Pool Inspection in Newland Reveals a Plumbing Leak

We recently completed a pool inspection in Newland, and it's a great example of why we always recommend a full pressure test before you assume your pool's plumbing is fine — especially if you're buying a home with a pool or thinking about a new liner. What started as a suspected skimmer housing leak turned into a much larger plumbing issue.

What We Found

After sealing off all the returns and outlets, we ran a dye test using a cone plug at both main drains. This confirmed that water was leaving the pool through the plumbing lines somewhere. We also found a noticeable amount of sand inside the drains, especially the one closest to the house. That's a telltale sign of a plumbing leak: when a line underground develops a crack, soil and sand can work their way in and settle in the plumbing where the water's escaping.

From there, we pressure tested the suction plumbing from the skimmer box nearest the house, and we couldn't build any pressure in the line. We weren't able to see exactly how the pipes were arranged at the pump pad, but skimmers and main drains are commonly tied together in the plumbing — it's a standard setup that keeps the pump from pulling too much air in if the water level drops too low. Given that this pool's water level was stopping right at the base of the skimmer instead of dropping further, our read is that there's a crack somewhere in the vertical skimmer lines AND the main drain line, likely near the pump pad rather than directly below the skimmer. That would explain all the symptoms at once: the dye test results at the main drains and around the skimmers, the water level holding at the skimmer, and the failed pressure test (as we did the dye and pressure tests on isolated skimmer lines and the main drain line.)

Why Pressure Testing Matters

This job is a good reminder of why pressure testing is such an important part of any real pool inspection. A pool can be leaking and no amount of patching would ever make it stop. That's exactly what showed up here. If you're in the process of buying a home with a pool, a pressure test can catch a plumbing leak like this before it becomes your problem instead of the seller's. And if you're planning a new liner, it's just as important: installing a liner over plumbing that's already leaking means dealing with the same issue again soon, on top of the cost of the new liner. Catching it at the inspection stage, before any other work is done, saves everyone time and money down the road.

What's Next

Our recommendation here of course is to have the plumbing lines inspected further and repaired. The good news is that we have an excellent partner network and were able to recommend a local pool builder to assist in the plumbing repairs! If the damage to the lines are at the pump pad, this will be an affordable fix, and their new liner will be able to be kept!

If your pool in the Newland area is showing signs of a slow leak — a water level that won't stay put, or you just want peace of mind before a purchase or a re-liner — book a visit at pool-patchers.com and we'll get in the water to give you a full report on the pool!

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