Leaking Pool?

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mknmike
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Re: Leaking Pool?

Postby mknmike » Tue 07 Jun, 2022 17:29

My pool guy stopped over and suspects this area may be a problem in the skimmer…

[img]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220607/ed0a4e04351c87e4a8e53068c1cbc811.jpeg[/img]
[img]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220607/ca14b721bfecca8b9e076c665613872b.jpeg[/img]


mknmike
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Re: Leaking Pool?

Postby mknmike » Wed 08 Jun, 2022 11:49

Since I have the bucket of pool patch (maybe a quart or two) which I believe was less than $30, I just went at it, grabbing some powder with my bare hand from the bucket and mixing it on top of the bucket lid with my fingers. I smeared the mix on several of the cracks in and around the tiles. I understand that at this point my pool is clearly compromised at a level that’s at least two inches below the tile (based on the repairs needed to make the pool hold water last year).

I think the pool was holding water at a slightly higher level last year than it is this year because I believe I had it running problem free from about July 15 to probably October. Maybe with the heaving of the earth during the winter months, a little movement caused a few extra cracks at the top, and I didn’t do anything to protect the tile more than last year.

I should have used the pool patch before trying to open the pool this year, or perhaps when we dropped the level to close the pool. Since pool patch is so cheap, I think that annual maintenance like this, maybe even at both times, closing and opening, would make sense.

I’m learning.

Did I solve my leak issue? I won’t know probably until I get back from vacation. My tenant will have to keep an eye on the pool level for me to assure that the equipment doesn’t suck air while I’m gone.
mknmike
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Leaking Pool?

Postby mknmike » Thu 09 Jun, 2022 12:59

Conveniently (?) we had a major rainstorm last night, and the water level rose significantly IMO. I haven’t yet seen the water levels in other basins that might be good measurements of the amount or rain we had but this is what the pool looked like this morning around 10 am.

[img]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220609/9fd4fae07c49ae29ddf350511d5a8f3e.jpg[/img]
[img]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220609/b936461ba4575089dd1d693bb8d7ef46.jpg[/img]
[img]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220609/d40e8cf360dc84d6898cf54d7be42e89.jpg[/img]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202206 ... 5a8f3e.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202206 ... d7ef46.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202206 ... e42e89.jpg

Those pictures show the level of the water is now above the plugged drain box, and they also show some the worst tile that I “pool patched”, and just one of tons of additional areas that I didn’t get to with the pool patch.

The process of “grouting” with pool patch is pretty rewarding. Better looks and hopefully a better maintained pool.

You can see that the paint on my pool is flaking. My pool guy says paint is no good, but my gut it telling me it’s going to make sense to repaint the pool. When we drain the pool in the fall, I should at least paint the high areas of the walls. Now what paint to use will be a challenge. And do I need to pressure wash off the old paint first, my gut says yes, at least lightly.

I’m learning.
mknmike
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Leaking Pool?

Postby mknmike » Fri 10 Jun, 2022 12:08

One day later. Level is dropping, perhaps it could be a LOT OF evaporation, but I suspect there’s still some leakage.

[img]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220610/65d8d02b5b714ea38e84c13f543b0241.jpg[/img]
[img]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220610/6430dcd972876a60a9ad42334314f7dc.jpg[/img]
[img]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220610/026c951c3afb6a78ac430136a340afb4.jpg[/img]


https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202206 ... 3b0241.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202206 ... 14f7dc.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202206 ... 40afb4.jpg


I doubt I will be able to monitor the level over the next week, but I will see if there’s any chance I’m able to do so.
mknmike
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Leaking Pool?

Postby mknmike » Fri 10 Jun, 2022 17:08

Continued dropping level just a few hours later, maybe 1 pm and the above was about 8 am.

[img]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220610/5f05e16be87ca09bf0c7cf7d46e4f201.jpg[/img]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202206 ... e4f201.jpg
mknmike
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Re: Leaking Pool?

Postby mknmike » Fri 01 Jul, 2022 15:10

I don’t have any evidence bc I haven’t been doing a good job of tracking, but I think I lost maybe a half inch in two days (dry days), and I had to add water before the pump ran overnight. I’d been running it in the day to be able to see bubbles and monitor the level when it matters most (when the pump is running), but because I saw that you should shock the pool at dusk and run the pump after, I decided to switch the pump times. But that’s making me a bit more stressed out.

More water, more chemicals, more damage to the concrete behind the tile and plaster. July, August, September, maybe even some October. Hmm… maybe I need to get leak hunting again. I’m feeling quite neurotic.
sakleiner
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My Pool: 16 x 32 in ground, vinyl lined

Re: Leaking Pool?

Postby sakleiner » Fri 01 Jul, 2022 17:57

I just went through a leaking pool situation but with a vinyl liner pool. There is normal evaporation with may be determined by your local climate.
What loss do others with pools like yours have?
mknmike
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Re: Leaking Pool?

Postby mknmike » Fri 01 Jul, 2022 19:17

sakleiner wrote:I just went through a leaking pool situation but with a vinyl liner pool. There is normal evaporation with may be determined by your local climate.
What loss do others with pools like yours have?

Good question. I guess I need to identify others in the area with pools.
sakleiner
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My Pool: 16 x 32 in ground, vinyl lined

Re: Leaking Pool?

Postby sakleiner » Fri 01 Jul, 2022 19:28

For reference this time of year here maybe .25 inch of evaporation loss per day would be normal on my 16x32 pool. With the leak it was losing about 1,5 inches per day
mknmike
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Re: Leaking Pool?

Postby mknmike » Fri 01 Jul, 2022 20:48

sakleiner wrote:For reference this time of year here maybe .25 inch of evaporation loss per day would be normal on my 16x32 pool. With the leak it was losing about 1,5 inches per day

Wow. I don’t think I’m losing that much. Maybe it is just evaporation.
Teapot1
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My Pool: 12000 gallons vinyl liner,

Re: Leaking Pool?

Postby Teapot1 » Fri 01 Jul, 2022 22:33

You could try a bucket test. Mark a water level in a bucket and compare the loss to the pool level, if they are the same its evaporation. Bucket near the pool as possible.
I may not give you the answer you want to hear, but I will give an honest opinion of your situation as you decribe it.
mknmike
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Leaking Pool?

Postby mknmike » Sat 02 Jul, 2022 20:03

Teapot1 wrote:You could try a bucket test. Mark a water level in a bucket and compare the loss to the pool level, if they are the same its evaporation. Bucket near the pool as possible.

Thanks for mentioning this again. I keep forgetting to do this, but that should be my next step as I’m not sure I see any obvious places to patch. Maybe this coming week I can do the bucket test.


Edit: 7/2/2022 video:

https://youtu.be/AHWIJqQ2A_k
mknmike
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Leaking Pool?

Postby mknmike » Mon 18 Jul, 2022 17:45

Edit: 7/17/2022 video:
https://youtu.be/6vBvp97RYS0

Bucket test revealed the pool level dropping about an inch or so more than the bucket from Thursday to Sunday. I decided to turn off the pump (so the skimmer doesn’t suck air) and let the level balance out. If I let it sit a few days, I figure I can assume the leak is above the level of the water.

Now I also understand that it’s possible that I could have a crack below the water level that feeds to a crack that runs up higher somewhere behind the face. For example, a crack in the concrete could be half way up the tile, but the tile could be letting water behind it at the bottom of the tile.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202207 ... 14f9c6.jpg

[img]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220718/24d11bd68b272d088beeedd84814f9c6.jpg[/img]


Edit: 7/18/2022 video
https://youtu.be/s5dnNj0Q7Rk
Denniswiseman
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Re: Leaking Pool?

Postby Denniswiseman » Tue 19 Jul, 2022 15:31

While the pump is off, to check you haven't a leak in your pipework, plug all inlets and outlets with expandable bungs
mknmike
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Re: Leaking Pool?

Postby mknmike » Tue 19 Jul, 2022 15:40

Denniswiseman wrote:While the pump is off, to check you haven't a leak in your pipework, plug all inlets and outlets with expandable bungs

Ahh… good call. I hadn’t thought of that.

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