Vinyl Pool Main Drain Leak

If there is a leak in the line in the section above the bottom of the pool the amount of pressure loss can be used to indicate where in the line that leak is.

Vinyl pool main drain leak.

The main drain is one of the hardest complicating factors for finding leaks in pools. An inground swimming pool s main drain is located in the deep end of the pool. A main drain circulates the pool s water by pulling water off the bottom of the pool and sending it to the filter. During winter months or periods of non use most pool drains do not need to be plugged but in some cases plugging a main drain is required or recommended.

When the pool and the pool return pipes settle in the ground at different rates this almost always results in a leak where the return meets the pool wall. In addition to the individual items such as the skimmer returns lights and main drains already discussed leaks through the physical structure of the pool itself are very common. Leaks in main drains are hard to fix and for this reason leaking main drains are commonly abandoned. If the depth of the main drain you re testing is different than 9 the pressure the water puts on the air lock can be calculated at 43 psi per foot of water.

Some holes in a vinyl liner do not leak but if you find any it s best to use a vinyl patch kit to seal it up. This repair will likely cost between 400 and 700 unless the entire drain needs to be replaced. Look for tears or separations around all fittings. If so there are special considerations.

Break out the leaking area with the jackhammer. Structural leaks vinyl liner pools structure leaks are very common in swimming pools. Most of the time the leak is above the frost line so the warmer your climate the deeper the crack could be. Pay close attention to steps and corners where the liner may be stretched more than normal.

This leak will probably be under the main drain well or within 2 feet of the main drain where it makes its turn towards the trench. We have here a comprehensive guide for finding a leak in an above ground pool with a vinyl liner and how it can be repaired. Some adjustment to circulation or filtration is usually needed to make up for the missing main drain. Most common pool leaks one thing any pool installer would tell you is that fixing the leaky sections of a vinyl pool liner is a whole lot easier than finding where exactly the hole is located.

The leak will probably be at a joint that has been improperly glued. There may be a grid of rebar under the pool plaster which you will need to cut with bolt cutters. This type of leak is a very common leak location.