AquaSafe Pool Services

Pool leaks can be very frustrating for property managers and home owners. A pool leak can result in serious damage to surrounding buildings. Excessive water resulting from a pool leak can disturb the soil below the pool deck and can cause the pool deck to collapse. Successful leak detection and repair consists of information gathering and progressive leak detection. Progressive leak detection is a step by step process, in which parts of the filter system plumbing and pool interior are tested in order to find the leak. Based on our experience, we recommend hiring a contractor who has the right expertise and resources to find and fix a leak. AquaSafe is a professional in pool leak detection and offers various types of leak repairs.

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Pressure test

Pressure testing of all individual lines: Skimmer, main drain, return, and vacuum lines. All lines are pressurized up to 20 PSI. Pressure testing is performed to confirm the leak on the underground plumbing and to find out which part of the plumbing the leak is on.

Dye test

Our certified diver will inspect the entire pool interior under water. Dye testing of the pool interior usually takes about 3 hours depending on the size of the pool. Our diver will dye test the pool fittings, main drains, hydro-static valves, skimmers, and pool light niches.  

Sonic underground leak location

Sonic underground leak location is performed once the leak on the underground plumbing is confirmed. With sonic high resolution equipment we will pin point the exact location of the leak. This will minimize the excavation and digging the pool deck or pool shell.

Underground Leak repair

AquaSafe is an expert in underground leak repairs. Whether the leak is located under the pool shell or under the pool deck we will find it and fix it. 

Skimmer leak repair

Skimmers are often the cause of a leaking pool. Even when the pool is properly winterized, excessive rain, snow, and low temperatures can cause damage to a skimmer body that will require replacing the entire skimmer. Leaks in the skimmer throat are also very common and are caused by deteriorated grout around the edge of the pool and the skimmer.
 

Successful pool leak detection and repair process:

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Information Gathering

The first step in successful leak detection is to gather information. Prior to calling AquaSafe, you should have answers to the following questions:

• How many inches of water is the pool loosing over a 24 hour period?

• Is it a vinyl liner pool or a plaster mercalite pool?

• Are there any visible cracks in the pool? Are there any wet spots around the pool deck or around the pool area, such as constantly wet parking lots or wet spots in the grass?

• Has there been any recent construction activity?

• Does the pool have any in-floor cleaners, waterfalls, or fountains?

• Is the loss of water due to evaporation or a leak?

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Bucket Test

The bucket test is a simple test to find out if the dropping water level is due to the leak or evaporation. Evaporation can cause a drop in water level of up to 1/4 of an inch in hot and windy areas. To perform this test, follow these instructions:

Fill the pool to normal level.
Fill a 5 gallon bucket with water and place it on the steps into the pool.
Mark the water level on the pool wall with a piece of tape and mark the water level on the bucket with another piece of tape.
Wait 24 hours.
Measure the amount of water loss in the bucket and compare it to the amount of water loss in the pool. 
If the water loss in the pool is greater than the water loss in the bucket, this indicates a leak in the swimming pool.

Pump On/Pump Off Test

The pump on/ pump off test is performed to give a hint of which part of the plumbing has a leak and whether the leak is located on the filter piping or in the structure of the pool. To perform this test, follow these instructions:

Measure the amount of water loss when the pool pump is on.
Turn the pump off over night.
Compare the amount of water loss when the pump is off to the amount of water loss when the pump is on.
If there is a greater amount of water loss with the pump on than with the pump off, then the leak is most likely located on the pressure side of plumbing, more specifically, in the pool return line.
If there is a lesser amount of water loss with the pump on than with the pump off, then the leak is most likely located on the suction side of plumbing, more specifically, in the skimmer and main drain.
If there is an equal amount of water loss with the pump on and with the pump off, then the leak is most likely a structural leak, located in the hydrostatic valve, pool light niches, pool fitting, or cracks in the pool.

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Pool Pressure Test

AquaSafe will perform a complete pressure test of all underground plumbing to confirm that the leak is on the underground plumbing. Each line will be tested individually at 20 PSI.
Pressure testing is a very time and labor-consuming test. Pressure test usually requires to cut some part of filter plumbing to be able to install the pressure testing plugs or to bypass filters and motors that could affect testing results.

The price for a regular pressure test can be anywhere between $350 and $1,800 depending on the size of the pool. AquaSafe charges a flat fee for complete service regardless of the amount of time spent on the pressure testing. This enables the customer to budget accordingly and ensures that the customer is not surprised by any additional charges.

Pool Dye Test
Pool interior dye test is performed under water by our certified diver. Our diver will dye test all fitting, main drains, hydrostatic valves, skimmers and pool light niches.
The price for a dye test can be anywhere between $250 and $750 depending on the size of the pool, number of pool fitting, number of pool lights, main drains and hydro-static valves.

Pool Underground Sonic Leak Detection

If the pressure test confirms that the leak is located in the underground plumbing, our service technicians will pin point the exact location of the leak with our high resolution underground sonic leak detection equipment.

AquaSafe charges sonic leak detection at an hourly rate. Most leaks are located within 4 hours.

We usually ask the customer to provide us with the pool layout blue prints that speeds up the process of the leak location. If the blue prints are not available we will locate underground pipes with our helium detector.

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Pool Leak Repair

AquaSafe has professional experience in all kinds of leak repairs. A leak located in the underground plumbing is usually the worst scenario for the pool owner and will require excavation of the pool deck or pool shell around the leak and replacement of part of the underground plumbing.

The price range for these kinds of repairs can be anywhere between $1,500 and $3,500.

Leaks caused by structural cracks in the pool shell do not require excavation. We offer various types of structural crack repairs depending on the pool owner's budget. We also are able to fix the structural leaks temporarily without draining the whole pool to get the client through the summer and to fix the pool leak after the pool is closed.

Structural leaks caused by a faulty hydrostat valve, an unsealed conduit in pool light niche, or an unsealed skimmer throat are usually fixed by sealing the leak with a two part epoxy. These kind of repairs are usually not expensive and can be performed under water. It is very important that the service technician who performs this kind of repair uses a quality product to avoid any future problems.

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Pool Monitoring

Water loss that occurs because of normal evaporation in the pool is usually caused by the combination of more than one leak. A pool leak that is caused by freeze damage on underground piping will most likely be accompanied by a smaller structural leak, such as a leak on the skimmer throat or pool light niche.
It is very important to monitor the water level after each repair and to find out if there are any additional leaks. Leak detection on commercial swimming pools can get very expensive and we recommend choosing a professional company with experience in leak detection and repair that will find the leak and fix it. AquaSafe guarantees all of our work and repairs.

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