pool leaking a couple inches a day

[wverbest]

Pool leaking and I don't know where to start. Pool is leaking with pump on and off. Seen bucket test mentioned but I have no idea what that is. Gunite pool. 8years old. I have been reading and reading and I must have chlorine on the brain cause nothing makes sense. Please someone help! !!!! I need thepool repair guide for big giant dummies.

[CarlD]

I'm not the best at this but you first need to figure out if the pool is leaking or the plumbing is leaking. Look for there the water is building up. There's also a leak-finding dye for pools that you can try. You don't want to pay for repairs to the pool if it's the plumbing, and you don't want to go over all the plumbing if it's the pool.

Carl

[waste]

Welcome to the Forum!

The bucket test is used to take evaporation out of the picture (mark the pools water level, fill a bucket with water and mark the bucket level and set it on a step - check the next day and see if the pool level has gone down more than the bucket level) - if the bucket looses less water than the pool, you've got a leak.

The next step is to do a 'static test'. Plug all the lines going into and out of the pool while doing the bucket test. If the pool looses more water than the bucket - the pool vessel is leaking, if they loose the same amount, you've got a leak in the plumbing.

If you have a leak in the plumbing, pressure test the lines to figure out which line is leaking. (there are ways to isolate which line is leaking but, I'll stop here for now - and be ready to answer any questions you have, when they arise)

[Watermom]

Ted,
This is worded very clearly. I'm going to copy your post and sticky it. Thanks. As always, glad to have you back around here this season!

Lisa

[waste]

Mom, (Lisa) I try to further what Ben started by helping folks not have to rely on, often unreliable, pool stores. I've learned so much here that the least I can do is share what I know with the good folks here.

I appreciate your sticky-ing my advice and hope that you are well! (you know what I mean)

[FWIW - when the other sites started popping up a few years ago, I joined them but always made it known that my first loyalty was here and, if I only had time to visit 1, PF would always be my first stop ]

Love and Luck!!

Ted

[Watermom]

Ted, we appreciate your loyalty to PF. You have always been a big help around here. I am doing well. Thank you so much for asking.

Lisa