missing pool water mystery

japeal



Joined: 12/09/2008
Posts: 1052

Message Posted:
04/06/2009 11:27

At 6pm last night my friends pool was approx 6 inches down, suspected leak near top into overflow and back into ballast tank. Ballast tank was overflowing so this idea seemed correct. At 9am this morning pool down 12 inches and ballast tank totally empty. No sign of water in garden around pool. how can approx 14ton of water disappear in 15 hours with no one there?

MarkVPiazza


Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 530

Message Posted:
04/06/2009 11:43

Sounds like the one way valve between the balance tank and the pump has got a stone/leaf stuck in it which is holding it open, allowing the water to flow from the pool back to the balance tank via the main drain.



He'll need to pump all the water from the balance tank to the pool, then isolate the stuck valve. Then the valve can be unscrewed and checked (a few buckets of water will escape, so make sure the lecky is turned off)



The water must be overflowing from the balance tank to waste somewhere - if not there must be a large crack somewhere!

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
04/06/2009 12:12

1. During the day, pump is running, pool is overflowing nicely.

2. Bit of muck gets sucked into balance tank check valve, jamming it open.

3. Pump stops.

4. Pool backfills into balance tank - pool drops, balance tank rises to high level overflow.

5. Pool continues to drop, balance tank continues to overflow.

6. Pump starts up and empties balance tank into pool.

7. Pool can't overflow because not enough water in balance tank.

8. Turn off pump, close balance tank valve and any other valves that are open. Strip check valve, clean out muck, replace valve.

9. Refill balance tank and pool, open valves which you closed, turn on pump.



To prevent this happening again fit a 2nd check valve in the inlet line. This carries clean water from the filter to the pool so never gets jammed open with muck.

Navek



Joined: 01/06/2008
Posts: 2656

Message Posted:
04/06/2009 12:20

Hi japeal & Friend,

Also, if no water in balance tank,

you can run pump on main drain until you refill balace tank.

Will keep your pool clean in the meantime!

Navek

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
04/06/2009 13:45

Warning for Astral pump owners:

If balance tank runs dry and pump sucks air, pump heats up, casing expands and drain plug falls out. Pump stops, pool drains into pump room via drain plug hole until pump room is full - oh dear!

Solution - glue drain plug in. This plug is to drain pump during sub zero winters to prevent pump freezing/bursting - not needed in Cy.

fire starter


Joined: 19/06/2008
Posts: 3401

Message Posted:
04/06/2009 13:48

our friends lost a whole pool full of water, but there was a builder working nextdoor, lol.

japeal



Joined: 12/09/2008
Posts: 1052

Message Posted:
04/06/2009 14:54

thanks for all, will start investigating when it cools down, still cannot see where water went tho!

sagsy22


Joined: 21/11/2008
Posts: 1125

Message Posted:
04/06/2009 17:47

Hi, We live in Karsiyaka, and we have lost tankers full of water. Pool is going down by a tile in 24 hours. The valve is getting stuck but the ballast tank is emptying as well.

Any info would be gratefully receiveed

JenAnd


Joined: 19/04/2007
Posts: 14

Message Posted:
05/06/2009 10:49

We have had water loss problem from day 1 (5 years ago) pool drops, balance tank up etc.

Last year builders recoated balance tank and gully's, emptied pool and checked pool lights, still problem.

On our last visit in May this year, 2nd check valve fitted.......................pool no longer drops, hooray...........but still BIG water loss, apparently from balance tank.................where does the water go??? Any ideas, please.......



Jennie

catalkoykid


Joined: 15/02/2009
Posts: 1190

Message Posted:
05/06/2009 11:18

it goes to the water fairy either that or the water tanker drivers are filling up at yours

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
05/06/2009 13:53

saggsy22,

We specialize in fixing leaky pools.

We know where they leak, we know why they leak and we know how to fix them. Thanks to incompetent TRNC builders, it's the biggest part of our business. At any one time we are repairing 3 or 4 leaky pools.

We can do a survey for you and tell you if your pool is leaking, where it's leaking and how much it's leaking.

Please feel free to contact us.

Jenand,

Hopefully it's not undermining the soil beneath the pool. Your pool can weigh hundreds of tonnes when full and a poorly built pool can break its back under its own weight if the soil beneath it is washed away over time.

JenAnd


Joined: 19/04/2007
Posts: 14

Message Posted:
05/06/2009 14:42

Hi Vaughan



So do we.!!!!



We are out in July, please can you give us a mobile number to contact you to arrange a survey,

if that is OK?



Jennie

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
05/06/2009 14:45

Hi Jennie,



Contact me any time on 0533 845 8494.



Vaughan

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
05/06/2009 14:53

Hi Jennie,



Contact me any time on 0533 845 8494.



Vaughan

sagsy22


Joined: 21/11/2008
Posts: 1125

Message Posted:
05/06/2009 17:12

Hi TRNC vaughn,

Will keep you in mind, unfortunately we are not the owners so have to await their comments.

Thanks

JenAnd


Joined: 19/04/2007
Posts: 14

Message Posted:
05/06/2009 17:33

Hi Vaughan



Thanks for mobile no.



Jennie

Suffolk



Joined: 31/08/2008
Posts: 222

Message Posted:
05/06/2009 19:19

Hi, we had exactly the same problem with our pool which was remedied by having a second non return valve fitted. Having spoken with knowledgeable pool man he said that he would not entertain maintaining and cleaning a clients pool without having the extra valve fitted because of the loss of water.

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
05/06/2009 20:19

It is something we strongly recommend to all pool owners.

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
06/06/2009 08:54

Except those with skimmer pools.

negativenick


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 6023

Message Posted:
06/06/2009 11:47

top advice as usual Vaughan - good on ya...





Nick