New liner leaking

[essikr]

Read all the posts on liner leaks and found much usefull info. New liner was installed last year ,the 16 X 32 IG pool has been open for two weeks.I did a routine clean and vac 5/15 ,4 hours later the water had gone down 3" at a rate of approx 4 GPM. In the last 24 hrs it has slowed to less than 1 GPM. A total loss of 8" . I'm going to try a dye test and want to know if using my data would indicate that the leak is in the shallow end. I had suspected it was at the deep end . To add to the problem the water temp is 60 degrees ,thats Ohio for ya.
Thanks for your comments.

[CarlD]

An obvious test is look where the ground around the pool is wet. A leak is most likely there.

[Poconos]

Being an inground the water could be sneaking underground and you'll never see it. The fact that the leak rate has slowed or stopped tells you about where the leak is. At 8" down I'm assuming it's below the skimmer so that leaves the return pipes or the liner-stair interface. At 4 GPM leak rate a dye test should find it easily. I found one at the deep end with a rate of about 3 quarts per minute. I have suggested in past posts to use a dye made from dye markers available at dive shops or just plain beet juice. Chopped up raw beets from the supermarket boiled in water. For the squirter you can use a small garden sprayer with a long piece of auto vacuum hose attacked to the nozzle somehow. Silicone seal, tape, or whatever works. Tape the hose to a long piece of 1/2" PVC pipe and you have a long wand to squirt anywhere. Position the hose near where you want to check, let the turbulence settle out, and give a little squirt. When I got within 6" or so of my leak it was obvious. Three small slits in the liner where the bottom blends into the sides. Patching was another topic.
Hope this helps.
Al
Edit: Also, to rule out the return plumbing just plug the returns.
Also, if you think patching may be in order get yourself some Boxer-100 adhesive. It's a slow setting type that won't curl a vinyl patch and makes placing it easier.

(ajs-1 leak detection)
In case anyone wonders what this is, it's a unique thing I can search for to find this post again.

[essikr]

Thank you for the reply. Boiling beets as I write. I may have put them in to big of a pan ,the water is not getting the color I expected. How many beets and how much water to boil for how long?.Have the hose and an old weed killer jug with a suction pump handle trigger. I really appreciate the information ,hope I find it soon.

[essikr]

Did the dye test and found the water appears to be going down the bottom drain, Since the leak started after I vacuumed ,suspected it my be the hydrostatic valve.Disconnected the piping at the pump and blew low pressure air into the bottom drain piping.I'm hoping the turbulance it cased may have allowed the valve to reseat.Reconnected the piping and ran the pump through the bottom with the skimmer off since the water is below it.Shut pump down and waiting for water to seattle.

Just completed dye test on bottom drain ,it doesn't appear to be pulling the dye in. Will know later today if the leak stopped.

The dye injector tool worked great,used plastic ice maker line,pvc pipe ,tape and garden sprayer.I added and small orifice at the end of the line. Thanks Poconos for your idea.

[Poconos]

I gather by your comments that the boiling beets worked? You may be the first one to actually try it. I never used beets but have eaten them and noticed the deep red color of the water and figured that should make a good dye. For my dye I have some stream tracing tablets that I scarfed from a lab years ago and just disolve a piece of one in water. Hope your problem is solved.
Al

[essikr]

Back to the drawing board. Pool still leaking,testing the drain with dye it looked like it wasn't leaking yesterday. Today it looks like it is with the dye.It's really difficult to tell.Lost 1" overnight ,less than 1/2 GPM.With so many slots in the drain cover I'm not sure what to look for.
Has anyone ever tried to cover the drain and isolate the bottom system to make sure that is where the leak is? It has been suggested that I need to higher a diver (water temp 60)to operate the hydro valve to flush out any debry that may have gotten stuck in it.When the leak started it was after I vacuumed the bottom.The bottom drain was covered with leaves. I would appreciate any feedback on this problem.