Check For Tears In Your Pool Lining
A vinyl pool lining can last for up to 10 years approximately with proper care and maintenance. But they are prone to tears which can cause the water to leak. Within just a day, a small tear in your pools vinyl lining can cause more than an inch of water loss.
You can intensively check the lining for any cracks or tears. If you find any, then it needs to be repaired so your pool doesnt lose any more water. You may even need to replace the complete lining in some situations.
Is It Normal For A Pool To Lose An Inch Of Water A Day
On average, your pool can lose about a quarter of an inch of water in a day. However, this depends on the weather variations as sunlight can play a huge role in the evaporation of water, leading up to even ½ inch of loss in the water a day. This is still pretty normal but if your pool loses more than that every day then there are reasons to be concerned.
Naturally, pools will lose water over time. In a dry environment, your pool is likely to lose about ½ an inch of water per day. However, if it loses more than that like 1 inch each day then it is an indication that there is a leak in your pool.
This is a concern and at this point, as no matter how many times you refill the pool it will not work as the level of water may keep dropping due to the leak.
Why Does My Pool Lose Water Over The Winter
- 23 Jan, 2016
At The Liner Specialists, customer satisfaction is our top priority. Contact us first, and you’ll see why it’s the only call you need for your swimming pool!Our areas of service in New York are Westchester, Putnam, Ulster, Dutchess, Rockland and Orange county. Connecticut areas are Fairfield, Lichtfield and New Haven County. We also service the Northern Half of NJ.
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Is Your Pool Is Losing Water
If you have a pool on your property, it requires much maintenance and care to keep the water clean and correct levels each season. At some point, you may notice that the pool is losing water even if you attempt to refill it.
If you see your pool isnt as high as it once was, there are a few causes and things you can do to fix the issue to ensure you can continue to enjoy the pool.
What To Do If You Think You Have A Pool Leak
If you think your pool is losing water due to a pool leak and not just evaporation, heres how to find out!
If your bucket and pool go down the same amount, youre most likely only losing water due to evaporation. If the water level went down in the pool more than the bucket, you likely have a pool leak. If the water level went down with the system off, you might have a structural leak or a leak in your suction side plumbing. If your pool only loses water when its running, you probably have a leak in your pool pump systems pressure side plumbing.
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A Plumbing Blockage Will Cause A Pool Pump To Lose Pressure
A more serious cause of the problem of your pool pump losing pressure is if there is a blockage in the line. This will usually happen for a couple of reasons
Often this is easy to determine because the pump will continue running steady, doesnt make any new noises, and doesnt act any differently, but just wont fill the pump pot or build up pressure.
If youre lucky the blockage will be right near the opening of the skimmer and you can extract it with a screwdriver. I have only been so lucky once. The fix for this is hopefully a simple one for you. You need to run the water in the opposite direction to dislodge the item. To do this you need a drain-jet. Attach it to a garden hose. Open the pool pump lid and insert the drain-jet into the pipe thats attached to the front of the pump until you only see the garden hose. Then turn on the garden hose full blast. Usually the foreign object will dislodge immediately, but to be sure leave the drain-jet running for a good three to five minutes.
Leaks In The Pools Structure Or Fittings
If you have now reached the conclusion, through a process of elimination, that the leak must be in the pool structure itself then you have two options. You can try to detect the source of the leak yourself by using a pool leak detection kit or you can call in a pool professional.
Using a detection kit you need the water to be as still as possible so turn off your pool pump, shut any valves to the skimmers, pool drain etc and then leave it a while. Ideally you also want there to be little or no wind that could move the water in the pool.
You then systematically go around the pool checking around all the fittings such as :
- the skimmer housing
- the skimmer pipe that goes from the skimmer to the pump and also the equalizer if you have two holes in the skimmer
- the main drain not an easy task as it is at the bottom of your pool
- pool lights check around the fitting
- returns check around the return jets
- the pool itself, which could be a vinyl liner, tiles or fibreglass the most common places are in the corners and where the sides meet the floor
These are basically a bottle of dye and a syringe applicator with a very fine nozzle so that a very thin line of dye is released when the plunger is depressed. You gently put the syringe near somewhere in the pool you suspect could be leaking and release a small jet of dye. If the dye gets sucked into the fitting or wherever you are checking then there is a leak.
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How To Prevent Overnight Pool Water Loss
Fortunately, there are a number of ways to curtail overnight evaporation and keep your pool water where it belongs. One is to put a solar cover in place every night. While this is effective, it does require some manual labor at the end of each day.
Another is to use a liquid pool cover. This is a chemical you add to your water that forms an invisible barrier on the surface that cuts down on evaporation. You wont notice this substance while you are swimming, but as soon youve left the pool and the water settles, the barrier reforms. Again, this approach can be effective, but the chemical is slowly broken down and must be replaced monthly.
Perhaps the best solution is to install an automatic safety cover. Not only can you deploy it each night with the flip of a switch and prevent costly water and heat loss, it also keeps your family safe by preventing children and pets from entering the pool without supervision.
Pool Losing 1 Of Water A Day
Another common sign of a leak is if the pool is losing 1 of water a day. A qualified professional can use advanced equipment and tools to look for leaks that arent visible. Once the source of the leak is discovered, it can allow you to have the required repairs performed to resolve the problem and avoid wasting more water. In addition, you can immediately replenish your water supply and restore the water level.
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Plugging Pool Returns & Skimmer
We recommend isolating your pluming system from the structure of your pool and then plugging all the suction and return ports. This includes the main drain if you are able to get to it. If you plug all ports in your pool and the pool continues to lose water then this is a confirmed symptom of a leak in the pool structure somewhere.
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Testing Evaporation Vs Leaking
If there is no visible water or leaks on your pool equipment, we then suggest testing by filling a bucket of water, marking the level and date on it then leaving it next to the pools skimmer box. At the same time, mark and date the water level inside the skimmer box and allow the system to run as normal for 24 – 48 hours.
If there is a noticeable difference in the two levels, with the pool being lower, it’s time to consult a Leak Detector to find the problem.
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Pool Losing Water When Pump Is On
If the water level dramatically decreases when are running your pools pump, you might have a leak in the pipes that suction water away from the pool. Leaky pipes draw in air. The telltale giveaway will be if you see air bubbles coming up out of the return line. If your pump basket has a clear lid, it is possible that you will also notice some air in it. Your pump may not even be capable of taking in water, just air, and may overheat.
When you call someone to repair your pool, he or she will check for leaks around the O-ring on the pumps lid and basket, check the housing around the drain plugs, make sure the adapter that is threaded into the face of the pool pump is secure, check PVC joints, and all the valves in your plumbing. If you notice wet soil around where the pipes are buried, a good repairperson will check those, too. Underground pipes usually dont break, but it does occasionally happen. Obviously, there may be a fair amount of troubleshooting involved in determining the cause of your leak. However, there is a methodical way of going about finding the leak, so certain steps are followed.
Pool Losing Water Get Additional Help
Understanding what to do when your pool experiences a water loss is necessary to take the proper steps before the problem escalates. You can also hire a professional to assist you and avoid handling any of the repairs on your own or preventing potential mistakes from occurring.
If you need further assistance, please contact BPS, The Backyard Pool Specialists, which is what we are pool specialists
BPS is a family-owned business that has been making swimming pool dreams a reality since 1978. Throughout the years, we have expanded our company to include every facet of services for backyards and swimming pools in Houston, Texas.
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High Cya Levels Causing Chlorine Lock
So we were just mentioning how great CYA is for protecting your pools chlorine from UV rays.
But now, were going to have to turn around and tell you that too much of it is actually bad for your pool.
Heres why:
While CYA protects chlorine from UV damage, it also reduces its sanitizing ability. Chlorines ability to sanitize your water is known as its oxidation-reduction potential . And its scientifically proven that CYA reduces chlorines ORP in proportion to concentration.
So the higher your CYA levels are, the less effective your chlorine acts. And when CYA gets too high, your chlorine levels can lock up completely.
To avoid high CYA levels that drain chlorine, read this post:Understanding CYA & How It Affects Chlorine
Did you have a pool party recently? Or maybe you let a lot of people swim in your pool?
If so, it could be the cause of your chlorine loss.
While you may be used to your pools normal rate of chlorine loss when its just you and your family, things get different when more swimmers are involved.
Think about it:
Imagine if suddenly, your family was twice as big. Yet you were all still swimming in the same pool and made no changes to your maintenance habits.
With twice the amount of contaminants in the water, your chlorine would get used up much faster.
So to play it safe and keep your chlorine levels in check, always shock your pool after any major swimming event or party.
- Total Alkalinity
- Ideal range: 80 120 ppm
How Do I Find Out If I Have A Leak
Leak detection is complicated and can be time consuming. In some cases, it may require a professional, both to locate and to repair. However, you can rest assured that most pool leaks are caused by something minor and are relatively inexpensive. If you troubleshoot through some of these common scenarios, you could save yourself money by either stopping the leak or being able to tell your local pool professional exactly where the problem lies.
Check the evaporation rate
You can see how much water your pool is losing by filling a 5 gallon bucket with water and placing it next to the pool so they are in the same conditions. It doesnt necessarily have to be full, but should be filled enough so that you can measure if there is some loss. Mark both the water line of the bucket and the pool. After waiting 24 hours, check the water loss on both the bucket and the pool itself. If you notice that the pool has lost more bucket than your control group , then you most likely have a leak. If youre not sure whether or not your pool needs more than 2 inches of replenished water weekly, its a good way to double check. Using a solar cover or liquid solar cover can help prevent evaporation.
Here are some other things to check before calling a service person for repairs:
Is the pool leaking with the equipment running or when its turned off?
What if my pool leaks all the time?
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My Pool Loses Water Every Day Is This Normal
Did you step out onto your deck this morning and notice that your pools water level was low? Or while napping in your lounge chair, did you hear gurgling from the skimmer? Youre not alone. It happens to many pool owners. But the question is: Is your pool losing water every day from normal evaporation? Or is it a pool leak? Evaporation can vary based on sun, wind, humidity, surface area, and the difference between water temperature and air temperature. A pool in a windy, dry climate like El Paso will typically evaporate faster than a pool in Dallas. And if your pool is heated during the winter, youll lose more water because of evaporation.
Dont Drain Your Budget: Keep Up With Regular Pool Service
Pool water loss is one of the top issues we see when maintaining pools. Usually, we can identify and fix the problem quicklythat is, if the pool water concern is tackled right away. So, if you suspect that your pool is losing more water than it should, dont wait to call in the pool professional. Questions? Call us any time at 305.367.2005, or fill out this simple contact form and well get in touch with you.
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Pool Is Losing 1 Inch Of Water Per Day
Losing more than ½ of pool water per day indicates you likely have a leak in your pools structure or your pool pump system. You should call your pool service for a thorough leak inspection. You might not be able to keep up with refilling your pool at this point. Your pump system can be damaged if the water system begins to take in air from the skimmer. And your pool can even come out of the ground if water leaks from the pool and saturates the surrounding earth.
How Will You Know If Your Pool Has A Leak Or If It Is Merely Water Evaporation
As I said, identifying a pool leak will not only burn a hole in your pocket but it will also drain you. The tedious process of identifying a pool leak requires professional pool operators who have the equipment that can easily detect pool leaks.
At Nelson Pool Company, we help pool owners like you identify if your pool is losing water because of evaporation or a leak by using an ultrasonic machine. If we detect that there is actually a leak in your pool, we may require excavation and replacement of pipes, depending on the size of the leak.
If you want to see for yourself if your pool actually has a leak, there is a simple test that you can perform to confirm a leaking pool. Called the Pool Water Evaporation Bucket Test, this test eliminates all outside causes so you can easily confirm a leak. If the result of this test turns out negative, then you know that your pool is losing water simply because of evaporation.
To perform the bucket test, look for a bucket that is about 5-gallon tall. Place some kind of weight into the bucket and fill it partially with water.
After partially filling the bucket, place it on your pool steps so that its top is above water level. Once you have already placed the bucket on your pool steps, fill the bucket with water until the water level in it is the same as the pool water. As you do this, make sure to turn off any fountains or waterfalls because they cause more evaporation than undisturbed water.
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