Looking for my Leak....skimmer line???

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Finding & repairing swimming pool leaks.
labarge336
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Joined: Thu 23 Jul, 2020 07:15
My Pool: 20 x 40 Lazy L, concrete, sealed off main drain, 1 hp pump (Doheny branded) Hayward Star Cartridge filter W3C1200, approx 25,000 Gallons

Looking for my Leak....skimmer line???

Postby labarge336 » Thu 23 Jul, 2020 07:18

I’m losing water overnight, last night between a half an inch to an inch while T-storms rolled through the area and the air was so thick with humidity there should have been NO evap.
The water dropped below my skimmer operating minimum level.
Here’s the trick- one skimmer was bone dry, while the other had water sitting in the pot (which I’d expect).
I’m thinking there’s a suction line leak in the skimmer that was dry? Am I just being paranoid or does this make sense.
The pool is concrete, circa 1968, has the main drain sealed off, and the skimmers have only the single pipe openings.


Denniswiseman
Pool Industry Leader
Pool Industry Leader
Posts: 2592
Joined: Tue 06 Sep, 2011 05:48
My Pool: 10k inground fibreglass, Telescopic Cover, Hayward Powerline pump, Quality filter with glass media, 27kw output heat pump, K-2006C test kit
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Looking for my Leak....skimmer line???

Postby Denniswiseman » Thu 23 Jul, 2020 09:57

It makes sense
I would be inclined to plug the dry skimmer and refill, if the water holds that's your problem in the skimmer line and not the skimmer
labarge336
I'm new here
I'm new here
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu 23 Jul, 2020 07:15
My Pool: 20 x 40 Lazy L, concrete, sealed off main drain, 1 hp pump (Doheny branded) Hayward Star Cartridge filter W3C1200, approx 25,000 Gallons

Re: Looking for my Leak....skimmer line???

Postby labarge336 » Thu 23 Jul, 2020 10:02

Very cool. That’s actually what I did this morning. We’ll see.... some more storms rolling in today, so more free water ( and more shock...)
Thanks
labarge336
I'm new here
I'm new here
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu 23 Jul, 2020 07:15
My Pool: 20 x 40 Lazy L, concrete, sealed off main drain, 1 hp pump (Doheny branded) Hayward Star Cartridge filter W3C1200, approx 25,000 Gallons

Re: Looking for my Leak....skimmer line???

Postby labarge336 » Fri 24 Jul, 2020 06:59

So, not sure if I’m happy with the result or not, but plugged the skimmer, the two join to a single pipe so for the sake of this test plugged them both. Made a pencil mark at the water level last night. Didn’t lose a drop.
Conclusion seems to be there is at least a small hole/crack in the skimmer lines somewhere.
Would that be something a leak test contractor can find with a listening tool?
Denniswiseman
Pool Industry Leader
Pool Industry Leader
Posts: 2592
Joined: Tue 06 Sep, 2011 05:48
My Pool: 10k inground fibreglass, Telescopic Cover, Hayward Powerline pump, Quality filter with glass media, 27kw output heat pump, K-2006C test kit
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Looking for my Leak....skimmer line???

Postby Denniswiseman » Fri 24 Jul, 2020 07:46

If there is a leak in the combined skimmer line then both the skimmers would drain out unless they are combined at a higher level (the pad)
Try just blocking the single skimmer
I'm not sure about leak detection
labarge336
I'm new here
I'm new here
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu 23 Jul, 2020 07:15
My Pool: 20 x 40 Lazy L, concrete, sealed off main drain, 1 hp pump (Doheny branded) Hayward Star Cartridge filter W3C1200, approx 25,000 Gallons

Re: Looking for my Leak....skimmer line???

Postby labarge336 » Fri 24 Jul, 2020 09:22

That makes sense...I’ll be re-doing the test tonight with just the one skimmer line blocked up. Thanks again.
labarge336
I'm new here
I'm new here
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu 23 Jul, 2020 07:15
My Pool: 20 x 40 Lazy L, concrete, sealed off main drain, 1 hp pump (Doheny branded) Hayward Star Cartridge filter W3C1200, approx 25,000 Gallons

Re: Looking for my Leak....skimmer line???

Postby labarge336 » Sat 25 Jul, 2020 07:27

And that wasn’t what I expected. The second skimmer was dry this morning with the suspect slimmer plugged.
Already started digging at the spot of a previous leak. The dreaded black abs pipe...
Figuring now it’s a leak AFTER the joining of the two skimmer lines.

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