Swimming Pool Leak Detection Technologies

When it comes to swimming pool leak detection, people usually get this when there is a change of water level in the pool, which makes them suspicious about the leaking of the pool. Before diving into any of the leaks, we have to make sure there is no backwash line leak, which is the most common leak in the pool. If you have water in the backwash which is in the filter, that is definitely a leak. If there is no backwash line leak, then we are good to go.

Types of leaks:

• Pressure Leak
• Suction leak
• Structural Leak

Pressure Leak:

• Go to the swimming pool and mark the pool’s water line. Leave the pool running and leave for 24 hours. Again mark the pool water line with pencil or a tape and leave for another 24 hours. At this point, we have two marks; 24 hours on and 24 hours with the system off.
• If more water leaks when the system is on and less water when it is off then we have a pressure leak such as a leak through a return line, dead jet slides etc.

Precautionary Measures

• With the pressure leak, the first thing we want to do is to turn off the swimming pool.
• Go to the return of swimming pool. Remove all the eyeball fittings. If there are more than one return line, then go to all one by one and remove all the eyeball fittings.
• Put half-threaded O-ring plugs to make sure the water from the pool does not shoot back.
• Call the professional and he/she will detect the issue otherwise, it will take many days to tackle the issue.

Suction Leak:

• If more water leaks when the system is off and less water leaks when the system is on then we have a suction leak. If there is, a suction leak that means it is either skimmer or drain.

Precautionary Measures:

• Turn off the pool. Go to the skimmer, open the lid, take a half-threaded O-ring plug and close the path similar to the return line. Most pools have at least one skimmer. However, there can be more than two as well.
• Now again leave the pool for the next 24 hours and see the leak level. If there is, no leakage that means it is a suction leak.
• Call the professional so he/she can repair it.
• If after 24 hours there is a leak, then go to the bottom of the pool and open the drain, put the half-threaded O-ring and wait for next 24 hours. If there is no leak it is a drain leak.

Structural Leak:

• If the leakage of water when the system is on and system is off is the same that will be a structural leak. Structural leak can be anything. Such as hole in a liner. If you have a concrete or fiberglass pool, it could be a hole in the surface, cracks in step, gaskets around lights, or a hydrostatic valve.

METHODS TO LOCATE

Dye testing

To locate the leaks in the pool, it is the simplest method. In swimming pool, dye is distributed. There is a leakage in case if dye pulls into structural crack.

Hydrophones

These relates most often to underwater microphones. Several companies use this hydrophone technology to locate swimming pool leaks. It works in a way that when these microphones are placed near the leakage point, it can pick up the sound of the leak.

Pipe Cameras

Used when it comes to find the leakage in plumbing lines of swimming pools. In industry to find the leakage in the pool, this is an advanced method. These cameras have the ability to in pipes as small as 3/4’’. There is a transmitter located at the head of the camera.

Pressure Testing

When it comes to the effectiveness method, pressure testing is most effective. Some companies use air, nitrogen and water to build pressure in the plumbing lines of the pool. If there is no pressure in the line, it is definitely leaking.

Helium

To locate leakage in swimming pool plumbing. In case, if no leak heard, helium dispenses into the line. Then a helium/gas detector ‘’sniff’’ out the helium, in case of escaping from pipe cracks.