Swimming Pool Leak Detection in Dunstable

Symptoms

A swimming pool at a property in AL5 was losing water, with the customer noting the drop was more pronounced when the pool was running. The pool was operating at 19 degrees and was fitted with an aqua genie system, which presented immediate access challenges — the returns outlet sits within the body of the unit and cannot be reached directly for testing.

The combination of a running aqua genie and a pool that lost water faster under circulation suggested leaks at multiple points in the system, potentially on both the skimmer and filtration pipework. Given the complexity of the setup, a full swimming pool leak detection investigation was required to isolate each possible source before any repair work could be scoped.

Methods Used

The investigation used acoustic listening equipment and pressure testing to systematically work through the pool's pipework and fittings. The hydrophone was used first in the skimmer pot to listen for leak noise, and electronic acoustic correlation was used across the wider pool circuit to direct attention to the aqua genie area.

Dye testing then confirmed a crack in the skimmer body. Pressure testing of the skimmer pipe as a whole failed; when an inflatable bung was inserted past the crack, the line still dropped but at a slower rate, confirming a second leak further along the circuit.

The filtration room was then inspected, where a cracked glued connection was found at the point where the pool pipework converts to mains fittings, connected via a union to the pump. The pipe was also found to be under tension and approximately one inch out of alignment — a contributing factor to the failure.

This structured approach, consistent with thorough swimming pool leak detection practice, allowed both leak sources to be confirmed and precisely located before any repair materials were committed.

Investigation Process

1. 1
   Initial pool assessment

   The pool was noted to be running at 19 degrees with an aqua genie fitted. The customer confirmed water loss was worse during circulation, and the aqua genie was identified as a limiting factor for returns testing due to inaccessible internal outlet.

2. 2
   Acoustic survey of pool circuit

   The hydrophone and electronic leak tracker were deployed across the pool circuit. Both instruments indicated an issue in the area of the aqua genie, concentrating the investigation on the skimmer section.

3. 3
   Hydrophone inserted into skimmer pot

   The hydrophone was placed directly into the skimmer pot and leak noise was clearly audible, identifying the skimmer body as a source of water loss.

4. 4
   Dye test at skimmer outlet

   Dye was introduced at the skimmer outlet and was visibly drawn into a crack in the body of the outlet, confirming the exact location of the skimmer leak.

5. 5
   Pressure test of skimmer pipe

   The skimmer pipework was pressure tested as a complete run and failed. An inflatable bung was then inserted past the crack in the skimmer body — the line still dropped, but more slowly, indicating a further leak downstream.

6. 6
   Inspection of filtration room pipework

   The filtration room was examined and a cracked connection was found where the pool pipework converts to mains fittings, on the glued top section connecting to the pump union. The pipework was also found to be under tension and roughly one inch out of correct alignment.

7. 7
   Repair to filtration room pipework

   The cracked section was cut out and replaced with new PVC-U pipe, fittings, a female-threaded to female glued socket, an elbow, and a union, using pressure glue, primer cleaner, and PTFE tape to complete the connection correctly.

8. 8
   Semi-permanent repair to skimmer crack

   Epoxy resin putty was applied to the crack in the skimmer body. Access was restricted due to the depth and confined working area, limiting how much putty could be applied without disturbing what had already been set.

Result & Outcome

Two distinct leaks were identified and confirmed at the property in AL5. The first was a crack in the body of the skimmer outlet, confirmed by dye being drawn directly into the fracture. A semi-permanent repair was carried out using epoxy resin putty; the restricted access — working deep into a confined area — limited the volume that could be applied in a single visit. The repair is expected to last for a significant period, though its longevity will depend on external factors and ongoing pool conditions.

The second leak was located in the filtration room at the connection point where the pool pipework transitions to mains fittings. The glued top section had cracked, and the pipe was also under tension and out of alignment by approximately one inch — conditions that would have placed ongoing stress on the joint. This section was cut out and replaced with correctly aligned PVC-U pipework, fittings, and a new union, resolving the filtration room leak fully.

As an outcome of the swimming pool leak detection investigation, it is also recommended that the returns pipework be monitored. Because the returns outlet is housed within the aqua genie body, the full extent of inflatable bung insertion during testing cannot be confirmed, meaning a crack at that location could have been masked. The skimmer outlet remains the fallback repair option if the epoxy putty requires further application or if the outlet needs to be relocated — work that would involve at least one day on site and possible excavation.