I think I have a leak :(

[Ashley711]

We purchased our home a year ago - it has an in ground 25,000 gallon pool with a sand filter and in ground cleaning system. We have been getting the pool ready to open - a few days ago we turned on the pump and within 20 seconds - water started leaking out of the inground cleaning system PVC pipes that are in the pool house. We turned the pump off and the leaking stopped. I want to include a few photos so someone can possibly help us - how do I do that lol. All pool stores around here are backed up until June and will not come out on an "emergency" call. So annoyed!! So basically the cleaning system in the pool house is 6 PVC pipes coming out of the cement in the pool house with a black top on it. The metal ring around the black top is busted. We have never used the system. Is there a way to bypass this and not use it - and not use the pipe with the possible leak. Just looking for some guesses since out local pool stores cant help for 3-4 weeks. Thanks!!

[Watermom]

Send pics to poolforum@gmail.com and reference the URL of this thread so they can be matched up and posted in the right place.

Welcome to the Pool Forum, by the way!

[Ashley711]

Thank you so much! I sent the photos. I have since found quite a bit of water on the other side of my fence and realized I lost about an inch of water since yesterday. So frustrated

[CarlD]

There's a chemical called "Find A Leak" that you can use to exactly locate the leak. Turn the filter off and let the water settle. Then pour some in where you think the leak is and wait. The dye should collect at the leak point. I was looking for one leak last summer, and not only found it, but one below it I didn't know about!

If the pool is vinyl you can patch underwater with vinyl patches (I use a hunk of liner) and Boxer brand glue. If it's concrete there is underwater epoxy. If it's in the plumbing, you simply have to find it and fix the pipes.

[Ashley711]

Thank you so much If the leak is in the pipe between the cleaning system and the pump in the pool house (under the concrete) - where would I poor the find a leak? Thank you again!

[CarlD]

If it's in the plumbing, the Find A Leak is not going to work. You need to hunt for the leak and may have to dig up the line.

[Ashley711]

Thank you! I think it is in the line and not the concrete pool. Only because when we turn the pump on it comes out of the concrete in the pool house ANd there is sitting water now around the pool house and we have lost almost 4 inches of water in 2 days. Ugggg.... I cannot believe a pool person cannot get out here on an emergency call. Frustrating! Thank you again

[CarlD]

Probably they'll have to dig up the line and repair the break. These days, pool plumbing mostly uses PVC pipe and Schedule 40 glued-on fittings (Schedule 40 is a standard for plastic pressure pipe). Finding the break is the tough part. Fixing PVC is pretty easy. If you have a concrete deck you have to cut through, that's tougher.

If it's simply a pipe, any plumber should be able to repair it.

[PoolDoc]

Ugggg.... I cannot believe a pool person cannot get out here on an emergency call.

Indiana is seasonal pool country -- very seasonal. Pool businesses struggle to keep employees over the winter, so they'll have some come summer. But there's no way for them to carry enough employees in Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, & Mar to have enough to meet demand in May and June.

. . . membership upgraded.

[Ashley711]

Thank you all for your replies. My husband and I decided to just start digging in the yard - lol. Probably a bad idea, but we are just frustrated. So we started at the pool house and dug a bit until we found PVC. Right at the concrete foundation water was just streaming out. We are sure it is a pipe under the concrete in the pool house. We found large tree roots wrapped over and under a few pipes. In looking in the pool house - you can see where this area of concrete has been cut out in the past. I think we could probably fix the leak if we can get someone to break the concrete up for us - softly haha without causing more damage to the pipes.