As a pool owner, it’s natural to panic when you suspect a leak. One of the first concerns we hear from our customers is, “It must be the piping!” While it’s possible for underground pipes to be the source of a leak, in our years of experience inspecting pools across New England, we’ve found that only 23% of the time the leak is actually in the underground piping.
So, what causes pipe leaks when they do happen, and which pipes are most vulnerable?
The answer is simple: all pipes have the potential to leak over time. However, black poly piping is the most common type we see experiencing issues. One of the main culprits is poor backfill material. If the pipes were installed with sharp or heavy rocks around them, over time, those rocks can shift and press into the pipe, eventually causing splits. Through our inspections, we’ve come across many cases where rocks have punctured or left deep indents in the black poly pipes.
If you have black poly piping in your pool, don’t worry. Although it’s more susceptible to leaks, there are still thousands of pools across New England with this type of piping that don’t have any issues. The good news is that if a leak does occur, we have the tools to identify the exact location. With our camera inspection services, we can also assess the overall condition of the entire pipe, giving you peace of mind about the state of your pool’s plumbing.
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