Leaks - Infra-red Detecting of Spa Leaks

I have had fairly good success in locating leaks in our health-club spa-return jet lines, using I.R. photographs taken by a local infra-red detection company.

Their cameras are much like standard video cameras and are extremely sensitive to temperature differential. I recommend finding a company that uses color cameras, because they are easier to interpret.

First the spa must be drained long enough for the plaster walls to be dry and cool. (They can be hosed with cold water to hasten the cooling process.) The jet orifice must be removed and the pipes plugged with expandable plugs of the appropriate size. A plug fitting (the size of the return line in the pumproom) must be adapted to accommodate a hose bib. If you don't have a union on your return line, then now is a good time to install one. Connect a hose from a boiler or hot water source to the adapted fitting on the return line and fill the return piping with 120 to 140 degree water.

Once the pipes are full, the infra-red camera can be used to monitor the walls, and even the deck if the piping and manifold to the jets are not too deep. Leaks will show up as bright-red splotches. You will be able to see the route of all the pipes as well.

When we first tried this, there were several small patches of red along the path of the piping. There was, however, one very large patch of red on the spa wall where there was no jet opening. After digging into the wall at that location we found a capped-off fitting that had cracked and was the source of the leak.

(EDITORS NOTE: This is a great tip. I'm sure it will work on small pools too, or even selected areas of large pools. What an idea!)

~ Courtesy of Steve Smith, PPOA member from Federal Way, W