Marlboro, NJ – Three Visits By Another Company and Nearly $750 Later, the Pool Was Still Leaking
Case Summary: A Marlboro, NJ homeowner hired another company rather than wait two weeks for our next appointment. More than five weeks, three visits and nearly $750 later, the pool was still losing approximately 1 inch of water per day with two broken return lines plugged. Atlantic Pool Leak Detection located and repaired a missed leak inside the skimmer.
Actual Skimmer Leak
The video below documents the skimmer leak we located at this Marlboro pool.
The Problem: Losing 1–2 Inches of Water Every Day
A homeowner in Marlboro, NJ, in Monmouth County contacted Atlantic Pool Leak Detection because their swimming pool was losing approximately 1–2 inches of water per day.
Our next available appointment was approximately two weeks away. Anxious to get someone there sooner, the homeowner hired a local cleaning and restoration company that also offered pool leak detection.
More than five weeks after the original call to us, the pool was still losing water. By then, the homeowner had paid nearly $750 for three visits from the other company and dug in multiple areas based on their recommendations.
Two Broken Return Lines Did Not Explain All the Water Loss
The other company tested the plumbing and identified two broken underground return lines. That part of the diagnosis was correct. The homeowner plugged and shut off both return lines, isolating them from the pool – but the pool continued losing approximately 1 inch of water per day.
Once the return lines were plugged and isolated, they could not understand why the pool continued to leak.
There had to be another leak.
Three Visits and Multiple Incorrect Locations
Over three visits, the previous company attempted to pinpoint the underground return-line breaks and marked multiple locations where they believed the pipes were broken. The homeowner opened up those areas looking for the damaged pipes, but the breaks were not found.
Nearly $750 had been spent, multiple areas had been opened and the homeowner was still adding water every day.
The homeowner then scheduled us to come out, more than five weeks after first contacting us.
How We Tested the Marlboro Pool
When we arrived, we confirmed the two return lines were broken. We also knew that isolating the lines didn’t stop the pool from losing so much water. We knew there had to be another leak that the other company missed. We then found a large crack inside the skimmer.
Skimmer Leak Repair
We repaired the leak inside the skimmer, then waited for the homeowner to monitor the water level over the next 24 hours. The two broken return lines remained plugged in order to be sure that the pool finally stopped leaking.
The Result
The following day, the homeowner contacted us: “Looking fine, thanks.”
The pool was finally holding water.
After more than five weeks, three visits from another company, nearly $750 spent and digging in multiple locations, the separate skimmer leak responsible for the continuing water loss had finally been located and repaired.
The Two Return Lines Still Need to Be Addressed
The two return lines are broken underground and remain plugged. The customer planned to temporarily keep the lines plugged and possibly deal with repairing the lines the next season.
The previous company correctly identified two broken return lines. However, the underground breaks were not successfully pinpointed and the skimmer leak was missed. This pool had multiple problems.
Why Pool Leak Detection Experience Matters
Owning leak detection equipment does not make you a leak detection specialist. Years of experience using these very specialized tools makes all the difference.
We have located more than 5,000 pool leaks.
At Atlantic Pool Leak Detection, we specialize in finding and repairing pool leaks. We do not open or close pools, provide routine pool service, repair equipment, install liners or perform pool renovations.
An Earlier Appointment Did Not Lead to a Faster Answer
The homeowner chose another company first because they could arrive sooner than our approximately two-week availability. Availability matters, but so do experience, testing methods and accuracy. Getting the right diagnosis the first time can save more time and money than simply getting the earliest appointment.
What This Marlboro Case Shows
- Correctly identifying broken plumbing lines does not necessarily explain all the pool’s water loss.
- If water loss continues after leaking lines are plugged and isolated, further testing is needed.
- Confirming that a line is broken and pinpointing the underground break are separate steps.
- A skimmer leak and underground plumbing leaks can exist in the same pool.
- In this case, an earlier appointment did not lead to an earlier resolution.
Need Pool Leak Detection in Marlboro, NJ?
APLD provides professional swimming pool leak detection in Marlboro and throughout Monmouth County. We test in-ground vinyl liner, gunite and fiberglass pools.
Contact APLD or call 732-333-3304 to request an appointment in Marlboro, NJ.
Learn more about our Marlboro pool leak detection services, view our Monmouth County service area, or review additional pool leak case studies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Was the Pool Still Leaking After the Return Lines Were Plugged?
Plugging and isolating the broken return lines did not stop the water loss because the pool had a separate leak inside the skimmer.
Was the Other Company Wrong About the Broken Return Lines?
No. Both return lines were broken. However, they were unable to determine exactly where the lines were broken, resulting in multiple visits to attempt to pinpoint.
Did Repairing the Skimmer Also Fix the Broken Return Lines?
No. These were separate problems. We repaired the skimmer leak, and the homeowner confirmed the following day that the pool was holding water with the return lines still plugged. The return lines remain plugged; locating and repairing those breaks would require further work.
Does Confirming a Broken Plumbing Line Tell You Where to Dig?
No. Pressure testing confirms whether a line is leaking. Further testing is needed to pinpoint the underground break before deciding where to dig.
Does an Earlier Appointment Always Mean a Faster Resolution?
No. Availability is only one consideration when choosing a leak detection company. In this Marlboro case, the homeowner hired a company that could arrive sooner, but the continuing water loss remained unresolved more than five weeks after the original call to us.