Q&A for How to Find a Leak in Your Swimming Pool

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I live in Minnesota and winterized my in-ground pool about three weeks ago. I covered the pool as part of the process. All the water has drained out except about three feet in the deep end of the pool. What should I do?

Community Answer

The leak is probably in the pipe leading from the drain back up to the skimmer piping that leads to the pump. Most likely the pipe is cracked/broken right at the current water level. You should have noticed this much leakage prior to closing the pool.

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Question

I can hear water running in the sand filter. What does that mean?

Community Answer

You have a broken lateral and will quickly get a hole worn into the filter canister.

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Question

How do I find a leak in a pool?

Community Answer

Use a little dye in the water to show you the flow of the water's direction. You should be able to see quickly if water is leaking out.

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Question

How do you patch a small tear in a vinyl kiddie pool?

Community Answer

Order a patch repair kit online or purchase one at the same place you bought the kiddie pool.

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Question

When I turn the pump on, my water level drops 3-4 inches in less than 4 hours. If I don't turn it o, the water stays up. Where do I start looking?

Community Answer

First look at your drain and or the waste line from your filter valve. It's probably leaking when the pump is running, so check with the pump on.

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Question

Where do I find someone to repair a swimming pool?

Community Answer

You can just do an online search for pool repairs in your area. There should be several sites that can connect you with someone nearby who can do the repairs for you.

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Question

When the filtration is on, I get a small amount of water going out of the waste line. Why?

Community Answer

It is probably your spider valve, under all the mechanisms that allow you to turn your filter handle to waste, recirculate, bypass, etc. When that wears out, it can cause the valve to not close all the way, allowing water to escape past, as it is no longer sealing closed.

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Question

I replaced my hydrostatic valve and used Teflon plumbing tape on the threads, but my pool is losing lots of water. Is it possible that the equalizer line is causing water loss?

Community Answer

Yes. Also check for other holes and possible backflow. See where the water is coming from if you can, and work backwards.

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Question

What do I do if my pipes are good and there's no visible cracks on my pool but it's still leaking?

Community Answer

Have you verified there are no leaks in the pipes that are underground? Also, some liner cracks can leak a lot and be almost invisible to the naked eye.

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Question

How do I find a leak in an above-ground pool?

Community Answer

Try going around the inside of the pool with food coloring and see if anything gets sucked in.

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Question

My pool is losing about an inch of water a day, but stops at a certain point. I found a couple leaks and patched them. Could these underwater patches be leaking even though I don't see any leaks?

Community Answer

Yes, and you may have more leaks. They can be almost impossible to see with the naked eye. Depending on the patch quality, it could still be leaking there.

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Question

How do I know if I have a suction leak in my inground pool?

Community Answer

Look for bubbles in your pump housing. You will usually see air bubbles if the suction side is leaking.

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Question

Can I still maintain proper chemical levels in my in-ground swimming pool if it has a leak?

Community Answer

Yes, but you’ll be using a lot more chemicals. Obviously the chemicals are draining out with the water through the leak and you’re refilling with fresh water.

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Question

Can I use my swimming pool with the skimmers turned off?

Community Answer

Sure, but you can't leave them off, or water won't circulate or filter.

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Question

What do I do if I have air bubbles on both return lines? I haven't noticed water loss, but when the basket lid is off with the pump not running, the water flows back into both scammer lines and the main drain line.

Community Answer

You could have air in the filter. If there is, you can add a pressure release valve before the air pressure gauge, or just loosen the pressure gauge until it squirts water. It should hiss until the air is gone.

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Question

What do I do if I can't find the leak in my swimming pool?

Community Answer

Call a professional if it's bad. However, if your pool is leaking as little as 0.6 cm, then don’t worry as that is totally normal.

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