Why is my pool losing water after backwashing?

Asked by: Charnell Sanderlin

Sand or dirt build-up around the multiport valve, diverter, or spider (aka spoke) gasket can cause water to leak out of the backwash line when the pool is set on “filter“. This is very common with sand filters and Diatomaceous Earth (DE) filters.

Does your pool lose water when you backwash?

Backwashing can take only a few minutes to complete, but for a typical pool, it consumes approximately 200 to 300 gallons of pool water! So, while your filter is losing unwanted dirt and debris—your pool is losing a ton of water. And that’s for a single backwash.

Why is my pool losing water when the pump is on?

If the water loss is larger when the pump is running, the likely culprit is the underground return line. However, a leak in the return or jet fitting will also leak at a greater rate when the pump is on (there is pressure in the system).

Can you backwash a pool too much?

Can You Backwash Too Much? If you backwash your pool too much i.e. time duration and/or close frequency then yes you can cause a lot of problems. Some problems that can arise from backwashing your sand pool filter too much are: Loss of water – 500+ litres of water can be lost in each backwashing cycle.

Why does my pool lose 1 inch of water daily?

Pool Is Losing 1 Inch of Water Per Day
Losing more than ½” of pool water per day indicates you likely have a leak in your pool’s structure or your pool pump system. You should call your pool service for a thorough leak inspection. You might not be able to keep up with refilling your pool at this point.

How do I know if my pool drain is leaking?

So, if you see that you pressure quickly drops to 2 psi, it’s likely that there’s a leak in the main drain line somewhere between 4′ – 5′ under the water level of the pool. If there is a leak in the section of the line at or above the water level of the pool, you’ll see a quick drop to 0 psi.

How can I tell where my pool is leaking?

Check the waste or backwash line for water consistently running. One inch of your pool water can equal 500 gallons. Check downhill from a pool, looking for weepers where underground leakage is surfacing. Check for soft or wet spots in the yard, on the side of the pool where the plumbing returns water to the pool.

Why did my pool drain itself?

You should know that your pool will lose some water through a number of normal means: splash-out during use, backwash waste, and evaporation. Depending on the climate where you live, you may gain some of that back via rainwater.

Why does my pool water evaporate so fast?

Evaporation occurs whenever you expose wind or air to the surface of your pool. So in short, this applies to every pool, all the time. Water molecules rise to the surface, form into a vapor and eventually get released into the air. Heated pools on cool nights experience evaporation more rapidly.

Why did my pool lose water overnight?

If your pool lost water overnight and it is more than the quarter-inch due to evaporation, you probably have a leak. Evaporation accounts for a minor amount of water lost each day. Losing a half-inch or more overnight indicates a problem.

Where do most pool leaks occur?

Look closely at the filter, pump, heater, and pipe valves, which is where leaks often tend to occur. If you have a vinyl pool liner, look for tears or separations around the fittings, lights, steps, and corners.