Help with leaks in new pool!

[jnorris]

You all are such a great resource, so help me please! Brand new IG vinyl liner pool, filled with water last week, and has done nothing but leak since then. In 5 days time, pool has leaked from halfway up the skimmers, down to where there is only about 1 foot of water in the shallow end. And it is still leaking. We did notice some wet areas around the pool equipment. Pool guy came yesterday, said they had to re-do all of those plumbing lines anyway because they were put in BACKWARDS (!), and would check to see if that was the leak. Came home yesterday to have him tell me that the leak was behind the steps, where the "steps strip" was attached. He says he fixed that. Well, since then, pool has leaked an additional 5 inches (in 15 hours), so while that may have been leaking, that was not the main leak. We know it is leaking some around the equipment, so now I'm thinking "multiple leaks"!

It has leaked to well below the skimmers and the light, so that's not it. Could that much water be leaking at the pool equipment? We don't have standing water there, but it does seem wetter than the surrounding areas. Where else could the leak be? Main drains? Piping under the decking? Is the only thing we can do is wait and see where the water is when the leak stops? If it has leaked below everything but the main drains, could anything else be the problem? I need to know if I should be demanding more from my pool guy, because he is acting like this is no big deal. It is to me. We were supposed to have my daughter's 8th birthday party at the pool in 5 days, and now that is not going to happen.

Judy

[Poconos]

Judy,
Welcome to the forum.
"No Big Deal???" Hardly. I'd start yelling and screaming at this clown. This is a major leak. You didn't say how big the pool is but one inch in 3 hours is more than a dribble in any case. Also since the level went to one foot in the shallow end probably means the water level is below the return jets and obviously the skimmer. This rules out all plumbing except the main drain. A leak of this magnitude should be easily detectable with a simple dye test. The leaking water has most likely found an underground path somewhere so you won't see it. Get his butt back and start demanding action.
Good luck.
Al

[jnorris]

Thanks, Poconos, for the reply. There is someone at the house right now, who says he will be there until the leak is fixed. His plan for today was to block off the main drains and do a pressure test. I wish I knew more about what this means, but I have heard of this before. No one has mentioned to me using dye to try to trace the leak. If the pool is still leaking at the end of today, I'm going to bring that up. It is just so frustrating! We have paid him all but the 10% holdback, and I'm really hoping that he is not thinking he has been paid enough for his time. He has been in the business around here for 20 years, and we checked references, etc. I guess I would just feel better if the owner of the pool company was calling me and updating me, instead of me having to wait at my house for the workers to show up to ask them. I know I can call him, but he should be calling me, right?

By the way, the pool is 18' x 40' 3 bump kidney, 3' to 6' depth, vinyl liner. They build a concrete shell, then put the foam on the walls and sand (or vermiculite, not sure) on the bottom, then drop the liner in. From what I've been told, this is a more expensive way to build a liner pool, but probably the best way.

[Poconos]

Hi again,
Did a very rough estimate figuring 18x40 rectangular then figuring a kidney is 1/2 the surface area and that works out to be 225 gallons per inch of depth. Pressure testing is a way of pressurizing the lines with air and checking for leaks. For exaample you would blow the water out of the return lines with air, then cap the return jets and pressurize and see how long it takes the pressure to drop. At least that's the way I do it but I'm not a pool guy in the business. Don't know how they would do a main drain though. Dye testing is simply very slowly, in still water, squirting a colored dye around the suspected leak area and seeing where it gets sucked by the leak. Hope you get it resolved today. Keep us posted.
Al

[MarkC]

Does the pool leak with the pump not running? That would be one thing I would test, if the water level stops dropping I would be inclined to believe the problem is in the plumbing.

[PhantomAndy]

Be patient with your builder - and give them sufficient time to correct the problem on the new build.

However sufficient time to me would be 1 or 2 weeks. If your not fixed and good to go by then - I'd have an attorney write up a letter to get them back on track. If you don't you could spend your summer chasing that leak - instead of enjoying your new pool.

Good Luck!

[jnorris]

OK, here's the latest...pool guy came back out, they re-did all the plumbing around the pump to correct it from being "backwards" so they corrected the small leak there. They did a pressure test (sorry to be ignorant, but I guess that was to test the rest of the plumbing lines) and all was well. Did a dye test and found there was leaking on the OTHER side of the steps as well (why the guy didn't just check both sides of the steps when he found one part leaking is beyond me). Fixed all that, then filled the pool back up, and it has not leaked for 24 hours. Now, the pump's running, the deck jets (that the builder forgot to put in before they poured the deck, so they are "outside the deck" jets!) are going, and all is well. Got the ladder and handrail in now, the polaris in the pool, chemicals in, SAM light installed, and so far so good. The pool guy (not the owner, but the one who is doing all the work now) mentioned that the owner would be reimbursing us for the water that got wasted when half the water in the pool leaked out in less than a week. We'll see how that goes.

Thank you so much for all the advice, and all the great knowledge I've gained by reading these boards. I know I have alot to learn, since I'm going to be running this thing, but I have such a great headstart from all you experts.

Judy

[gonefishin]

Congrats!

Glad to hear everything worked out for ya


enjoy!
dan

[jnorris]

Newer update...all is still well. Pool heater is going, and the water is up to 83 degrees. And outside temp was 49 degrees last night! Only problem is we unhooked the Polaris to put away for a while, and the fitting that hooks it to the side of the pool is cracked. I feel sure either the pool guy will work with us, or we can have it repaired with the warranty.

Looks like my daughters birthday pool party is back on!

Judy