How to Fix A Pool Leak

29 Aug How to Fix A Pool Leak

How To Fix Pool Plumbing Leaks

From Swimming Pool Steve

Swimming pools, as the owners of them realize, are a great amenity.  The hours of relaxation and family memories being built cannot be replicated with any other recreational activity.  Pools are not maintenenance free, however, as these same pool owners quickly realize.  One of the more serious and potentially costly situations that may arise with swimming pools is the presence of a leak.  As this post from Swimming Pool Steve points out, diagnosing and fixing a leak, specifically when it relates to the swimming pool plumbing system, is best accomplished in a systematic manor to ensure a thorough diagnosis and repair.

Here is an excerpt from the post:

Pool plumbing leaks, specifically leaks in the plumbing of the pool equipment, should not be fixed with epoxy. Epoxy seems to be the first thing that pool owners turn to when they discover a small leak from the plumbing fittings of their pool equipment. Epoxy is almost never the right choice to use for fixing leaks in pool plumbing systems.

Sometimes a leak on the equipment pad can be an indication that something has failed such as a crack in the filter tank (which would be dangerous) or a crack in the wet end manifold of the pool pump. If these are broken then you will need to replace the equipment. Attempting to patch pressurized equipment, especially the filter tank, with epoxy is not a good idea at best and a dangerous proposition at worst. In most cases however the leak will not be from the equipment directly but instead from the pipe connections to the equipment.

Threaded Pipe Fitting Leaks

Most commonly pool equipment that is leaking will be leaking from a threaded pipe fitting connection that has failed. This happens very often due to the day to day interaction with the pool equipment. Depending on the type of thread sealant that you have on the threaded connection you can inadvertently break the seal which will cause a leak that can not be fixed without taking the fitting off and replumbing it with a new application of thread sealant.

Silicone – Silicone thread sealant is a great choice for connecting pool equipment with threads. It is easy to work with and will almost always create a leak free connection provided that you use 100% silicone and not latex caulk. If you use this product you must let it set before turning the plumbing system back on or you can cause a leak to form. More commonly, during day to day use, or during winterization of the equipment, you can accidentally move the pipe connected to the threaded fitting. If the threaded fitting gets moved after the silicone has set then it will break the seal and begin to drip. Applying more silicone will not resolve this problem – you must unthread the fitting and apply a fresh layer of silicone and reinstall into the equipment.

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