With Spring firmly in place in the Northeast and pools starting to open, it is wise to keep in mind how to keep pools running smoothly and efficiently. The best way to do that is to ensure that there are no leaks in a pool. Opening a pool is the perfect time to check for leaks in the pool.
But where to look? Finding leaks in pools can be a time consuming and difficult process, unless the proper training and certification has been received, similar to the training program that American Leak Detection technicians complete.
If you think you may have a leak, it is a good idea to first run a bucket-test, which we have detailed instructions on performing through this link.
Some indicators of a leak are:
Higher water usage rates; if the pool’s auto-fill is constantly kicking on, there may be a pool leak.
Chemicals needing to be added to the pool on a more-than-regular basis.
Algae in the pool could also be a symptom of a pool leak.
When a pool is closed for the winter, it is very important to make sure that all of the water has been drained from the pool; in the event that there is water left behind, it can freeze over the cold winter months, which leads to cracking pipes. Those cracked pipes can lead to pool leaks that are often found only when the pool is reopened for the Spring.
To make sure that your pool season is leak-free, give American Leak Detection a call today so we can perform a water leak audit for you, on your pool, spa, home, or all three!
Due to the recent earthquakes American Leak Detection has some pre-caution info for our local residence.Below are a couple of tips and pre-cautions to check following an earthquake.
Earthquakes not only rattles you nerves, it rattles and shakes everything.Many people do not think about the pipes that are underground are also moving with thousand s of tons of dirt during an earthquake.These lines can crack, break or even loosen fittings.
Here are a couple of tips and pre-cautions a homeowner can perform themselves following a earthquake.
·Check the front “Water Meter” for your house.This meter is usually by the curb or street and it is either in a plastic or concrete box.Most times they are marked “Meter”.
1.Mark with either tape or a pen the line the meter is currently at.
2.Left the meter sit for a period of 45 minutes to 1 hour without using any water in the house.
3.After step 2, check the mark from before.If it shows that the meter has moved at all within this time with no water being used in the house, there is a leak somewhere.This means there is a water leak on the domestic or pressurized hot/cold water lines inside or below your house.
4.If there is no movement there is NO LEAKS.If there is any movement then you need a Leak Detection to locate the problem before the problem escalates.
·Check your pool for leaks by performing a Bucket Test.This is a simple test that takes a period of 24 hours.You will need a 5 gallon bucket, tape or a permanent marker to perform this test.
1.Place the bucket on the first or second step of the pool.Ensure that the bucket is immersed in the pool at least five inches.
2.Mark the water level inside the bucket with tape or a permanent marker.
3.Let the bucket sit for a period of 24 hours.
4.After 24 hours, you want to compare the two water levels (inside/out).The inside of the bucket will represent the normal evaporation rate and the outside of the bucket will represent the how much you pool is losing.
5.Measure the two distances and they should be the same.If they are different, that tells the homeowner how much the pool is losing compared to evaporation, indicating there is a leak.Call for a Leak detection ASAP.
·Pool/Spa Electricity: Another concern is electricity for the pool light or the equipment.
1.Outside the pool visually look at the light to try to determine if there is water inside the pool light.If there is water in the light, you want to turn off the electricity feeding that light immediately.Now you need a leak detection to locate the source of the leak or electrical problem.
2.Your pool has a GFI (ground-fault circuit-interrupters) that is suppose to trip the electric system if there is a short or problem. If cause of failure these pre-cautions are important to avoid injuries or death.
3.There may not be sufficient current flowing in the water to blow a fuse, but sufficient to kill you. Some electricity will flow directly to earth and some will flow through the water. In fact, there will still be an electric potential difference in the vicinity (probably the whole pool) of the exposed conductor. Consequently, some of the electricity will flow through the pool water, some will flow through the person in the pool, and some will flow through to earth.
4.Call the professionals at American Leak Detection if you have any questions.
619-233-0382 or 760-432-6417 Toll Free 800-619-5325
Heres an example of what happens to a pool during our recent earthquake Sunday April 4th:
Consider checking your pool’s water level and possible water loss to save money on high water bills.
“Residential swimming pools provide hours of family fun, but they can also leak, which can cause high water bills and damage to surrounding property,” said Alan King Operations Manager at American Leak Detection, serving Atlanta and the north Georgia area. “Environmental factors such as humidity, wind, and air as well as water temperature can all impact a pool’s water level, but members of the local community should be aware of a few telltale signs that may indicate there’s a problem with the pool.” If a homeowner must add water to the pool more than once a week or if they notice that the pool deck is sinking or lifting, then a water leak may be present. The presence of air in the pool’s filtration system or pool equipment is another warning signs there may be a leak.
American Leak Detection’s web site explains how the homeowner may check the water loss themselves to see if you need a leak detection performed.
If pool owners suspect a leak, they can use the company’s Bucket Test to test their pool for leaks. If after performing the Bucket Test, local residents suspect their pool may have a leak, they should call a professional right away. “We want members of the community to have a leak-free, safe and enjoyable pool season.”
The company’s experienced specialists use state-of-the-art equipment and methodology to locate concealed pipe leaks.
On the average, one pool out of every twenty pools have a leak. If you are losing 1/4 inch of water per day then you probably have a leak. To be 100%, we recomend that you go to American Leak Detection.com and see how to do a bucket test.
If you have a commercial/public pool, then check the autofill to see if it is running all the time. This will usually indicate a leak. You also may want to shut the autofill off for a 24 hour period and see how much the water level has gone down. If it has fallen more than 1/4 of an inch then the pool is probably leaking.
If you have noticed that your pool or spa has been loosing more water that you think it should , then a “bucket test” would be the way to determine if your water loss is evaporation.
