Indoor, inground, lined, some loss, heres what I plan.

[newbie2715]

OK,

Heres the necessary info, let me know if I missed something.
It is inground, indoor, 12 x 24, four foot deep, no deep end, vinyl lined pool. The liner must be 7 years or so old.

In the winter we shut it down and drain it just below the jets. Its been at basically that level all winter long. We had a couple of cold weeks move through up here in Michigan and I have yet to open the pool. I started filling it two days ago, and did a fair amount each day. Last night I finished filling it up and took a good look at where the water level was on compared to the liner design.

This morning on my way out the door to work it appears to have dropped 3-4 inches! At this point the pump and filter are not even in line as they are shut off from the jets and drains by valves outside.

My assumption is that the leak must not be in the deep end or I would have lost water all winter long, this also seems to rule out the bottom drain to me.

I am assuming its a pin hole or maybe the jets, stairs, skimmer. Reading over this site Al (poconos), and others seem to have all the right ideas... I am probably going to go the route of beets and report back on how that will work.

I will also start to take measurements on the hour after I top it off tonight.

Anything else I should do besides the measurements?

If it is say a jet or skimmer plate are those costly repairs?

Lastly should I open the pump & filter etc before using the dye? At this point my chlorine levels are 0 due to it sitting. I am worried about the potential of staining.

Thanks in advance.

[Poconos]

One inch equates to about 180 gallons so it sounds like you have a good size leak which should be easy to find. I doubt it but I guess there is a possibility that when you filled the added pressure could have caused something to let go deep. You're doing all the right things and looks like you've done your homework. With the dye you have to go really slow to avoid turbulance. When I was hunting down my leak I used a long piece of auto vacuum hose taped to a 1/2 or 3/4" PVC pipe and jury rigged the hose to a garden sprayer full of dye. I'd position the hose end where I wanted, let the currents die off, then give a little squirt of dye. Patience, patience, and more patience. When you get to the leak it will be obvious. You're lucky to only have to work in 4' of water. My leak was 8' down. If it is the liner have you seen my patching technique? If not I'll hunt down the thread.
Good Luck.
Al

[newbie2715]

Al,

I did read your thread on patching and The pictures helped 100%. The auto vacuum hose you are talking about is vacuum line correct? I have been picturing a big vacuum hose similar to used on a home vacuum... it just hit me you are talking vacuum line hose from an engine....

Anyway I did not refill it but have started documenting the loss as it sits now. It is slowing on the loss per hour... So thats a good sign.

What is done if its at the seam of the stairs etc? I imagine a gasket is under there but the whole concept is pretty darn frightening.

[newbie2715]

OK,

So I found it! The bad news is it doesn't look good. I am not sure what happened before I owned the pool or what would have caused this... The liner under the skimmer inlet (rectangle) is apparently tore or just missing.

I am thinking maybe something reacted with the screws, aren't they supposed to be stainless?

Anyway here are a few pictures... Then my questions Please help!








OK can i just remove that skimmer plate, or will the liner move if I do that? I would hate for the holes to not line up again.

Also if I can patch this, as I have new liner material that matches in my basement... approximately how big of patch do I need to do? And could someone clarify what to patch as in, am I able to double the liner up under the plate or will that cause a leak?

Thanks a bunch in advance.

[Poconos]

Removing the skimmer plate should not cause the liner to move. I had to replace my faceplate a few years ago. The liner should have gone all the way to the throat so it is fully pinched by the faceplate. Yes, the screws should have been stainless. When I replaced my faceplate I did drain to just below the skimmer opening so I could work on it dry. I pulled the liner back from the galvanized steel pool side and squished a bunch of silicone seal between the liner and the wall, then more under the faceplate before screwing it back in place. I can't see where the liner is torn but you could definitely bond a big piece on as a patch.
Hope this helps.
Al

[newbie2715]

Its not necessarily torn but the holes should be visible in the pictures.

Any recommended bonding agent or any since I can do it dry? Do you recommend a square patch or a rounded edge patch? I assume with no sharp corners it would be harder to come back off (if thats even an issue with these patches)