Thanks for the in-depth approach to locating possible leak points. Found our leak in 10 min after watching your vid. Previously spent 1 month with zero results
This year I'm stuck with replacing the liner and stair gaskets. Is it better to use a silicone in between the liner and stairs, as a preventative leak measure? Or are there any tips you offer installing the liner specifically around the stairs. Thanks for the great videos!
Thanks for sharing your video, that was a lot of information for things to check. I’ve watched about 6 videos now on pool leak detection and YOURS was ONLY ONE that covered vinyl liner’s which mine has. I actually do have a couple of those Half moon shaped cuts and for some reason I didn’t think water had anywhere to go through them but after watching this I can see I have some work to do. Thanks so much. Excellent video! 👍👍👍
hi. the three strips that frame the pool stairs appear to be on a track? for removal to inspect the screws during leak detection do I slide it somehow or pop it off? how would I remove that trim without breaking it or damaging the liner?
My pool water level is 1/2” above the light in the pool. Would you suspect a leak at the light? Or would my water level need to be lower than the light?
It is hard to jump to any conclusions with leaks, but certainly yes that light is now suspect numero uno. A very common light failure is the point where the wire (conduit) connects to the top/back of the light niche. Sometimes these are done with plastic nipples that break, sometimes they are done with metal nipples that corrode, but right at the top of your light for the water line to stop is pretty specific. If this were my pool, well I would dig up the light, but for a quick check for a pool owner you could remove the light from the niche so you can see in there and inspect for holes or damage. Maybe you get lucky and see something. Failing this I would use a product like duct seal compound. Looks like a gray brick of hard play-dough. You jam a bit into the hole where the conduit meets the back of the niche. Like bubble gum into a hole kind of deal. If the leak is here, which a lot of pool leaks are in the light, this should stop it. That duct seal will not harden like epoxy. Do not do this with epoxy.
Steve, if you're spinning a screw in the flange around the stairs how do you address this? How does this get fixed? My pool is filled with water and I've got a screw that's spinning...what do I do?
You would drill a new hole on both sides of the failed one and send in a stainless screw through the back side of the flange. You want the drill bit to be sized just slightly smaller than the screw threads such that you can coax the screw through (by hand, no drill) and have it tap itself into the plastic flange on the back side of the steps. When you do this well you can see the flange pull tight. When done poorly the screw will corkscrew a gap in between the two flange halves. Back the screw out, hold hte flange tight with one hand, and send the screw in again. Once two new screws are in use 100% silicone to patch the spinner hole. Maybe epoxy even, and this is rare because I almost never tell people to use epoxy lol.
I find pools leak more some days than others because a leak will clog itself with leaves and debris. Look in the soft round corner where the side wall meets the floor along the bottom.
We had a pol installed Aug 2017 and found. A leak under the stair flange. The pool company repaired with liquid vinyl. How long will that last? Because the pool is so new I thought they would replace the liner. It's in an area that would be next to impossible for us to have caused the tear.
Not sure what liquid vinyl is...but it sounds like some damage control for this company. In my experience it would be likely to see this leak reappear at some point in the future.
This guy knows his stuff and my guess is that he is an excellent pool installer!
Thanks for the in-depth approach to locating possible leak points. Found our leak in 10 min after watching your vid. Previously spent 1 month with zero results
This year I'm stuck with replacing the liner and stair gaskets. Is it better to use a silicone in between the liner and stairs, as a preventative leak measure? Or are there any tips you offer installing the liner specifically around the stairs. Thanks for the great videos!
Thanks for sharing your video, that was a lot of information for things to check. I’ve watched about 6 videos now on pool leak detection and YOURS was ONLY ONE that covered vinyl liner’s which mine has. I actually do have a couple of those Half moon shaped cuts and for some reason I didn’t think water had anywhere to go through them but after watching this I can see I have some work to do. Thanks so much. Excellent video! 👍👍👍
hi. the three strips that frame the pool stairs appear to be on a track? for removal to inspect the screws during leak detection do I slide it somehow or pop it off? how would I remove that trim without breaking it or damaging the liner?
Some slide out and some snap into place. They often crack and break due to age and chemical damage.
Great Video ,very helpful .
My pool water level is 1/2” above the light in the pool. Would you suspect a leak at the light? Or would my water level need to be lower than the light?
It is hard to jump to any conclusions with leaks, but certainly yes that light is now suspect numero uno. A very common light failure is the point where the wire (conduit) connects to the top/back of the light niche. Sometimes these are done with plastic nipples that break, sometimes they are done with metal nipples that corrode, but right at the top of your light for the water line to stop is pretty specific. If this were my pool, well I would dig up the light, but for a quick check for a pool owner you could remove the light from the niche so you can see in there and inspect for holes or damage. Maybe you get lucky and see something. Failing this I would use a product like duct seal compound. Looks like a gray brick of hard play-dough. You jam a bit into the hole where the conduit meets the back of the niche. Like bubble gum into a hole kind of deal. If the leak is here, which a lot of pool leaks are in the light, this should stop it. That duct seal will not harden like epoxy. Do not do this with epoxy.
Swimming Pool Steve Thank you very much for your help.
Steve, if you're spinning a screw in the flange around the stairs how do you address this? How does this get fixed? My pool is filled with water and I've got a screw that's spinning...what do I do?
You would drill a new hole on both sides of the failed one and send in a stainless screw through the back side of the flange. You want the drill bit to be sized just slightly smaller than the screw threads such that you can coax the screw through (by hand, no drill) and have it tap itself into the plastic flange on the back side of the steps. When you do this well you can see the flange pull tight. When done poorly the screw will corkscrew a gap in between the two flange halves. Back the screw out, hold hte flange tight with one hand, and send the screw in again. Once two new screws are in use 100% silicone to patch the spinner hole. Maybe epoxy even, and this is rare because I almost never tell people to use epoxy lol.
Good info...thx. I'm hoping to find the source of my new leak and this is a great start.
A1
I find pools leak more some days than others because a leak will clog itself with leaves and debris. Look in the soft round corner where the side wall meets the floor along the bottom.
GOOD VIDEO
thank you!
good video
thank you - glad it was helpful for you
Wow.. wish you could come to our house!
We had a pol installed Aug 2017 and found. A leak under the stair flange. The pool company repaired with liquid vinyl. How long will that last? Because the pool is so new I thought they would replace the liner. It's in an area that would be next to impossible for us to have caused the tear.
Not sure what liquid vinyl is...but it sounds like some damage control for this company. In my experience it would be likely to see this leak reappear at some point in the future.