All Leaks Are Considered To Be The Owners
WorstNight-Mare!!
Well, Let The Doctor Show You That Its Not That
Bad!!
Its All about a process of elemination and a bit of patience! Leaks
can be one of the most expensive repairs you face. Generally, the
majority of the expense is finding the leak. Here are some tips.
1) Check the equipment area. Especially, check under the
pump. A seal leak is one of the most common leaks found. Other areas to
look are around the heater, the pressure switch, and all the pipes and
connections.
2) The fast way to find leaks (and it is by no means
quick) is to use dyes. This method works best if the leak is quick.
3) The slow way is to let the water drop. Once it stops
dropping ,look at what is at that level of the spa. Chances are that if the
water stops dropping at a jet, that jet is the leaker. This is not always
the case but it gives a good place to start looking.
4) To determine "type" of leak (on faster leaks), mark the
water level and run system for 24 hours. Note how far the water dropped.
Refill, and keep system off for 24 hours. Again, note how far the water
dropped. If the water dropped the same amount on these tests, you have a
shell leak. If the water dropped more when system was on, you have a
pressure leak. If the water dropped less when system is on, you have a
suction leak. If you have a determined pressure leak.The next step is to
find what position of the divertor valve, (if you have one) or which pump
is on when it leaks, if you have more than one pump.
Try leaving the divertor valve in on posistion for at least 15mins and
monitor how much it leaks.Then keep changing positions for same amount of
time in each untill you see a sugnificant increase in one certain
position.The same with each pump, turn each individual pump on, one at a
time and find out which leaks the most!
All this will help us pin point your leak faster and save both ours and
your time and money!
5) Broken blisters and most surface cracks DO NOT
LEAK.(See next section on Blisters and cracks)
6) IT is wise to note that every leak is usual different
and has to be repaired differently. If a pipe is leaking from a join it is
always best to replace the pipe in questions, however as in this example
picture (1), it was almost imposible without removing half the foam on the
spa to access properly the pipes enough for a pipe repair. It was also at
the Manufacturers request to try this type of repair first, because it is
by far easy and quicker.
Just like a jet leaking leaking, between the jet and the shell, the leak
cannot be stopped from the back!!! The leak must be
stopped from where the water enters the component in question!
Example Pictures (1):
a.
b.
c.
The repaired leak in the (c.)picture was pin pointed to a selection of
pipes leading to one area. This was found out after a process of
elimination of the above steps and a few more steps once we new the
plumbing configeration.
It was then a matter of susspending the spa above ground using besser
blocks (picture a.), enough so the spa could be supported correctely at the
bottom, and the bottom to be visible, well it was filled up and tested. The
drips could then be pin pointed and the foam dug out untill the exact leak
was found (picture b).
The repair was made with a very special material that incorperates dental
technology and is very potent, but very affective in bonding abs plastics
and needs to be treated with much caution care when using.
The repair as you see it was tested and then completely restored to its
original condition with new insalation and foam, the owner then could only
see the new foam and nothing else.
Example Pictures (2):
a.
b.
This particular portable spa had a major problem with the glue that was
used at the time of manufacturing. There was a bad batch of glue that in
time failed almost on every pressure join on the spa. In this case where
there was good access to all sides of the spa after timber paneling was
removed, it was easier to dig all the foam out around the pressure pipes
and replace all pressure pipes, including the water manifolds.
GET THE DOCTOR TO FIX YOUR LEAK
