Pool Plumbing Leak – Equipment Problem?

When it comes to pools, plumbing leaks can always happen. Water will naturally be lost due to evaporation, splashing or backwash wastewater and gained from rainfall. In most cases small leaks are very hard to notice and usually the only “tool” at hand to guide you on this is your eye. If you think you add too much water to your pool on a weekly basis, chances are you are right and a leak is present.

Pool plumbing leaks can appear on any of the accessories included, fittings, plumbing elements or even through the shell. Repairing these leaks is important because it will save you chemicals, water, heat and will prevent more costly repairs on pool structural components. In most cases the problems are strongly linked with pool plumbing equipment. Let us now see what you can do to check weather you have such a problem or not.

First you need to see weather the pool is only leaking when the equipment is turned on. If this is the case you might have a pressure-side return leak. This means that when you turn the filter pump on, the pressure inside the equipment will open small drips in spraying gushers. You need to check waste and the backwash line for drips. If the leak only appears when the equipment is turned off, chances are there is a suction-side leak. This is a very common pool plumbing leak. Equipment problems rarely happen and the fact that it is turned on can actually act as a leak stopper. If the filter pump is working, a vacuum effect is created. Air comes in through the leak voids and it appears in the pump basket, bubbles out through return lines or it builds up in the filter tank.

With a pool plumbing leak, equipment pads must also be checked. You need to take a closer look at your valves, heater, filter and pump. Moisture on the ground can be a sign of a leak. Once again, turn on and off the pool equipment and check for spraying water when the pump is off. If the pool always leeks there is a strong possibility that the shell has cracks or tears. Separations between plastic skimmers and the actual shell are very common problems that cause leaks. Even underwater lights can lose water.

There is always a case that you can not identify the pool plumbing leak yourself. There is special equipment that can be used in this case that varies from listening devices to electronic detectors. If you can not find the problem yourself you can purchase such gadgets or consult a specialist.