanks for watching.
Great video, very logical approach.
If I have a spa do I need to plug all those returns as well?
Yes, you’ll want to plug it but there are a lot of variables in regards to the question you asked. If you’d like to go into greater depth, give me a call sometime Tuesday- Saturday 10-5 pm est.
I stumbled across your videos a couple weeks ago. I have been trying to locate a leak in my fiberglass pool all summer. It loses about 1.5 inches a day when the pool is on, less when it is off 0.5-0.75 inches. I have plugged all the valves, return jets, skimmer and 2 main drains. It is still losing water. I have been working with a local pool company, he thought it was the main drain. The ground near main drain is noticeably soft from water. I went down with my snorkel mask and plugged the main drains, still leaking!!! They have pressure tested all the lines, but I’m questioning the deck jets line. Everytime we open the automatic cover. I see water in the deck jets and they are not on. Is there a way I can isolate that line? We also had a leak a few years back and they replaced the skimmer box front plate. That seemed to fix the issue then. I have used dye, no noticeable leaks. The water goes well below the skimmer, which doesn’t make sense if it’s the front plate. Could it be a light? I was maybe going to call the pool guy and have him seal everything he could😩
@@karenmason-y4q You should be able to isolate the deck jets but it depends on how they are plumed in from the system to the pool. There are 4 parts to this video series, the next video deals with structural leaks (for example the light). Here is the link to this video, hopefully this will help. Thanks for watching.
ua-cam.com/video/dAUxk52kBZ4/v-deo.htmlsi=HX2COdKit-a1MjB0
Great job explaining how to find a leak!
Fantastic resource, thank you. This is great information.