IG Vinyl Liner Losing Water

Here's the story. I had the pool opened this year and when I uncovered it, the water was above the return lines and about a foot from the top. The pool was properly winterized with anti-freeze in the lines. I filled to normal level and the guys came out to open. After opening, I noticed some water loss but attributed it to backwashing, etc. I vacuumed to waste, chlorinated and began refilling. (The vacuum to waste obviously drained a lot of water)

After filling I did the routine brushing of the sidewalls and stirring the algae off the bottom. Around 3 hours later I noticed we had lost about an inch and a half . Checked the backwash line to make sure I wasn't losing water there and there was no water around the pump/filter. I shut the pump off and monitored the water level. By morning it had lost another 2 inches.

Leaving the pump off, the water level has now dropped to the light. It has taken several days to get to that level. My initial thought was a plumbing problem because the water loss was so rapid. It definitely slowed once it got below the skimmers. I know I must have a liner problem somewhere and the liner is probably due for replacement anyway. My question:

- Should I have the plumbing pressure tested for piece of mind?

The loss rate will decrease as the water level approaches the leak level. When I had a deep end leak I watched the level vs. time, accurately, to see if it was slowing and in my case it wasn't so I started looking at the deep end. You said the level is below the skimmers but if it's still above the returns just plug the returns and see what happens. Save the cost of a pressure test. What about the light itself? If you want to proceed to the next step, dye testing, I can give you some hints. Have to run for a bit but will check back a little later.
Al

Hey there.

Sorry about the missing water :(

Al's got you on the right track. :cool: I've got 1 quick question, do you have a main drain with a hydrostat?

Keep us posted and we'll help you narrow down the likely places.

Thanks for the replies guys. I monitored water loss down to the light before finding the problem. I have 2 significant tears in the bottom. They were difficult to see because I was still cleaning up the water from the winter. My best guess - When I was brushing the sides/bottom, I somehow punctured the liner.

Bummer of a deal but it goes with pool ownership.

bottom of the light, or bottom of the pool?
Hopefully, small enough to repair...

Bottom of the pool (vinyl liner) in each corner at that end. The first tear is about 3 inched long but the second one is a puncture with tears going out in 4 different directions, about 2 inches each.

I checked my brush and couldn't see how it would have torn the liner. I just found a small metal wire in the pool in that area. I have to assume it was in there and I pushed it into both corners with the brush. I'm ordering a new liner at this point. The current one is about 8 years old and probably had a couple seasons left in it before this fiasco.