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POOL LEAK DETECTION: How to Patch a Liner | Swim University

Got a pool leak? Then you need some serious pool leak detection skills. We'll show you how to detect if you have a pool leak, then find it, and patch it fast!
💦 Download our pool maintenance video course and get 10% off by using the promo code VIDEO: www.swimuniversity.com/pool-c...
⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction To How To Patch A Pool Leak
01:01 - How To Tell If You Have A Pool Leak
02:54 - How To Find The Leak In Your Pool
04:53 - How To Stop The Leak In Your Pool
05:34 - How To Patch Your Pool Liner
09:52 - Pool Care Video Course
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Swim University has made swimming pool and hot tub care easy for more than 10 million homeowners. And each year, we continue to help more people with water chemistry, cleaning, and troubleshooting. We know taking care of a swimming pool or spa can be difficult. And it’s hard to find a trusted source of information. We get it! This is the reason we created Swim University.
😎 Visit our website for more in-depth information on swimming pool maintenance: www.swimuniversity.com/

Пікірлер: 99

  • @SwimUniversity
    @SwimUniversity5 жыл бұрын

    We hope this helps you find and fix your pool leak! And if you need more help, be sure to grab our free Pool Care Cheat Sheet at www.swimuniversity.com/cheatsheet 👍

  • @saraadair5446
    @saraadair54464 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the help 🙌

  • @Rithius3485
    @Rithius34855 жыл бұрын

    I'm so glad I found this channel! helped me ALOT

  • @SwimUniversity

    @SwimUniversity

    5 жыл бұрын

    👍

  • @ricardovalle7316
    @ricardovalle73162 жыл бұрын

    I love your videos. Learning new Stuff

  • @tuckerfetzer1829
    @tuckerfetzer18293 жыл бұрын

    Awesome video!

  • @peanutbutterisfu
    @peanutbutterisfu4 жыл бұрын

    Helpful video. I have a intex pool and I had a few foot section area where it could be leaking. I put a pair of goggles on and looked for a hole then took the food coloring under water and put near the home and you could see it get sucked out. Put a piece of water proof tape and it fixed it. Gonna get something to do a more permanent repair

  • @surgicaltech8678

    @surgicaltech8678

    3 жыл бұрын

    What waterproof tape did you use

  • @eleniabellagio843
    @eleniabellagio8432 жыл бұрын

    You are awesome! thank you.

  • @rickyramirez3483
    @rickyramirez34832 жыл бұрын

    Thanks, Bro!

  • @audkarinen6875
    @audkarinen68752 жыл бұрын

    We used jdweld on above ground pool(while it was full) and it held for a few years

  • @user-iz6kq8dy4i
    @user-iz6kq8dy4i4 жыл бұрын

    I have a 15 foot above ground pool. I had a 15 foot long rip along the wall that went from the skimmer to the return and way past. I have successfully repaired the liner and have the pool up and running now. Best adhesive to use is HH-66. Also don't use the clear patches that come with patch kits they garbage AF. I went to my local pool store and they had patches of vinyl from the previous years patterns that they give away for FREE. Unless your entire liner is dry and is deteriorating you can always fix any size rips if you got the patience

  • @natetruax1
    @natetruax14 жыл бұрын

    Any tips on an above ground spa leak? Mines leaking slowly but i want to fix it asap! Thanks in advance.

  • @victorn6065
    @victorn60654 жыл бұрын

    Very clever!

  • @lindsaycurrie1
    @lindsaycurrie14 жыл бұрын

    Is the 1/4-1/2 inch loss a day for any climate? Seems like a lot and approx what I was losing last year but thought there was no way I was losing that much in a day (in eastern Canada). Love your videos!

  • @kylew791
    @kylew7913 жыл бұрын

    I got a brand new above ground pool installed. Somehow our cat got in it with about 9” of water in the pool. The next day we had a leak and found a few small pin holes 😩. We are trying to locate now. Really sucks on a brand new liner!! Hopefully just a few small holes are the only damage.

  • @amandagarriott21
    @amandagarriott213 жыл бұрын

    How long does a patch usually hold for? We have about 6 holes in our liner so I don't want to patch those holes and waste my time and energy if the patches don't hold up for a long time.

  • @Corsairforu
    @Corsairforu2 жыл бұрын

    My above ground pool had a leak few years ago so I tried diving to find it and couldn't so what I did was pump out water down to about one foot above where the side liner seam is bonded to the bottom liner (as long as your water level stays ABOVE that CRITICAL SEAM JUNCTION while you do this you will not harm a vinyl liner) Then I was able to go around on my hands and knees and found the hole easily! I patched it with Water Bed Repair patch kit I got at pool supply store then refilled pool and balanced chemicals, all good to go then! You just don't want to hit the patch with Vacuum or anything it was a foot away from the side in area I don't go by so I don't walk on patch either.

  • @JamesMackey-ml8yt

    @JamesMackey-ml8yt

    14 күн бұрын

    Did yiu find it from the outside or the inside

  • @ivonnetenorio7521
    @ivonnetenorio75214 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for the clear instructions! Really helped a lot. So I have an messy issue. I have an above ground pool, it rained and one of the sides of the pool started sinking. We dug a hole and placed bricks to keep it leveled but the liner stretched and now there's a bubble hanging on the edge where the wall and bottom of pool meet. We patched it but not sure if it would work. We put a patch bigger than the stretched bubble. Should we drained the pool completely and try to patch it dry from the outside? Replace the liner? Leave the bad patching job i did and keep using the pool? A little help please!

  • @tally6363
    @tally6363 Жыл бұрын

    Hay you make good videos, So I did the bucket test and yes the pool is leaking but no water around the outside our above ground pool next is the dye but the water level stops at the bottom of the skimmer. Could the water be running down the inside of the liner to the ground? Because there is no sign of running out

  • @cranedale
    @cranedale4 жыл бұрын

    I have a pool pump that came with my 10' x 30" pool. It is junk! I want to cover the 5" x5" hole where the pump is attached to the pool and reinstall a better pump. The new pump only requires 2 , 2" round holes. My question is if I cut the vinyl a couple of inches wider on all sides and install a sheet to the inside AND the outside original hole, will that work for enclosing the old opening.

  • @ssjnimma
    @ssjnimma4 жыл бұрын

    So we ended up with quite a few small rips and tears on the bottom of our liner. I went ahead and got most if not all so I thought patched up. I went out this morning and the level of the water still seemed to be down even further. It was about 2 squares worth of the design of the liner... However there wasn't much water around the outside of the pool like it was prior to the patching. I guess I don't get how that much water could come out from little tiny tears that I may have missed?!

  • @MsAtide
    @MsAtide2 жыл бұрын

    I'm in Chicago and just realized that throug the winter we have lost about 3 inch of water..so it is correct to assume that we have a leak. Should we refill the pool to the correct level ( it's closed for the winter) so the winter cover can sit on it? We won't be able to repair it until May or June. What will happen to the water winter chemicals if we put more water in.

  • @joleneweaver7578
    @joleneweaver75783 жыл бұрын

    Same for the floor

  • @patriciaperry3251
    @patriciaperry32512 жыл бұрын

    I have leaks on the bottom seam of my 21' round Colman vinyl pool. How do you patch on a seam?

  • @youredoingitwrong1361
    @youredoingitwrong13614 жыл бұрын

    Now I need to learn how to fix a leaking bucket

  • @JJ-fg4wp
    @JJ-fg4wp3 жыл бұрын

    How do I know if the leak is in the filter? I added water at the screws where the filter opening is 3 times this week. I try to keep the water half way up the skimmer. When the water is below the screws, I know its a leak or the humidity. I have an inground pool and the ground is not soaked. Could it be a leak in the filter system?

  • @fuzzybub
    @fuzzybub3 жыл бұрын

    You got any product advice

  • @rockonmatt25
    @rockonmatt254 жыл бұрын

    Great info but I have a question I started filling my pool up and got it up to the frist ladder step and noticed the sand was wet on the one corner so I drained it until it was a couple of inches deep and can not find the hole tried food coloring do I have to totally fill the pool up to work its definitely the bottom of the liner of a intex pool

  • @poolleakdetectionllc

    @poolleakdetectionllc

    3 жыл бұрын

    Friendly advice, you don't have to drain the pool in order to find the leak or repair it. If there is a pinhole it will be almost impossible to detect it without being able to dye test it. Also, try not to leave the pool empty and the liner dry and exposed to the sun. You can cause real damage to the liner. Keep it full and call a leak detection diver.

  • @tamarakennedy4976
    @tamarakennedy49763 жыл бұрын

    What about the side of a vinyl pool? Our sunroom door was ripped off the hinges and it fell against the outter side middle of our 18 foot round pool! It poked a hole with the metal broken corner hinge...and we movec the door away to see a tiny stream of water coming from a small indented poke mark where the force of the door stretched the point of pressue...so how to fix it we heard flex seal clear tape is a bust.? Its on the side no way to keep patch compressed.

  • @chrystaldove5689
    @chrystaldove56894 жыл бұрын

    Hi, should you use the leak dye you showed on the video? Also, if the pool only goes down to a certain level, does that mean its on the pool wall? It goes down pass the skimmer and returns on our above ground pool but only about 4”.

  • @poolleakdetectionllc

    @poolleakdetectionllc

    3 жыл бұрын

    4" Below the return or skimmer box or 4" from the top of the pool? If the water stops exactly under the return or skimmer box check the gaskets. If there is a hole on the wall it's pretty possible to see a wet spot outside of the pool but if you have gravel/stones you probably not. If you have more questions please let me know.

  • @renel3735
    @renel37353 жыл бұрын

    My pool is surrounded by tiles by cement blocks. So I cannot detect any wet area around the pool. How can I get around this difficulty?

  • @rinagetsreal6189
    @rinagetsreal61894 жыл бұрын

    I can't find anything called Oatey Dye... only Leak Detector and it seems to not be for pouring into a pool.

  • @colejster
    @colejster Жыл бұрын

    I have a leak in our unground pool and the water level has gone down about 2 feet. It now has stopped going down and I assume that the hole must be just above that level. I have gone around the whole pool looking/feeling for that leak at that water level but can't find it. It may be real small but the water did go down that 2 feet in about one day so it can't be that small. Is there any fast/easy way to find that leak so I can patch it? I am going to use Flex Seal Tape to do that. Any advice would be appreciated.😐

  • @colleenpagano8738
    @colleenpagano8738Ай бұрын

    I'm wondering if you could put blue food coloring in the swimming pool and it will go into that area into the hole it's leaking through and make a spot on the wall

  • @johnpatterson9483
    @johnpatterson94832 жыл бұрын

    ESPECIALLY for the larger patches on the lower submerged side walls or the bottom, place one of those small rollers used to smooth edges on wallpaper next to where you’re going to place the patch. Once you initially place the parch down & smooth the edges with your hands, grab the roller & roll from the center to the edges all around the patch. This should equally distribute the vinyl glue & reinforce the bond between the patch & the liner. Don’t forget to use the brick or a another weighted object over the patch for 24-48 hrs. ( I just wrap a brick in a towel)

  • @nortexii
    @nortexii5 жыл бұрын

    Hy from Portugal ! I am a fan of your channel , it's abfab! This said , I have a question maybe you could answer: I think my pool has a leak, but it is an old-fashioned tilled underground pool. Of course , I understand that the diagnosis is equal to all types of pools, but the mending of the problem might not be (it would also look very innestetical ... So if - after doing your diagnosis - I find out there is a real leak, how should I proceed to repair it , in my case in a tile pool ? Best regards and keep up with your awsome job !!!

  • @SwimUniversity

    @SwimUniversity

    5 жыл бұрын

    Try the bucket test, then check for wet ground around your pool and filter system. The water will rise and make the ground wet if you have a leak.

  • @ablargh
    @ablargh4 жыл бұрын

    i suspect that the pool leak is in the light housing. how can i patch this up?

  • @CalitranoN
    @CalitranoN4 жыл бұрын

    how about detect a leak at the top? Where the air is?

  • @ablargh
    @ablargh4 жыл бұрын

    my pool started leaking after a major storm and lightning, then i noticed cracks. thoughts?

  • @Frenojan007rr
    @Frenojan007rr2 жыл бұрын

    Water leak or Air leak?? I have an air leak RIGHT NOW and now pool is lowering. Do I have to empty my pool?? I have a Inground pool 15K gallons

  • @chrismaggart
    @chrismaggart4 жыл бұрын

    Which way are you folding the “taco”? Glue inside or out?

  • @RetroFixx

    @RetroFixx

    4 жыл бұрын

    Inside

  • @BlueStormRage
    @BlueStormRage5 жыл бұрын

    Thank you very much for the wonderful video and information. A question, if find your pools leaks and the water levels goes below than the marked. How do you find out how much water is lost in total volume? Thanks. little math will be helpful to find it out the total water loss in 24 hours.

  • @SwimUniversity

    @SwimUniversity

    5 жыл бұрын

    To be fair, I'm not a mathematician. I would have to reach out to my friend who is to get that info.

  • @poolleakdetectionllc

    @poolleakdetectionllc

    3 жыл бұрын

    Depends on the shape (circular or rectangular) the length and the height of the shallow and deep side of your pool. For a rectangular pool, the formula is (Length x Width x average depth x 7.5 = the volume in gallons) /divided average depth by inch to get the volume per inch. I hope that helped you

  • @myortiz12
    @myortiz122 жыл бұрын

    My leak is below the skimmer. How can I find it without filling the pool above the skimmer?

  • @hgharibyar
    @hgharibyar4 жыл бұрын

    We have a hole but I dont know that it is leaking

  • @rfpd28
    @rfpd284 жыл бұрын

    I have a pool that has a tear in the liner that pushed the sand out from the the leak. Now I have a huge dip where the sand used to be. Will I be able to level out the sand without replacing the liner?

  • @kevyncreech1850
    @kevyncreech18504 жыл бұрын

    I picked up some Oatey All Purpose Leak Detector to find a leak in my Intex pool. The video specifically showed this product, so I assumed this was a good dye to use. However, I'm reading the Oatey APLD directions, and it appears to be for tubes, valves, cylinders, and pressure tanks but not pools. It also says, "Do no dilute." Please advise if this is, indeed, okay to use inside an above ground pool that's got water in it. Thanks.

  • @kevyncreech1850

    @kevyncreech1850

    4 жыл бұрын

    So, just called Oatey and spoke to a customer service rep who said the Oatey All Purpose Leak Detector that's shown on the video is NOT used for leaks in pools. Thought I'd share.

  • @christina_boymom83

    @christina_boymom83

    Жыл бұрын

    Yeah I just went and bought it and put some in the pool and it’s fricking clear!! What a waste of money and trip!

  • @bciecko1
    @bciecko12 жыл бұрын

    I'm losing about an inch to an inch and a quarter per day. There is no wetness outside my pool. It's plumbing is visible and there's no wetness around them. I have an aboveground pool, 12x20 doughboy. Seemed to stop for a few days but then started again after the kids started swimming. I noticed the water level was extremely low when I pulled the cover off to open for the spring.

  • @colleenpagano8738
    @colleenpagano8738Ай бұрын

    How do you find a leak in a cement and Tile swimming pool?

  • @ABSOFFLAB06
    @ABSOFFLAB064 жыл бұрын

    My pool water level was 22” from the top. So the leak is somewhere 22” below water. Will the dye test still work without touching the water? Or do I need to reach down into the water and apply dye at that depth? Thank you

  • @janetreifsteck9663
    @janetreifsteck9663 Жыл бұрын

    We live in St. Louis and have an in-ground pool with a vinyl liner that was just completely replaced along with a new pump and cover 2 years ago. So you can imagine how sick we were when we noticed it was losing water this year. Today I was in the pool with my husband and he was standing and looking at the liner it has now developed all these wrinkles and it had been beautifully smooth. He said I just don’t get it and I guess the vacuum is missing things and pointed to a line in one of the ripples. I said no that’s what I thought I think it’s just a stain. He grabbed the kids goggles and looked and it’s a tear. We are so careful, no glass by the pool, no animals, nothing sharp to play with. No metal hair clips. He grabbed a patch from a raft to put over it temporarily till he calls the pool place but I’m so upset. The expense that was supposed to have a 25 year warranty is basically nullified in two years 😢. How will they ever get all those wrinkles out? And how did it tear so quickly? We don’t have little kids, they are adults and one teenager that uses it to swim laps, everyone else leisurely swims or lays out.

  • @PinkpetuniaPinkpetunia

    @PinkpetuniaPinkpetunia

    Жыл бұрын

    Hi, what was your solution to the tear in the wrinkle? I just found one in my pool😢 I was told the pool will most likely have to be drained in order to properly repair it. Very expensive!

  • @eyobeyob7008
    @eyobeyob70085 жыл бұрын

    Hey bro how r u? I wana ask u something about pool shock treatment...what kind chemicals i have to add in pool after shock...??

  • @SwimUniversity

    @SwimUniversity

    5 жыл бұрын

    Shocking should be the last step in adding chemicals. Adjust pH and alkalinity first, then shock.

  • @eyobeyob7008

    @eyobeyob7008

    5 жыл бұрын

    Ok bro tnx a lot

  • @eyobeyob7008

    @eyobeyob7008

    5 жыл бұрын

    Btw i send to u message in email and fb but u didn't answer

  • @nikkilott6467
    @nikkilott6467 Жыл бұрын

    Whatever you do do not buy a Summer Waves pool from Walmart -mine came with a hole already in it- super tiny- and I literally just bought it only to find out it's got a leak and followed all the setup procedures to a tee😢 spent over 1000.00 on a pool with a hole 😮

  • @lifestyle_legacy_wealth

    @lifestyle_legacy_wealth

    Ай бұрын

    Were you able to repair it? Same exact issue I have. 12x24ft with a pinhole leak

  • @sherellemark
    @sherellemark4 жыл бұрын

    Hi, my pool has about a foot long rip where the sides of the liner meets the bottom. Can it be patched?

  • @modz4206

    @modz4206

    4 жыл бұрын

    Yes

  • @sherellemark

    @sherellemark

    4 жыл бұрын

    Any tips on how I can do it?

  • @22tannerh
    @22tannerh4 жыл бұрын

    I have a leak on the stitch seam of the floor to wall on my intex. I can’t figure out how to patch it?

  • @darlenetillie

    @darlenetillie

    4 жыл бұрын

    I heard of this stuff called shoe goo..it comes in a tube and dries clear..and it makes a vinyl patch wherever u put it..I found it on utube..check it out..fixes anything vinyl..I have the same type of leak rite on or near the seam..good luck

  • @breaunnaprimeaux925
    @breaunnaprimeaux925 Жыл бұрын

    What if the hole is in the corner of the bottom

  • @brianmcneil1143
    @brianmcneil11432 жыл бұрын

    Question, I have a 24 ft above ground pool. At the end of the season month ago, the water leaked out down to about 6-8 inches in the bottom. I look around, in and everywhere but cant find where the water leaked out. So this weekend, I started to fill the pool again as I heard not to level it empty for the winter in the Northeast. Now the pool is half full and holding no leak for one day. Any idea why its not leaking again? Thank you,

  • @jessica4885

    @jessica4885

    2 жыл бұрын

    I had the same thing happen to my above ground , first year it happened I just filled the pool up and did not leak all summer . This year I put my winter cover on , I lowered the water level right below the skimmer , I noticed all winter the water level dropped , there was about a foot of water left in the pool . Yesterday I had the pool company come and yes there was two holes in the liner and they were repaired , not Iam filling it up , I do not want the sun hitting the liner for a long period of time ..

  • @Melanie3581
    @Melanie358129 күн бұрын

    I was gonna line my pool with duct tape! lol 😂 I love these videos

  • @Broncort1
    @Broncort1Ай бұрын

    At this point I just get a new liner every 3 years cause the ground keeps sinking (in different spots!). I can’t seem to win so I might sell the pool!

  • @williamsfamily285
    @williamsfamily2853 жыл бұрын

    Thank you but why not show us

  • @aasuncion30
    @aasuncion3024 күн бұрын

    Does the average of .25-.5 inch a day or 3.5 inches a week depends on the size of your pool?

  • @Ionizap

    @Ionizap

    23 күн бұрын

    Guessing it's the same for any size pool. Evan is from Solar Radiation and that would be constant on any size pool.

  • @jessicakirk2323
    @jessicakirk23233 жыл бұрын

    These are all great tips, but we can’t even shock, clean, etc. our pool because the leak causes the water to go below the skimmer, so we can’t even run the pump. Would the dye test work in froggy water or does it have to be clear and clean in order to be effective?

  • @Redkinkid1985

    @Redkinkid1985

    8 ай бұрын

    Is it a saltwater pool?

  • @Redkinkid1985

    @Redkinkid1985

    8 ай бұрын

    Pools are money pits 😂but love them

  • @marmartian112
    @marmartian1123 жыл бұрын

    I have a question..what if your pool is semi-ingroud? How do I inspect a leak from the outside?

  • @r6bbie251

    @r6bbie251

    2 жыл бұрын

    same issue, what did you do/?

  • @MrZen-gl4pg
    @MrZen-gl4pg4 жыл бұрын

    You can use a $10 Automotive Stethoscope to hear even tiny leaks in your Jets, Skimmer.

  • @bjkalafatich9718
    @bjkalafatich97182 жыл бұрын

    We have a above ground pool 10,000 to 14,000 gallons. We woke up one morning to find the pool half empty? I decided to relax and not worry about it... wrong decision I guess. Anyway it took awhile, but now our pool is empty, or mostly empty. The deep end still has water. Not knowing what to do I got in the pool and walked the edges... I also thought with all that water if there was a leak there would be some sort of evidence in my yard? Nothing. One side of the pool is next to a hill, and one side is exposed to the flat land. We have a deck built around, so I thought if there was going to be any water it would be to the flat end? Still no water or wet ground that I could see. Anyway today I got in pool and discovered a rip in the seams near the deep end (on the ridge or side) before dipping down a few more feet. Not sure what to do? Now there are wrinkles all around the edges of the pool. Should I be concerned about under the pool, or can I just fix the rip in the seams and wait until spring? We did buy the Swim University package for our pool and spa. Thanks for any help :)

  • @lkochis
    @lkochis5 жыл бұрын

    What about finding the leak in an inground pool?

  • @SwimUniversity

    @SwimUniversity

    5 жыл бұрын

    This works for inground pools too

  • @lorenmalfitano3644
    @lorenmalfitano3644 Жыл бұрын

    2 things: inground pool there wouldn't be a wet spot around the pool. Also, idon't want to shut pool pump for 24 hrs.

  • @tealeigh6148
    @tealeigh61484 жыл бұрын

    The Oatey All Purpose Leak Detector IS NOT for detecting a pool leak and will not help you. I wish I had know that before watching this video and buying it. It is for detecting leaks on tubing, valves, cyclinders, pressure tanks or other systems under air, gas or oxygen pressure.

  • @Redkinkid1985
    @Redkinkid19858 ай бұрын

    That 😢stinks pools are “f#%king problems 😮

  • @Redkinkid1985
    @Redkinkid19858 ай бұрын

    Pools are money pits 😂 but love them

  • @shanerodgers8033
    @shanerodgers8033Ай бұрын

    Buttoning the top button of your shirt is madness

  • @blindguy7428
    @blindguy742811 күн бұрын

    10 minute video and not one image or video showing how this is done. Just saying. Pictures and videos are worth more than words.

  • @gwcrispi
    @gwcrispi3 жыл бұрын

    TL;DR : Flex Seal.

  • @BaliCurrent
    @BaliCurrent3 жыл бұрын

    This guy doesn’t even swim.

  • @chrisgrubisa3819

    @chrisgrubisa3819

    3 жыл бұрын

    The guys at my local pool shop don't either.... and my barber is bald and my cats vet is allergic to cats .

  • @Jsfoxylady
    @Jsfoxylady3 жыл бұрын

    You talk to much.