How to detect and Repair Pool Leakages
Regardless of the shape or size of your swimming pool, it is a costly investment, which is meant to last for years. Therefore, it is natural for you to insist on keeping it in perfect shape to avoid pool leakages, so you could benefit from having it installed. However, there might be a time when, inevitably, you'll have to face one of the worst enemy of pools (black algae), but leaks. When this situation arises, you have to take prompt action, and fix it as soon as possible.
Causes of Leakages in Pool
Old age: - Depending on what type of pool you own, it will present signs of wearing as the time passes. While vinyl and marble-lined basins are the quickest to give in to time, concrete too can sustain damage. Even more, plumbing is also highly susceptible to tearing due to old age, so you should keep an eye on it as well.
Faulty workmanship: - Cheap materials offer cheap solutions to a long-time dream. If the construction materials used to craft your pool are of lower quality, the test of time will highlight the issue, as the pool won't last too long. While it is not guaranteed that by using expensive materials the result will have a higher-quality, it will surely last longer.
The consequences of leaks are, contrary to their causes, quite easy to pinpoint. They will also serve as a warning that something isn't right with your pool. What you might notice first is how the environment around the pool changes. The ground is suddenly constantly wet, while all the earthy ground you have nearby, be it grass or flowers becomes a muddy swamp. This bears hazardous-level consequences as inattentive people might slip and hurt themselves. Even more, this might affect the overall landscape, causing serious damage to the house itself, as it might cause landslides – depending on the location and terrain structure.
Direct damage to the pool is another outcome that might appear. Visible cracks in the shell can easily alert you of the damage that had taken place. Lining can easily get worn out with time, so it might tear off and cause a leak. Even concrete, though considered one of the sturdiest materials to craft a pool from present fissures in time. However, the damage might not be as visible as you might think. Fissures and cracks can appear in places you least expect them to, like the water jets in your pool, or the light bulbs, which in turn leads to their faulty operation.
Plumbing system can also be the consequence of pool leakages. Depending on the water composition and chemicals, forcing the pipes to come in direct contact with it through a long period results in corrosion and early deterioration. No matter how resistant the pipes are, when subjected to strong chemicals and acids, they will give in. This, in turn, will lead to substantial damage as well as higher-cost repairs.
How to Detect Them?
Although you might not be able to deal with them on your own, depending on their severity, identifying them in the early stages is highly important. This will give you a chance of salvaging the remaining systems and equipment before fatal damage can occur. So, what you should keep an eye out for are the following:
Displaced or loosen lining and tiles
Direct gaps or fissures in the basin
Faulty underwater lights
Standing water near the pool zone
Unnatural muddy areas around the pool
Rust and corrosion near the skimmer and drains
Noisier working-sounds from the pump and skimmer
Increased electricity and water bills (Leakages will prompt you to pump water into the pool from time-to-time)
Algae formation right after shock-treatment.
If you're suspecting a crack has appeared into the basin, yet you're unsure, you can do to check for invisible leaks is to utilize a bucket. Fill it with water and place it on the basin steps so the rim of the bucket and the water level would be at the same height. Don't place it lower or higher on the steps, as the test will be invalid. Wait at least 24 hours and after the time is up, return to the scene. Check how the water level fairs. If the water in the basin has a lower level than the water in the bucket, it means that the basin is losing water from somewhere.
Repair and Patch It Up!
Once you detect leaks, it is important to call for professional help. However, depending on their severity, you can administer immediate repairs, to patch them up and prevent them from getting larger or spreading around.
To fix leaks that appear in pools (opening in pool joint, concrete cracks, weaken concrete) use Krystol Plug, Krystol joint repair, Krystol repair grout and Krystol T1/T2 then screed or plaster the surface. This is more than enough to prevent the crack from getting larger.
If your skimmer is the problem, and corrosion around it has given it away, once again Krystol Plug, Krystol repair grout and Krystol T1/T2 can come in handy.
Plumbing problems - However, require professional help, as they will require Krystol Pipe Penetration repair or maybe a replacement depending how bad it is.
Even if you've repaired the problem, you should still call for professional assistance, as they have more experience with pools in general and can provide more insight on what requires to be replaced first. Although it might be pricy to replace the broken unit, for your safety it is an investment you shouldn't shy away from making.
