New here - In ground pool return replacement

[Watermom]

Hi PoolSlave and welcome to the Pool Forum! I had to chuckle when I read your reason for choosing your username.

I'm going to let some of our equipment people answer your plumbing questions but just wanted to pop in here and say hello and let you know that your post had been read. It may be kinda slow around here today since its father's day, so sit tight until someone comes around who may be able to help.

[Pool Slave]

Hi! Thanks for letting me in. Yeah, I'm the pool slave here.... The pool has to be clean and in running conditions as much as possible and the water has to be crystal clear all the time, the season is short enough as it is. Or else I'm in deep trouble with She-Who-Must-be-Obeyed!!

[Watermom]

Or else I'm in deep trouble with She-Who-Must-be-Obeyed!!

What? Your wife is my twin sister? (Says the mom of 3 boys who is also She-Who-Must-be-Obeyed!)

I think I'm gonna enjoy having you around here. I like your attitude!

[Pool Slave]

Hehehe, I think there are a few She-Who-Must-be-Obeyed around the world. Life is too short to be taken too seriously, beside, I have a 3 year old (going on 16) that carries more weight here than the big boss, than keeps me young. I almost know, by heart, all the Dora, Diego, Thomas the train and Backyardigans video in the house!! LOL

Hoping to bump this up so someone gives me an opinion.

[PoolDoc]

I'll ask Waste to look, if he has a chance -- he's done about 100 times more liners than I have. BUT . . . to just get those returns, I'd get them to do it. You can get the digging down down, and expose the piping on the back sides, but let them remove and replace the returns.

That way, there's no question about the warranty 3 years from now. (Hopefully, you won't need it, though.)

[waste]

Welcome to The Forum!

IF you are sure that the 'through the wall fittings' are shot - your liner is new enough to replace them, after draining the pool~3" below them.

If it's a black poly pipe connection issue, that can be dealt with, without lowering the pool.

[Pool Slave]

Thanks for your responses gents. Indeed, it is the 2 outlets that are leaking on the outside of the pool wall. All the screws are rusted and, after being exposed for a few days, the area around and below the outlets are always wet. This was in addition to a leaking Tee connection, all 3 connections were leaking and all the screws were rusted solid, almost like welded by rust. I fixed that but, after re-assessing the whole pipe work around the pool, mostly black poly, I decided to replace everything and do it correctly. The black poly was going up and down along the pool, air locks a plenty, which explains why I always had issues in winterizing the pool and clearing the water lines.

The technicians are coming over tomorrow morning to replace the 2 outlets. The chap I talked to yesterday does not like the idea of having schedule 40 hard pipe connected directly to the outlets. He favours the flexible PVC connection, mainly because, here in Ontario, it gets very cold in winter and he's concerned that the sand movements, freezing and thawing, will eventually break the connectors. They have done hundreds of pool installations around the Ottawa area, so I will trust his recommendations, but I will still install the rigid sched 40 pipes for the rest, which will be buried at 18 inches below the surface. I do need to have that slope toward the returns for proper drainage in the fall.

I could post some before/after pictures if anyone is interested.

The final digging spree will be done today as I drain the pool. It's going to be hard work as they forecast a temperature of 34C today. Ugh...

Any other tips/suggestions for the piping installation?

Thanks folks, I appreciate your assistance!

Pool Slave