- Thread starter cobraboy
- Start date
Swimming Pool Leak Detection
Whenever you detect any leakage in your swimming pool, don’t get confused and waste the time. For any kind of Pool Leak Repair, you can contact pool repair contractor who can repair the pool and gives you suggestion regarding further issues.
Funny this thread is resurrected today because I was going to revive it with latest updates.
I did all I could to detect leaks. I don't have the equipment for sonic or video scope tests, and even pool guys don't know how to find leaks without major excavation.
I did try a dose of a liquid leak fixer and don't know how effective it was without precise measurements---which I haven't done.
A pool guru forum suggested I try liquid solar blanket, not for heat retention but to slow the evaporation process. He claims that contrary to common belief, most evaporation occurs at night when the pool water is warmer that cool, dry air, the #1 reason pools get cooler at night.
I did some research and found that a liquid solar blanket is a chemical---an aliphatic alcohol component having from 12 to 24 carbon atoms per molecule combined with calcium hydroxide---that is much lighter than water and creates a one molecule layer on the pool surface. As best as I can determine, it's a benign substance, clear, and is a sort of wax-like substance with a low melting point. The molecules attract water at one end and repel water at the other end. And it does not evaporate. It can't be seen felt or detected in the water and doesn't attach itself to the skin. If it gets sucked into the pool skimmer, it's too small to be filtered and will remain on the surface.
This chemical is supposed to retard evaporation greatly, with the byproduct of a warmer pool by reduced evaporative cooling.
I first thought: "baloney." But what the heck...
There are several companies that manufacture this product and a couple of distribution systems. It comes in 32oz. bottles, or in delivery balls or little fish. The balls and fish are put in the pool and meter a proper amount for a month.
So I cruised eBay and found someone who had two "Ecosavr" fish for a low price---I recall about $7 ea. for two---and took the plunge without a major investment. Actually, the fish took the plunge.
The reason I chose the fish are:
The results: Prior to the liquid solar blanket, I was losing 1.5" a day. Now water loss is around .5" a day. Before I was filling the pool daily. Now every third day. I consider this a huge improvement.
The water is also around 2 degrees warmer. One would never know this liquid is present. It's undetectable.
So while not perfect, I have to say this liquid solar blanket is working pretty much as advertised. One caveat is liquid solar blankets are most effective in dryer climates without much wind. I supposed that the wind would cause the molecules to pile up on the leeward side of the pool and more evaporation would occur.
There is another unexpected bit of evidence that it is working. In theory, if you put a layer on top of the pool the surface tension should increase. And it has. Prior to the liquid, little bits of dirt and debris that would blow into the pool would be on the bottom, requiring vacuuming every few days. Now those little bits stay on top! They don't sink! And the skimmers take them out. Pool vacuuming has been reduced to maybe once a week because larger debris is all that is on the bottom now, easily removed with a pool net.
So overall my direct experience has been very positive, and I intend to use this liquid solar blanket as a regular part of pool maintenance.
As a side note, I also find the chlorine levels have remained more constant. A side effect? I don't know. This observation is more anecdotal.
I did all I could to detect leaks. I don't have the equipment for sonic or video scope tests, and even pool guys don't know how to find leaks without major excavation.
I did try a dose of a liquid leak fixer and don't know how effective it was without precise measurements---which I haven't done.
A pool guru forum suggested I try liquid solar blanket, not for heat retention but to slow the evaporation process. He claims that contrary to common belief, most evaporation occurs at night when the pool water is warmer that cool, dry air, the #1 reason pools get cooler at night.
I did some research and found that a liquid solar blanket is a chemical---an aliphatic alcohol component having from 12 to 24 carbon atoms per molecule combined with calcium hydroxide---that is much lighter than water and creates a one molecule layer on the pool surface. As best as I can determine, it's a benign substance, clear, and is a sort of wax-like substance with a low melting point. The molecules attract water at one end and repel water at the other end. And it does not evaporate. It can't be seen felt or detected in the water and doesn't attach itself to the skin. If it gets sucked into the pool skimmer, it's too small to be filtered and will remain on the surface.
This chemical is supposed to retard evaporation greatly, with the byproduct of a warmer pool by reduced evaporative cooling.
I first thought: "baloney." But what the heck...
There are several companies that manufacture this product and a couple of distribution systems. It comes in 32oz. bottles, or in delivery balls or little fish. The balls and fish are put in the pool and meter a proper amount for a month.
So I cruised eBay and found someone who had two "Ecosavr" fish for a low price---I recall about $7 ea. for two---and took the plunge without a major investment. Actually, the fish took the plunge.
The reason I chose the fish are:
- It released a metered amount for a month
- It's cute
- They were less expensive. I suspect replacements will be more expensive unless some eBayer wants to sell cheap. The ones I bought were one-offs from the seller, not his main line of commerce.
The results: Prior to the liquid solar blanket, I was losing 1.5" a day. Now water loss is around .5" a day. Before I was filling the pool daily. Now every third day. I consider this a huge improvement.
The water is also around 2 degrees warmer. One would never know this liquid is present. It's undetectable.
So while not perfect, I have to say this liquid solar blanket is working pretty much as advertised. One caveat is liquid solar blankets are most effective in dryer climates without much wind. I supposed that the wind would cause the molecules to pile up on the leeward side of the pool and more evaporation would occur.
There is another unexpected bit of evidence that it is working. In theory, if you put a layer on top of the pool the surface tension should increase. And it has. Prior to the liquid, little bits of dirt and debris that would blow into the pool would be on the bottom, requiring vacuuming every few days. Now those little bits stay on top! They don't sink! And the skimmers take them out. Pool vacuuming has been reduced to maybe once a week because larger debris is all that is on the bottom now, easily removed with a pool net.
So overall my direct experience has been very positive, and I intend to use this liquid solar blanket as a regular part of pool maintenance.
As a side note, I also find the chlorine levels have remained more constant. A side effect? I don't know. This observation is more anecdotal.
Could be. I don't know. I did add some "leak fix" a month+ ago and don't know how effective it was.
I know I DO have a leak when the pool level gets to a certain height---it flows into the below-grade pump room---so I don't fill it higher that that level.
I do know that going from 1.5" a day to .5" is a significant reduction.
Follow up to the efficacy of the Ecosavr liquid pool cover.
The last 10 days in Jarabacoa we have had consistent weather with no rain to speak of. The pool has been prepped for the swimming season and I thought I'd to a real life test of the Ecosavr liquid, as some have expressed sketicism. So I did this test:
1) I filled the pool to 2" over the top step, the usual full level. I did nothing but run the pool pump for 4 hrs. a day and added no water. I measured the pool temperature at noon the day after filling and it was 80F. At the end of 4 days, I measured the pool level and found I lost 1.5". Measurements were done with a clear ruler at the steps.
2) I refilled the pool to 2" over the steps and ran the pump for 4 hrs. a day. I added my little Ecosavr fish friend and made sure some of the liquid had expressed from the top fin. You can see it come out and quickly rise to the surface if you look closely. At the end of 4 days, I measured the pool level and found it lost a tad less than .5", a significant reduction in water loss of 60-65%. The water temp at noon the final day measures 82F.
I conclude this liquid does, indeed, reduce water loss, and that lower evaporation also results in a slightly higher water temperature.
The last 10 days in Jarabacoa we have had consistent weather with no rain to speak of. The pool has been prepped for the swimming season and I thought I'd to a real life test of the Ecosavr liquid, as some have expressed sketicism. So I did this test:
1) I filled the pool to 2" over the top step, the usual full level. I did nothing but run the pool pump for 4 hrs. a day and added no water. I measured the pool temperature at noon the day after filling and it was 80F. At the end of 4 days, I measured the pool level and found I lost 1.5". Measurements were done with a clear ruler at the steps.
2) I refilled the pool to 2" over the steps and ran the pump for 4 hrs. a day. I added my little Ecosavr fish friend and made sure some of the liquid had expressed from the top fin. You can see it come out and quickly rise to the surface if you look closely. At the end of 4 days, I measured the pool level and found it lost a tad less than .5", a significant reduction in water loss of 60-65%. The water temp at noon the final day measures 82F.
I conclude this liquid does, indeed, reduce water loss, and that lower evaporation also results in a slightly higher water temperature.