No homeowner enjoys the idea of swimming pool leak repairs in their backyard pools. Pools, much like cars, are expected to last for years with just routine maintenance. With proper care and preventive maintenance, leaks can usually be avoided. Nevertheless, they still happen, so you need to know what to do when your pool is leaking.
A swimming pool leak doesn’t mean you did something wrong. Even if you maintain your pool, maybe a previous owner didn’t maintain it well. Or perhaps you had some unforeseen and unpreventable damage. For example, if a pool flooded from heavy rains or an overflowing river, there may be damage you couldn’t prevent.
If your pool was built a decade or two ago, your pool might just be aging. As a pool ages, even if you take care of it, you may have to contend with structural deterioration. Depending on the quality of materials used to construct your pool and deck, your pool could start falling apart at just ten years old.
Whatever the reason, swimming pool leaks can happen to anyone at any time. Here’s a quick list of the places where swimming pool leaks most often occur.
Common Types of Pool Leaks
There are many reasons your pool might develop a leak. Swimming pool leak repairs must be taken care of quickly to avoid further issues with the pool. Some of the most common types of leaks include:
- Structural Cracks – A crack in the structure of the pool is a common reason for a pool to leak. This kind of leak may also require deck repair.
- Skimmer Leaks – Skimmers can get brittle over time and may crack with age, causing the pool to leak.
- Main Drain Leaks – The main drain is at the lowest point of the pool. With constant water pressure at this depth, the severity of the leak can quickly escalate if not taken care of.
- Spa Jet Leaks – For pools that also have a hot tub, spa jet leaks can occasionally occur. Much like skimmer leaks, the plastic can start to get brittle and crack around the edges.
- Water Feature Leaks – Added features, like waterfalls, are beautiful. But over time, leaks can occur in the additional plumbing that water features require.
- Plumbing Leaks – These can occur on intake and return lines. They can be hard to track down.
- Pump & Filter – Leaks in the pump or filter may require repair or replacement of the affected component.
- Underwater Lighting – Issues such as a poor fitting, old conduits, or failed seals can sometimes result in a leak.
- Water Slides – Water slides may leak at the hose connection or in the underground plumbing.
Looking For Signs Of Swimming Pool Leaks
It is sometimes possible for your Atlanta pool service technician to catch a leak during regularly scheduled maintenance. But it is also very common for a leak to occur in between maintenance visits.
Therefore, it is essential that homeowners know the signs to look for. Keep an eye on the waterline of your pool. If the line has receded, especially when not in use, then there is a good chance you could have a leak in the pool.
Monitor your water bill closely for any unusual spikes in monthly water charges. Abnormally high water bills can often mean there is an issue with the pool.
If you notice any of these signs or anything else that seems unusual, contact The Pool Butler as soon as possible. We can send an expert out to evaluate the situation and perform any swimming pool leak repairs that need to be done.
Contact the Swimming Pool Leak Repair Experts
At The Pool Butler, we are the experts when it comes to swimming pool leak repairs. We utilize a variety of testing methods to identify the source of your swimming pool leak.
If you think you have a leak, call the Atlanta swimming pool leak repair experts at The Pool Butler today. Our many pool services include inspection, maintenance, renovation, and repair.
nance, such as annual painting or staining. But even the best wooden fences are subject to the same forces as all organic materials. Heat, cold, sun, and rain slowly beat away at a wooden fence over the years. Pest like termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, and other burrowing bugs can take their toll. Tiny fungi and plants can rot out wooden posts and boards. As all of these forces combine over a long time, every wooden fence will eventually need to be replaced. If you can see through any part of your wooden fence, you need repairs at the very least. If only one or two boards have holes, you might consider replacing just those boards. But if the holes are more widespread, they are probably indicative of more severe damage. Holes in multiple boards are a telltale sign of a failing fence. Whether the cause of the holes is pests or rot, the damage is probably more extensive than you can see. Even if you repair the affected boards, chances are that you won’t get all the damage. At that point, it might actually be less expensive to tear down the fence and replace it than to keep making repairs. In short, it’s time for a new fence.
2. Your Steel Fence Has Extensive Rust Marks
Steel fences are as beautiful as they are fickle. Modern steel fences are coated with special materials to resist rust, but even so, it is recommended to do an annual inspection for rust spots. After the inspections, rust spots must be sanded to remove the rust and then painted with rust-resistant paint. If you ignore small rust spots, they will only get worse. Over time, rust eats away at the metal and can cause your fence to literally fall to pieces. Rust is most common at joints where two pieces of metal were soldered together. If you let rust get out of hand, the fence can start coming apart at the seams. Some amount of rust is inevitable and can be spot treated. But extensive rust is a sign that it’s time for a new fence. Even where rust is spot treated, the resulting joint is often less reliable than the original. Too many repairs can also make a fence look splotchy. Steel fences can last a long time, but not forever. If your fence is showing signs of rust across the whole fence, it may be time to give in and build a new fence.
3. Your Fence is Leaning
A privacy fence is meant to stand as a strong, tall barrier. It keeps children and pets inside its bounds. It keeps prying eyes out of your private space and blocks unsightly views outside your property. Privacy fences are the most common residential fence in America. As a nation, we value our privacy and our property. So when your fence begins to falter, something must be done. If your fence is doing anything other than standing up straight, it is time to consider a new fence. In most cases, by the time a fence is leaning, it is too late for repairs. There are a few reasons a fence might lean. If a fence is leaning, something is usually wrong with the posts. Posts hold the fence in place and are typically anchored into the ground with cement over a gravel base. The cement holds the posts upright, but the cement itself is poured into a hole in the ground. If the ground shifts, the whole cement footing and the post it holds can tilt. The ground may shift due to flooding or water that saturates the ground. Tree roots can also push posts out of alignment. If a post hole wasn’t dug deep enough, it can shift as the ground freezes and unfreezes. (That’s ultimately the fault of the installers. Fence post holes should be dug to at least below the freeze line.) Fences can also start to lean if the posts are rotting, even if their bases are secure. If your posts or railing are weakened by rot, they may begin to lean under the weight of the fence. In addition to problems with posts, metal fences can lean if they have been dented or damaged.
4. Your Wood Fence is Discolored
A wood fence can be a beautiful thing. Many homeowners choose to stain the wood instead of painting it to enjoy the natural beauty of the material. Some may even use clear sealants that preserve the natural look of the fresh wood. Whichever type of finish you choose for your wood fence, the finish should be reapplied annually to keep your fence protected against the elements. Over time, wood is subject to deterioration, like any organic material. Even something as gentle-seeming as sunshine can attack your fence. The same UV rays that affect humans—the reason dermatologists urge you to wear sunscreen—can degrade your wood fence over time. The most common effect of UV rays is bleaching, in which a fence starts to lose its color and slowly fades to a light gray color. But the color change is just the most visible effect. As a fence grays, it also dries out and loses structural integrity. It may start to splinter or more easily chip, split, and break. If your fence has turned colors, take a look around for other weaknesses and signs of damage. And don’t wait until it gets worse. If your fence is gray, it’s time for a new fence.
5. Significant Accidental Damage
If your fence has significant accidental damage, it is time for a new fence. It may seem like obvious advice. But many homeowners imagine that they can just repair the damaged area and move one. The fact is, it really depends on the size of your fence, the extent of the damage, and the type of fence. Wood fences are the most resilient to accidental damage since they can often be repaired in sections. Metal fences often fare poorly when it comes to significant damage, as the damage is rarely restricted to just the immediate area of the accident. If your fence has sustained significant accidental damage—for example, a tree falling on the fence or a car crashing through it—there are other reasons to opt for a full replacement. First, even if you repair the damage you can see, it’s hard to know how the surrounding area was affected. Weakened posts and loose footings may cause more damage in the future. Also, no repair is perfect, and it’s tough to match a new fence to a weathered fence. If you want your fence to match all the way through, consider a full replacement. Of course, if you have a very long fence, such as a rural fence, a large property, or a commercial fence, you may not need to replace the whole thing.
The Best Bet When It’s Time for a New Fence
If you need a new fence, you’ve already found the best place to get it. Bravo Fence Company is the premier fence builder in the Atlanta area. We build fences to last, and we offer a wide range of styles and materials. Take a look at our gallery to see what we do. And when you’re ready for your new fence, contact us for a free quote!
