Inground pools naturally lose water due to evaporation, but an excessive drop in the water level may be indicative of a leak.
Unfortunately, every swimming pool will probably start leaking at some time during their useful life and a small hole the size of a pencil tip can result in the loss of hundreds of litres of water per day.
Small leaks in swimming pools develop slowly over time and an unrepaired leak can be more than just an inconvenience.
In addition to the increased cost of replacing the water and increased chemical demands, it may lead to more serious mechanical and structural problems that will cost a fortune to repair.
Loss of more than ½ to 1 inches of water in a day will require investigation as to the cause and swift action will need to be taken to repair the damage.
The following outlines the process for leak detection in your swimming pool.
Confirming there is a Leak
This can easily be done by marking the water level in the pool with a strip of painter’s tape. Fill a 5-gallon bucket with water and mark the level with the painter’s tape.
After 24 hours, measure the difference in water level between the pool and the bucket. If the water loss in the pool is significantly greater than that in the bucket, the pool has a leak.
Before deciding to repair a leak, however, the location and severity of the leak must first be identified.
When done systematically, the endeavour of finding a leak follows a procedure that progresses from a clear indication of water loss to the exact location of the leak.
While leak detection experts have the professional equipment and expertise to perform this process in a few hours or less, diligent pool owners may be able to detect a leak by following a few simple steps.
Eliminate Other Causes
Check for leaks in the filtration and electrical systems by looking for moisture on the conduit lines that come from the pool’s lights and check the plumbing systems for signs of leakage.
If there is water or moisture present on wires or pipes, call a professional to repair the leak.
Other symptoms of a leak may be actual evidence of escaped water such as wet, mushy spots on the lawn or unusually vigorous growth of vegetation around underground plumbing areas.
Visible cracks or settling on the deck or pool surrounds may also indicate underground leaks.
How to Detect a Leak in the Pool Liner
If there are no signs of a leak in the electrical or filtration systems, it is most likely that there is a hole in the liner of the pool.
There is a simple method to detect the location of a leak in the pool liner by simply using food colouring or dye.
Dye testing will require complete inspection by donning a dive mask and inspecting the liner for leaks.
– Fill the pool to ensure that the leak is not above the water level.
– Investigate the walls around the pool for signs of squishiness that indicates a leak. Wherever there is a suspected leak, place a drop of dye within 5mm of the suspected area.
– Feel around the bottom of the pool for squishy areas and apply more dye.
The coloured dye will allow you to observe the flow of water. As soon as the dye is placed near a leak it will flow out at the exact spot where the leak is.
Once the location of the leak has been detected it will be easy to determine how it should be fixed.
Ideally, the leak should be professionally repaired but in some cases, a very small hole can be fixed with a DIY patch. If the hole is too big you may need a replacement liner.
If a leak in the vinyl liner of a pool is not repaired as quickly as possible it will not only result in increased water bills but will also weaken the subsoil and cause structural damage.
If you are looking for a trustworthy and reliable plumbing service in Melbourne, then look no further than Austest Pipeline Solutions.
We have more than 20 years’ experience in domestic, commercial, and industrial plumbing with water leak detection our speciality.
Please call us today for all your plumbing needs on 0410 609 961 or contact us here.