Yes. The pump on/off test, dye testing, and pipe testing together identify whether the skimmer body is leaking structurally, the underground suction line is leaking, both, or neither.
The skimmer is one of the most common leak locations on a residential pool -- and it is also one of the most misdiagnosed. There are two completely different ways a skimmer can leak: structurally (the skimmer body separating from the pool wall) or through its plumbing (the underground suction pipe losing pressure). These require different repairs and they behave differently on diagnostic tests. The tools make that distinction clearly.
The pump state tells the technician which part of the pool system to focus on first. When the pump is running, it draws water through the skimmer suction line under negative pressure. When the pump is off, the suction line is not under pressure and water does not move through it.
A skimmer body structural leak -- where the skimmer housing separates from the surrounding pool wall -- is confirmed with dye. The technician injects dye along the joint between the skimmer body and the pool wall, both inside the skimmer throat and around its exterior perimeter. If the joint is leaking, the dye is pulled through and disappears into the separation. This is a visual, definitive confirmation that the leak is structural at that location.
The skimmer suction line is the underground pipe running from the skimmer to the pump. To test it, the technician plugs the skimmer inlet at the pool, connects the manifold, and pressurizes that specific line with air. If the skimmer suction line holds pressure, it is intact. If it loses pressure, the underground skimmer pipe has a break -- a completely different problem from a structural skimmer body leak, and one that requires pipe locating and potentially trace gas to find before excavation.
A structural skimmer body leak is repaired from inside or around the pool -- typically by injection, resetting the skimmer, or replacement of the skimmer housing. An underground skimmer suction pipe break requires finding the break point underground, opening the concrete, and repairing the pipe. These are two different contractors, two different scopes, and two different costs. Getting the diagnosis right before any repair work begins ensures the homeowner pays for the right fix.
Use these tools to understand your water loss pattern before your visit.
Leak and Subsurface Locators identifies exactly what is leaking and where -- structural or plumbing, skimmer body or underground pipe. Call Sandra to schedule.
Not if they only identified the skimmer as the general area. "The skimmer is leaking" needs to be more specific -- is it the skimmer body separating from the pool wall, or is it the underground suction pipe? The repair approach is different for each. A professional leak detection visit with dye testing and pipe testing identifies exactly which failure is present before any repair work begins.
Yes, and it is not uncommon. A pool can have a structural skimmer body leak and a broken underground pipe at the same time. Fixing only one when both are present leads to continued water loss and a callback. A full diagnostic visit tests both the structural and plumbing components so all active leaks are identified in a single visit.
No. Dye testing and pipe testing are both conducted with the skimmer in place. The technician tests from the pool side and the equipment side without removing the skimmer housing. If the finding points to a structural failure requiring skimmer replacement, that is a decision for the repair contractor after the leak is confirmed and documented.
Very common. South Florida's sandy soil, seasonal ground movement, and the age of many residential pools create conditions where the bond between the skimmer body and the surrounding gunite weakens over time. Skimmer separation is one of the most frequently found structural leaks in the region, particularly in pools that are 15 years or older. It is checked on every residential visit.