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How to fix a pool leak?

Sunda

Hi,

We have a pool leak and would like advice on how to repair it?

I have turned off the pump and did the water bucket test.

It is certain that the leakage is in the pool, not the equipment.

Can someone advise what DYI can we do to fix this problem?

We are tight in budget, hence would prefer to DYI.

Thank you in advance.

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Comments

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Sunda. It's fantastic to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about detecting pool leaks.

Just be aware that the leak could be in the pool's return lines to the pump, and switching the equipment off isn't going to stop it.

The first thing to do is a visual inspection looking for any prominent areas where a leak might be present. I'd suggest trying to narrow down the size of the crack/leak via your water bucket test. How much water is the pool losing per day or week? If you mark the side of the pool at the water level, how many millimetres does it go down each day? If it's losing 10mm a day, you know you're looking for a visible crack. If it's only a couple of millimetres, the crack might be visually undetectable.

Make sure to check any tile grout lines and areas with sharp corners for failing tiles. Steps are also a common area for cracks to form. Look for wet spots in the yard that might give away the area of the pool where you're losing water from. Check the concrete around the pool or pool coping for cracks that might continue down into the pool's wall. Monitor the water level to see if it stops draining at a certain point. If this happens directly below the skimmer basket, it could indicate a leak in the lines.

Some images of the pool and the coating condition might help identify the causes of the water loss. If this is an older pool that hasn't been coated in 15 years, then these leaks might just be from age and indicate that it needs re-surfacing. Most older pools have some form of hairline cracks in them. As the pool ages and the coating deteriorates, accumulated water loss through those hairline cracks becomes more noticeable.

I look forward to seeing some images of the pool and assisting further in this leak detection.

Mitchell

Sunda

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/15620#Comment_15620

Thank you Mitchell.

The water drops very quickly and it is much lower than the skimmer line now. We are losing over 5cm per day.

I have noticed there seems to be some irregularities at the pump outlet, so not sure if it is the source of the leak.

I like to know if there are products in Bunnings which I can get to test the leakage, fix the leaks and coat the surface of the pool?

I have attached the pics for your reference.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/70390#Comment_70390

@Sunda,

5cm of water a day is an incredible amount and indicates a significant leak. I'd suspect your best option is to wait and see if the water stops leaking at a certain point. You can then search at that height around the perimeter of the pool for an issue. There are no products at Bunnings that can detect the leak for you. It's a matter of locating it and then setting about repairing the issue.

The pool outlet looks like the adhesive has failed. That might be an aesthetical cover flange over the holes, though. If the water stops leaking out once it gets slightly below the outlet, that would be a good indication that it's the problem.

No one has touched the settings on your filter recently, have they? There is a setting that sends water to waste instead of circulating it back into the pool. If the filter is set to waste and the automatic cleaner is used, it will pump water out of the pool.

Mitchell

Sunda

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/98304#Comment_98304

Thank you for the advise, Mitchell.

I'm not sure about the filter, but I have turned off the power in the past two days, so assume it would not be the filter?

I might wait till the water stop leaking to investigate cracks in that area. Is there any product that I can use to mend the cracks and coat the pool while there is water in the pool?

Thank you for your advice,

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/115874#Comment_115874

@Sunda,

If you haven't been running the pump and filter, but the water is still going down, the issue wouldn't be that the filter is set to waste. I just wanted to rule that out.

There are some products that work underwater, and once I know what you need to repair, I can suggest a suitable product for you. Let me know if you find something, and we can discuss how to go about the repair.

Mitchell

Sunda

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/125889#Comment_125889

Thank you Michell.

The water level has finally stabilised from the leaks.

I have attached the pic where the water line is at current.

Am concerned whether it is due to a broken pipe?

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/132613#Comment_132613

Great work @Sunda! This is precisely the type of indicator we need to start troubleshooting.

Although the water has stopped here, and it obviously appears to be the outlet or pipe, let's not jump the gun. Thoroughly inspect the rest of the pool perimeter for any other cracks or suspicious areas on the waterline.

For now, though, we can presume that either that outlet or the pipe has an issue. It would be best if we could drop the water below that outlet before attempting to fix it. Are you familiar with how to turn your filter to waste? I can walk you through this if you post images of your pool filter and pump. Look for a big selector dial with terms like backwash, filter, waste and recirculate on it. You just need to turn the handle on the filter to the waste setting and run the cleaner or have the cleaner hose in the water whilst running the pump.

Once the water is at least 10cm below the outlet, try to remove it. It looks like the brown adhesive is just about ready to give way. If not, you can run a blade around its edge to see if that frees it. The area needs to be thoroughly dried before proceeding. You'll need to clean the old adhesive off as well as possible before applying a liberal amount of Sika 300ml Transparent SikaSil Premium Pool Silicone to the fitting and pipe edge before re-installing. You might like to show us an image of the pipe once you've removed the outlet before completing this step.

I hope that there is a gap between the pipe and Pebblecrete, where the water is escaping. Once the outlet is glued back to the Pebblecrete and the pipe, the water won't travel out that route anymore.

Please keep us updated.

Mitchell

JDE

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/136709#Comment_136709

@Sunda

I agree with Mitchell. One way of isolating leaks is put a couple if drops of food colouring near where you think the leak is and watch how it moves. It only takes a tiny hole to lose the amout of water you are talking about. We had a leak in a 10 x 4.5m fibreglass pool. Hole was about half the size of a 5 cent piece and we were losing about 5cm a day. Being fibreglass we fixed it with some epoxy. JDE

Sunda

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/139522#Comment_139522

Thank you both.

I shall get a food dye to make sure that is the leakage.

Hopefully it is as I suspected and if that is the case, I might need Mitchell’s advice on how to release the water.

Fingers crossed!

Sunda

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/139522#Comment_139522

Hi JDE & Mitchell,

I did the colour test and think the return is where the leak is.

I have attached a pic just to be sure.

Mitchell, would you be able to advise me how to reduce the water level of the pool, so that I can repairs the leaks?

Thank you both for your advice.

Really appreciate it.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/141436#Comment_141436

It certainly looks like that dye is being dragged into the outlet, @Sunda.

As mentioned, you'll need to take a picture of the filter for me so I can advise on where the switch might be. Look for a big selector dial with terms like backwash, filter, waste and recirculate on it. You just need to turn the handle on the filter to the waste setting and run the cleaner or have the cleaner hose in the water whilst running the pump.

Mitchell

Sunda

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/142870#Comment_142870

Thank you Mitchell.

I have managed to locate exactly where is the leak.

it is unfortunately a crack in the pipe that is in the concrete structure.

Would you be able to advise how to fix it?

I have taken pic of the filter similar to our sand filter for your reference, as the wordings on our filter have disappeared. It’s an old filter.

Would you be able to advise me how to lower water level?

Really appreciate it.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/143884#Comment_143884

Hi @Sunda,

The setting is called "Waste", as per the image below.

I'd need you to provide a lot more detail on where you've found this crack. Images would also be necessary.

I'm keen to assist further.

Mitchell

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