Most leaks are not located in the in-ground pool piping. It is, however, a pool owner's worst nightmare. Occasionally, a leak occurs at the pipe connector under the pool deck or beneath the skimmer, but repair rarely requires a backhoe. It pays for a pool owner to know how to find a leak in the in-ground pool piping. If your pool leaks more while your pump is on, the leak is probably in the underground plumbing.
A pool has two main plumbing systems: the suction system and the pressurized system. The suction system (the skimmer and main drain) pulls water from the pool and brings it back to the filter. The pressurized system pumps water back into the pool after it has passed through the filter. The filtered water returns through the jet (or return) inlets, often referred to as return plumbing. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to determine what kind of leak you are dealing with until the pipe is excavated.
Find Out How To Find Leaks In In-Ground Pool Piping
A pool has two main plumbing systems: the suction system and the pressurized system. The suction system (the skimmer and main drain) pulls water from the pool and brings it back to the filter. The pressurized system pumps water back into the pool after it has passed through the filter. The filtered water returns through the jet (or return) inlets, often referred to as return plumbing. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to determine what kind of leak you are dealing with until the pipe is excavated.Signs you have a leak in your plumbing system include
- Low Water Pressure - The more air in your lines, the less room there is for water. Be sure to check your filter's pressure gauge, and if the PSI rating is lower than your normal reading, use the filter's air relief to release air pressure.
- Unable to Prime - If your pump suddenly is unable to be primed, it could be as simple as a closed valve or a blocked impeller. Be sure to check a few other things to really single out this issue.
- Losing Prime - If the pump runs dry after manually priming the pump with a hose, it could be a sign of a more severe air leak.
- Air Bubbles - The most common sign you have air in your lines, air bubbles throughout your pool during the runtime of the pump, shows an issue that needs further diving into (pun intended).