By Tom Soukup
Ignoring pool leaks can lead to much worse problems. Moving water expands its path, allowing a greater volume of water to pass. The destructive nature of moving water is a problem in itself. But when the water is purchased, heated and treated, this financial loss is magnified exponentially.
Leaking pools are much more common than you might think. Small leaks can go unnoticed, but they eventually become a major problem. Lack of maintenance or improper installation are two common causes, or worse, for leaks. The author’s current project is an excellent example.
The company cold-called an exclusive country club in central Pennsylvania to ask if it could help maintain its 20-year old, 556.455.5-L (147,000 gal) three-season outdoor swimming pool and child’s pool.
The owners were so impressed that they immediately asked the company to come and inspect a problem with a leak. The pool is higher than the parking lot adjacent to it, so in the summer maintenance staff must regularly pressure wash the parking surface. Algae grows on the parking lot, which is wet due to water that runs out from the ground between pool and pavement. The water freezes in the winter. This runoff decreases parking capacity and causes unnecessary maintenance. It also creates a slip-and fall hazard all year round. The water was flowing from the pool through the soil and onto the parking area.
A partial fix
The country club hired a leak-detection company a few years ago to help them determine where the problem was coming from.
Leak detection is a very expensive process and should be done methodically. Many companies will fix a leak and then leave the site, not realizing that there could be multiple issues. Many property owners believe that the problem is solved after paying for repairs. However, this is not always true.
The article Pool leaks that go unattended can cause bigger problems first appeared on Pool & Spa Marketing.
