Results for "underwater repair"

Leaks Medium 30 minutes to 2 hours 284 👍 0

Can Pool Leaks Be Fixed? Complete Repair Guide 2026

Got a pool that keeps losing water with exposed equipment around the edges — is this dangerous with kids constantly playing in the yard? I've tried those DIY leak detection methods I found online but honestly can't tell if it's the liner, the plumbing, or something else entirely.

Before I throw in the towel and call it quits on pool ownership, I need to know - can pool leaks actually be fixed for good? I don't want some temporary band-aid solution that'll fail again next season. Are there reliable repair methods that will solve this nightmare once and for all, or am I just fooling myself thinking this can be permanently resolved?…more

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Above Ground Medium 2-3 hours 347 👍 0

Can Pool Liners Be Repaired? Step-by-Step Repair Guide

Last time I checked my vinyl pool liner there were several small tears scattered across the surface, but my pool store is pushing a thousands-dollar full replacement. They're making it sound like repairs never work and will just cause more problems down the line - classic upselling tactics.

Before I get taken to the cleaners again (like I do every time I walk into that place), can these small holes actually be patched reliably? I'm talking maybe 1-2 inch tears, nothing massive. Is this something I can tackle myself with the pool still full, or am I looking at draining everything and calling in the pros? Just want an honest answer about what actually works versus what makes them the most money.…more

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Above Ground Medium 1-2 hours plus curing time 902 👍 0

How to Patch Pool Liners: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Staring at my pool liner that somehow went from a tiny tear to a massive gushing hole after following a YouTube patch tutorial. I've seen those vinyl patch kits at the pool store but honestly have no idea how they work or if they actually hold up.

The hole isn't huge - maybe about the size of a quarter - but I'm worried it's going to get bigger if I don't do something soon. Do I need to drain the whole pool to patch it properly, or can I somehow fix it with water still in there? Really hoping I don't have to deal with refilling and rebalancing all my chemicals again!…more

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Above Ground Medium varies by patch type 290 👍 0

How Long Do Pool Liner Patches Last? Complete Guide

Patched a small tear in my above ground liner with one of those underwater repair kits about six months ago. Holding so far but it's starting to peel at the edges. How long do these patches typically last before I'm looking at a full liner replacement anyway?…more

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Leaks Medium 2-4 hours for inspection, varies for repair 250 👍 0

Can Pool Lights Leak? Detection & Repair Guide 2026

Wondering if I should be concerned about water pooling around the light fixture in this rental's inground pool since I've never dealt with pool lights before. My pool has been losing water steadily for months now, and I've checked everything I can think of - the skimmer, return lines, you name it. But I just noticed the water level seems to drop more when the pool light is on, and there's some discoloration around the light fixture.

Is it actually possible for pool lights to leak? I never even considered this could be the source of my problem. If they can leak, what parts typically fail and how much water are we talking about? I'm really hoping this might finally be the answer to my water loss mystery!…more

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Leaks Medium 2-4 hours for detection, varies for repair 170 👍 0

How to Find and Fix Pool Leaks: Complete Guide

Between my wife's daily pool checks and my denial, she finally made me face the reality that our 2009 inground concrete pool is losing 2-3 inches every single day. It's not evaporation - we've had normal temperatures and humidity here in Ohio. I noticed some wet spots around the equipment pad yesterday, and there's a small crack I can see near the shallow end steps that wasn't there last season. The water level seems to stabilize when it gets down to just below the skimmer opening. I'm not sure if this is a plumbing leak, structural issue, or equipment problem. What's the best way to figure out where this leak is coming from and get it fixed?…more

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Leaks Medium 2-4 hours 334 👍 0

Can Pool Leak Through Hydrostatic Valve? Detection & Repair

According to my pool's behavior, the water level started dropping steadily yesterday even though nobody's been swimming, and now I'm wondering if the hydrostatic valve is leaking. The water level drops consistently even when the pool isn't in use, and I've already ruled out obvious surface leaks around the skimmers, returns, and visible plumbing.

From my understanding, hydrostatic valves are designed to prevent the pool shell from floating during high groundwater conditions, but I'm wondering if they can work in reverse - allowing pool water to escape when groundwater levels are low or if the valve mechanism fails. The water loss seems to correlate with our recent dry spell, which has me questioning whether the valve could be stuck open or damaged.

Is it technically feasible for a hydrostatic valve to cause pool water leakage, and if so, what specific failure modes should I be looking for during inspection?…more

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Leaks Medium 2-4 hours for inspection and testing 354 👍 0

Can Pool Leak Through Tile Grout? Detection Guide

Woke up to my pool losing another 3 inches this week from my 20,000-gallon inground. I've checked all the obvious spots like the skimmer, return lines, and pump connections, but haven't found any obvious leaks.

What's got me wondering about the grout is that I've noticed some areas where it looks cracked or slightly deteriorated, especially on the north side of the pool where we get the most freeze-thaw action during winter. The tile and grout are probably 8-10 years old now. My water chemistry has been pretty stable - chlorine around 2-3 ppm, pH 7.4, alkalinity 120 ppm - so I don't think chemical imbalance is causing rapid deterioration.

Is it actually possible for pool water to leak through damaged grout at the waterline? I'm trying to figure out if I should focus my leak detection efforts there or keep looking elsewhere. The water level seems to stabilize when it drops below the tile line, which makes me think the grout theory might be on the right track.…more

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Leaks Medium 2-4 hours 259 👍 0

How to Find Pool Leak: Complete Detection Guide 2026

Got my pool water level dropping a massive 2-3 inches this week and there's definitely something wrong beyond normal evaporation. My water chemistry is balanced (chlorine at 2.5 ppm, pH 7.4, alkalinity 120 ppm), so I don't think it's a chemical issue causing excessive evaporation.

I suspect there might be a leak somewhere but I'm not sure how to pinpoint the exact location. Should I be checking around the skimmers and return jets first? I've heard about using food coloring to detect leaks but I'm not sure of the proper technique. Also wondering if there's a way to test whether it's a structural leak versus something in the plumbing lines.

What's the most systematic approach to track down where exactly the water is going? I'd rather diagnose this myself before calling in a expensive leak detection service if possible.…more

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Leaks Hard 2-5 days for permanent repair 424 👍 1

Can Pool Leak Through Concrete? Yes - Here's How to Fix

Woke up this morning to find my pool water level had dropped another two inches overnight and now I'm wondering if water is somehow seeping through the concrete itself. My kids spend hours in the pool every day, and I've noticed the water level dropping more than usual lately.

I always thought concrete was completely waterproof, but now I'm wondering if that's actually true. Can pool water actually leak through the concrete shell itself? I'm worried about what this might mean for water quality and whether it's safe for the kids to keep swimming if there are structural issues with the concrete.…more

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Above Ground Medium 45 minutes 270 👍 0

When to Replace Above Ground Pool Liner - Signs & Diagnosis

Already patched my above ground pool liner twice this season for faded edges and tears, but we're still losing water and I'm done guessing what's causing it. The liner is probably around 8-10 years old now.

With summer here and the kids wanting to swim every day, I need to know what warning signs mean the liner needs to be replaced versus what can be safely patched. I'm especially concerned about water quality and whether a deteriorating liner could affect the safety of the swimming environment. What should I be looking for to determine if we need a full liner replacement?…more

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Leaks Easy 45 minutes (including cure time: 1-2 hours) 6 👍 0

J-B Weld WaterWeld on Leaking Pool PVC Joint

During the estimate call, my pool guy quoted me close to $200 to cut out and re-plumb a leaking glued PVC joint right at my pump — and honestly that feels steep for what looks like a tiny weeping drip. I picked up a stick of J-B Weld WaterWeld (the 8277 epoxy putty) at Home Depot for about nine bucks, and I'm wondering if I can just knead it up and pack it around that joint myself instead of paying someone else to do it.

My main questions are: will this stuff actually hold against the water pressure a pool pump puts out, and do I need to completely shut the system down and dry the pipe before applying it? I know it says 'cures underwater' on the package, but I want to make sure I'm not just wasting my time with a fix that'll blow off the minute I fire the pump back up.

Is this a real repair I can count on, or am I just buying myself a little time before I have to do the full re-glue job anyway? Happy to do the proper fix eventually, but if this buys me a season I'm all for it.…more

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Pump Problems Easy 15 minutes 219 👍 1

How Long Do Pool Cover Pumps Last? Lifespan & Replacement

This morning I discovered my pool cover pump completely dead after last week's torrential downpour, and now I'm questioning whether four years is actually normal lifespan. I'm looking at replacements and there's such a huge price range - from like $50 cheap ones to $300+ fancy models.

Before I drop the cash, what's a realistic lifespan I should expect? Is it worth spending more upfront, or do they all basically crap out after a few seasons anyway? Mine gets pretty beat up sitting outside through our harsh winters, so I'm not sure if that's just the nature of the beast or if I should be getting more years out of these things.…more

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Above Ground Medium 2-4 hours 460 👍 0

Above Ground Pool Problems: Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Our above ground pool faces the exact same maddening issues every single spring, and we're tired of getting ripped off by overpriced pool store "solutions. Between overpriced chemicals and costly service calls, I'm looking to become more self-sufficient with pool maintenance.

My pool seems to have different issues throughout the season - sometimes the water looks off, other times the pump isn't working right, and occasionally I notice problems with the liner or walls. Rather than guessing or getting upsold every time, I'd love a systematic way to figure out what's actually wrong so I can tackle these problems myself and save some money.…more

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Above Ground Medium 45 minutes 407 👍 0

Can Pool Liners Stretch? Above Ground Vinyl Liner Guide

Turned on my pool pump after winter and now my above ground liner looks completely different than it did last summer. There are these weird wrinkles that weren't there before, and some spots look thinner than others. My neighbor insists pool liners don't stretch, but something is definitely happening here.

The pool gets full sun most of the day and it's been brutally hot this year. I'm wondering if the heat and water pressure are actually causing the vinyl to stretch out? I'm trying to figure out if this is normal wear and tear or if I need to start budgeting for a new liner. Has anyone else noticed their liner changing over time?…more

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