How To Detect A Pool Leak Location
How to find a leak in an above ground pool. If you suspect your pool is leaking, there are several ways to check. Here are three different approaches to pinpoint your pool leak: The bad news is, locating a leak in an above ground pool is extremely difficult.
Run the filter, run the vacuum, skim the top, and brush the bottom and walls. If your above ground pool leaks, finding the leak may not be an easy task. Follow these steps to find out if you have a leak.
Before you start implementing tips and ideas to detect a leakage spot, we suggest you to first check the pool equipment.when you are trying to find a leakage spot in an above ground pool, the most difficult place will be in the vinyl liner. Position it so it’s only a few inches out of the water. Large leaks, especially in the liner, are often readily visible, making it easy to spot and relatively easy to repair.
Finding a leak in an above ground pool is easy. This might take time, since the dye will not immediately move towards the hole or tear in your pool. Instead, only attempt to find a leak in a pool when you know it has a leak.
Sometimes pool owners mistake normal evaporation for a leak in the liner. To find the leak in your above ground pool liner: How to fix a leak in a pool:
If the dye seems to be stationary, it means you likely have the wrong area. Mark the water level of the pool at the skimmer. A leak will either be in the liner or in the skimmer, return fittings, pump, filter and associated hoses.
Leak Detection Test No : The Dye Test
Check The Pool Equipment
Checking the pool equipment for signs of leaks should not be overlooked because the leak may be outside the pool area. Turning the pump on can reveal if the leak is on the pump or the pool tub.
The skimmer and return system at the wall should be thoroughly inspected as these locations are prone to developing leaks.
Be sure to check the outside of the pool for any leaks before checking the inside. An outside leak should be obvious and easy to find. You need to check the bottom of the pool as well and looks for signs of excessive wetness.
Don’t Miss: Where Can You Buy Pool Salt
How To Find A Leak In An Above Ground Pool In Vinyl Liner Material
The water in the above-ground pool decreases naturally, whether it is evaporation or splashed-out water. However, if you regularly have to add more than 2 of water each week, there is a possibility of leakage.
So, how to find a leak in an above-ground pool ? Heres the guide for it.
If The Liner Is A Year Old Or Less Inspect The Seams Of The Liner And Dye Anything Suspicious
In the last several years, I havent seen many seam separations in above ground pool liners, but it does happen. Lately, about one in every two hundred liners will get a seam rip or separation.
If your liner is newer, I would check the seams of the liner for a rip first. There will be a seam that runs near where the pool floor meets the wall, one or two seams that run across the floor of the pool, and usually one vertical seam that connects with the bottom seam and runs all the way up the wall.
Go along every inch of the seams and look for a hole or tear. If you see something, shoot some dye around it to see if the dyed water draws into it. If you find a hole or tear at the seam, congratulations. You have a seam separation.
Seam separations usually cannot be patched successfully. A patch may hold for a little while, but seam rips usually continue to get a little bigger over time, which means the patch over it wont hold for very long.
Note: Seam separations are covered under the manufacturers warranty, but dont expect much. If the liner is less than a year or two, you may get a free replacement liner, but thats it. Youll still have to pay to have the liner changed out, the lost water, and any extra chemical cost.
Also Check: When To Open Swimming Pool
Cracks In And Around Your Pool
Cracks can indicate a number of things. They might indicate that the pool is settling, tree roots are heaving the soil, or theres a leak. Fortunately, your accredited local leak repair service team can clean and fill in these cracks for you. Most cracks that form are usually just cosmetic in nature and shouldnt cause any immediate worry. However, dont wait too long to get them patched up. The longer you wait to repair a crack, the worse the crack can become. This can lead to leaks and lots of money spent on repairs. Be sure to check your pool deck, pool tiles, lights, and skimmers for signs of damage and cracks.
How To Find And Fix A Pool Leak In 3 Easy Steps
If you notice the water level in your pool dropping faster than usual, you may wonder if there’s a leak. If you notice wet areas around the pool or near the equipment pad, it’s definitely time to start troubleshooting. Its not too difficult to find most pool leaks with a little know-how and the right leak detection tools. Once youve found the source of water loss, you can make many simple pool leak repairs yourself. In this blog post, well walk you through the three easy steps in the pool leak repair process:
1. Recognize the Signs of a Pool Leak
2. Pinpoint the Exact Location of the Leak
3. Fix the Pool Leak
Also Check: Does Walmart Have Pool Chemicals
Customer Ratings By Feature
- This item: Leakmaster BLUEDYE8OZ Pool DYE Leak Detection, Blue$11.99Sold by Woof! Woof! and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.Get it as soon as Thursday, Sep 8
- Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.Get it as soon as Wednesday, Sep 7
- Sold by Brand-aides and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.Get it as soon as Thursday, Sep 8
I Think My Above Ground Pool Is Leaking
You think your pool is leaking? Oh boy. OK, first thing, do not attempt to look for a leak in an above ground swimming pool if you only think it has a leak. Instead, only attempt to find a leak in a pool when you know it has a leak. This simple rule will save you a lot of unnecessary irritation. As I write this blog post, there are many people who are looking for something that isnt there. Trust me, its true. You may even be one of them. Ive heard pool owners say things like, My pool only leaks in the fall and My pool was leaking and then it stopped. These types of statements usually tell me that it probably doesnt have a leak and is instead losing water due to evaporation.
You May Like: How To Keep Ducks Out Of Your Pool
Swimming Pool Leak Detection: When To Check For Leaks
The indication of a potential leak can incite dread in even the most experienced pool owner like most problems, the best way to face a leak is head-on, armed with the right tools and knowledge. Knowing when to check for leaks is the first step. Changes in the ground around the pool such as boggy patches of grass, cracked tiles or obvious movement in the substrate around the pool may be due to a leak in the structure of the pool.
Another sign of leakage can be found on a pool owners water bill. Pools that automatically level the water may be using enough excess water to impact the bill. If a bill jumps by an unreasonable amount, the swimming pool may be the culprit.
While going underwater with the water bill, if you notice your pool is turning green too, thats another indicator of a leaky pool. As your water leveler adds water to the pool, this creates a chemical imbalance allowing algae to bloom.
Fixing Leaking Pool Skimmers
Leaking pool skimmers are typically from the skimmer separating from the shells concrete. To be sure, submerge the skimmer by an inch or more. Turn off the pump and use the food coloring method to check if the skimmer leaks.
You can seal it with underwater repair putty from a hardware store or pool supply store if it does leak.
Also Check: Should You Seal Concrete Pool Deck
The Ultimate Guide To Find A Leak In An Above Ground Pool
Swimming pools tend to get wounded from time to time, and finding a leak in your swimming pool might seem like a hassle. But finding the unexpected leak in an above ground swimming pool should not seem like a hassle for our readers.
You would need to worry a bit if the leak is not large enough for you to identify the problem and then fix it. Although we will help you find out a way to make the process of finding a leak in an above-ground pool hassle-free.
Several above-ground pool ideas can help you find the leak and fix it. So, you would have a leak-free pool that is ready to dive into the swimming pool. Following the steps mentioned in the blog will help you get rid of the problem causing headache and will also help you prevent it well and before.
Contents
Symptoms Of A Leaking Liner
Rapid Water Loss: The water loss due to a hole in the liner is pretty fast. Just imagine that you have a 24-feet above-ground pool with thousands of gallon of water in it. If there is a hole in the liner around a safety pins size, you would be losing ½ inch, 1-inch,2-inch, or 3-inch water in a day. If you are losing a ½ or 1-inch over a week, it is probably due to leaks in the filter system, skimmer, or return fitting. It can also happen due to evaporation. You can minimize the water loss from evaporation by keeping your pool covered when not in use.
Wetness on the Outside of the Pool: If there is a leak in the liner, it will continue to leak around the clock. Until there is water above the level of the leak in your pool, it will keep on leaking, and there is no stopping it. You can stop the water leaks in the pump and water heater by turning them off. However, a leak in the liner will continue to leak water, and you will come across wetness in the area around the pool.
Water Level Gets Below Skimmer: If you leak at the bottom of the liner, the water will continue to leak and reach below the skimmer. Bottom leaks are most dangerous as they will not stop until taken care of.
Don’t Miss: How Much Shock To Use In Pool
How To Fix A Leak In An Above Ground Pool
Unfortunately above ground pools do leak. Leaks can be due to age, wear, damage all sorts of things. This guide will help you to first determine if you actually have a leak in your pool, then find it, and finally repair it.
Fortunately, the fix to your leaking above ground pool may not be as hard as you think.
It just comes down to 1) Determining if the pool is really leaking 2) Finding the Leak and 3) Fixing it!
Inspect The Pools Equipment
The second most common area an above ground pool leaks is at the equipment.
Turn the pump on and very closely inspect the hoses or PVC piping going from the pool to the pump and filter. Inspect the pump, filter, and any add-on components for the pool.
Get down on your hands and knees and look closely underneath the pump and filter area for any moisture. If there is any grass or dirt around the equipment base, clean it all up so you can see moisture better.
If you see any moisture anywhere, take a towel and dry the area to see if it gets wet again. If it does, look closer to see where the water is coming from.
Also, inspect the pool wall all the way around. Its somewhat rare but holes do get made in the wall for different reasons. And some of these holes are in the liners too.
Read Also: How Much Clorox To Put In Pool
Check For Plumbing Leaks
People often think theres a leak in the liner. However, above-ground pool plumbing is prone to leaks due to the weight of the water flowing down into the system. In-ground pools are below the equipment, whereas above-ground pool plumbing handles the full weight of the pool water. Look for drips and wet surfaces in the following locations:
- All of the hoses or PVC plumbing
- The unions on the pump, filter, and salt system
- O-rings and seals in the equipment
You should replace dry, cracked, and broken seals and O-rings as quickly as possible. Dont forget to get new hoses and unions if there are cracks or chipped pieces. Epoxies dont work on pool equipment .
How To Fix A Leak In An Above Ground Pool In 6 Steps
Even the best above ground pools can suffer from wear and tear. But learning how to fix a leak will make them last longer.
All your need is a vinyl plastic pool patch . Then, simply follow these steps:
Repairing a hole in the vinyl of an above ground pool is easier than you might think
Recommended Reading: How Much To Drain And Acid Wash Pool
What Happens If You Dont Fix The Leak In Your Above Ground Pool
Trying to decide whether or not to fix that leaky pool liner? Hopefully this section will convince you to do so.
The proper amount of water in an above ground pool is crucial to its longevity. Uneven or too low a water level can cause your above ground pool to sag inwards until something breaks.
Additionally the water helps protect the liner itself. Vinyl liners that are exposed to direct sunlight and air for too long will eventually before brittle and begin to crack.
If you think you can skirt the issue by continually filling your pool, youre fighting a losing battle. Every time you fill you pool, youre altering the chemical ratios likely creating a more friendly environment for algae and bacteria. Health concerns aside, your water bill is going to be pretty high if youre constantly filling your pool.
Preventing a leak in your above ground swimming pool comes down to regular maintenance and cleaning.
What Are Some Ways To Extend The Life Of My Solar Liner
You can increase the life of your solar liner by following a few simple rules.
- Prior to winterizing the pool in the fall, the liner should be given a thorough cleaning. Cleaning should be a regular routine too. Regularly clean the liner to keep it free of debris that can cause damage. Be quick to remove any leaves, sticks, or rocks that might fall into the pool.
- The vinyl liner is suspended by a wooden frame and surrounded by a fence or decking. The liner is subject to fading and tearing, especially when the pool is located in direct sunlight and is regularly used. So, inspect the fence, decking, and wood frame for damage and soft spots. In case of damage, apply a wood sealer on the surface of the wood.
- Each year, check the railing for splinters and sand these because weather conditions can cause wood to become brittle, splinter, and fade. In addition, test the stability of the railing and make the area more secure, if necessary. Remove sharp objects which might prone your liner to puncturing.
- Add one chemical to your pool water at a time allowing that chemical to circulate through your pool and mix properly before adding the next chemical. This will keep the chemicals from mixing improperly which might damage the pool liner.
Proper maintenance not only keeps the water clear and healthy for swimmers, but it also extends the life of the pool, making that hard-earned investment well worth the cost.
Dismantle the pool from the pump and ladder. Then thoroughly clean the liner.
Recommended Reading: What’s The Average Cost To Install An Inground Pool
