We're dealing with everything y'all are talking about right now.

We had lots of family coming over for Easter, wanting to swim - so I decided to do something about that pipe myself. Dad came over and figured there was no way we'd be able to get a splice into the return pipe using two couplings, so he put in a compression coupling. Trouble is the crack was longer than the comp coupling, so he added a length of pipe a couple of inches long using a coupling, then the compression thing. We didn't use glue on anything, figuring when the plumber *finally* makes it out, he can do whatever he needs to to make this thing right. ("I can be there next Wednesday ... well, maybe next Friday .... call me on Wednesday ...") So far, no leaks from the temp fix and I am able to run the pump/filter now so I got the stabilizer in and the water looks fantastic now. Family had a ball on Easter day.

When Hector shows up to fix the leak permanently, I'll let you know what he does.

We've got about 5' of deck that was taken up to get to this, so we uncovered that much length of pipe. Trouble is the crack started about 6 inches from where the shotcrete surrounds the light - so naturally, the pipe is in the shotcrete and doesn't allow for any give in the pipe to pull it up. We'll see what the plumber does with it.

Good news on the shotcrete sub, though. He couldn't believe his crew cut the return pipes after shooting the pool, and I assured him they did - I have the pictures. He said there was absolutely no way they'd do that ... I told him the foreman was probably already on some kind of "probation" for his job and figured he'd be fired if he called the cracked pipe in ... so figured he had nothing to lose. Anyway, Bill the owner told me that since the concrete section was only 4'x6' he'd cover the costs - fix it and send him the bill. Yeah, sending him the bill and him sending me money are two separate things, but we'll see. He was nice about it, at least.

I'll keep you updated! Thanks for the encouragement and info.

Valerie