Swimming pools with structural cracks that leak are common. When concrete moves, it will usually crack, and the size of the crack depends on the amount of movement. Water leaking through the crack can be much larger problem than the crack itself.
A pool with structural cracks is more likely to develop leaks at the areas of the cracks due to the continuous pressure the crack is under. There reasons why swimming pools crack range from pool settling, earth movement, or poor workmanship during construction. Gunite has zero tolerance, and the shifting may cause the pool structure to crack. When a swimming pool structural crack occurs and begins to leak, water leaking through the crack will erode the soil over time. This, in turn, causes more shifting, settling and, if left unrepaired, voids.
These cracks will almost always grow larger, and the costs to repair may become more expensive.And refinishing a pool is not a remedy to cure a leaking swimming pool structural crack because it will only cover it. Resurfacing a pool is cosmetic, not structural. No matter if the structural crack is leaking, the crack needs to be properly repaired 100 percent of the time and as soon as possible. The crack will never get any better; it will only get worse.
A hydrophone can help you quickly and easily find structural leaks. Simply drop and drag the microphone around the structure of the pool. Hydrophones are designed for general listening, which allows the user to listen around any penetration in the pool. This includes: light niches, conduits, skimmer seams, vinyl liners, structural cracks, around fittings, main drains, side suctions, etc.
When testing a structural crack for leaks, be sure to brush away any debris which may have lodged itself at the structural crack. If the crack is leaking at various locations, the hydrophone may not pick it up due to the water being able to flow freely through the crack. If, however, the leak is located at one area in the pool structural crack, the hydrophone should be able to pick it up due to the pressure of the water trying to escape.
If you are at a customer’s home and you’re testing a structural crack for leaks and have determined it to be leaking by using a hydrophone, it’s always recommended to back yourself up with a dye test.
