LINKS TO LEAKS..................................... BACK TO M.AIN

Over an 15-year period, I have personally inspected over 16000 pools for leaks. I originally wrote a book as an employee-training guide, and with the exception of a few broken pipes, I would expect the reader to successfully troubleshoot most swimming pools.

Here is an analysis of 150 pools we worked on and the leaks we found. The most common leaks are on top, descending down to unlikely ones you will never see. After you started looking for the leak from the deck, the biggest challange is deciding weather to dive the pool to look at the light and bottom drain or test the PVC plumbing. Always dive the pool first as best you can. 

Around jet face…………………….27……….epoxy............................... COMMON

In skimmer mouth (face)…………....27……….epoxy

Baker Hydro skimmer seam………..20……….Fiberglass

Bottom drain ring…………………..19……….epoxy

Light conduit……………………….11……….epoxy

Light ring……………………………9………..epoxy

Broken pipe under deck…………….8…....…...repair pipe

Bottom drain pipe…………………..6……..…plugged off

Cracks in wall………………………5……..…epoxy

Tile line………………………….….5…….….Clear Silicone sealer

Swimquip skimmer………………....5………..cement fill with false bottom

Backwash valve………………...….4…..…....spider gasket

American products skimmer………..2………..cement fill with false bottom

Random hole in pool wall……….. ..1…….….epoxy

Baker Hydro skimmer suction line...1………..11/2" inside coupling...................................... RARE

When searching the pool, I take one step out of order- first; I investigate the backwash valve while the pump is still on to see if water is flowing out. The style of backwash valve I am interested in is one that runs from the filter, underground, to the street or away to a ditch. Once it is located, dug up, and found dry, then ALL the fuses to the pool (pump, light) are turned off.

I grab the hand mirror and dye syringe, and start with the skimmer mouth. Then look inside the skimmer, then work around the pool to the jet faces, and then the light: The quick test for the light is to dye test the vent holes in the ring of the light, if nothing is obviously sucking in dye, then I dive the bottom drain.

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