If you suspect your swimming pool is leaking, there’s a high chance that the culprit is a leak in the skimmer throat. Among all the possible leak points in a swimming pool, a leak in the skimmer throat is the most common issue a leak detection company will encounter.
Understanding why this leak happens and how to identify it can help homeowners address their water loss before it leads to more significant problems.
What is the Skimmer Throat?
The skimmer throat is the narrow passage connecting the swimming pool skimmer to the swimming pool structure. It’s the opening in your tile line where debris at the surface of your swimming pool is collected into your skimmer basket. It allows water to flow from the pool into the skimmer and the filtration system.
This section is typically waterproofed with a layer of plaster, tile, and hydraulic cement, but over time, it can develop cracks or separations, leading to a leak.
Why is the Skimmer Throat the Most Common Leak?
- Structural Movement – Pools experience natural settling over time, and even minor shifts in the ground can cause the skimmer to separate from the pool shell. This movement and settling can create gaps and separation in the skimmer throat, particularly in the cold joint, where the tile ends and the plastic skimmer housing meets the concrete pool structure. Anywhere two different materials come together is prone to leaking, and the skimmer throat is no exception.
- Freeze-Thaw Cycles – In areas where temperatures drop below freezing, the expansion and contraction of the materials that make up the skimmer throat can cause small cracks and separations that worsen over time.
- Aging Materials – The original mix of hydraulic cement used to waterproof the skimmer throat when the swimming pool was built can deteriorate due to age, prolonged exposure to pool chemicals, UV rays, and general wear and tear.
- High Water Flow Pressure – The constant force of water being pulled through the skimmer throat can contribute to the erosion and breakdown of the skimmer throat and the masonry materials that helped it remain watertight when the pool was first built.
How to Identify a Skimmer Throat Leak
Conducting a dye test is one of the simplest ways to determine if your skimmer throat is leaking. Here’s how:
- Turn off the Pool Equipment. This prevents water from circulating and allows the dye to remain stationary for accurate testing.
- Use Leak Detection Dye – Use a leak detection dye kit and squirt a small amount of dye near the skimmer throat, focusing primarily on the cold joint in the back where the skimmer housing and concrete pool structure meet while observing the movement of the dye.
- Watch for Dye Movement – Use only a tiny amount of dye at a time to quickly determine what the water current within your swimming pool is doing. If the dye gets sucked into a crack, it confirms that the skimmer throat is leaking.
Other signs of a skimmer throat leak include noticeable water loss that stops at the bottom of your swimming pool tile, wet spots around your skimmer in your yard, and air bubbles forming in the pool pump.
How to Fix a Skimmer Throat Leak
There are several ways to repair a leaking skimmer throat:
- Pool Putty or Epoxy – A temporary fix, pool putty, or underwater epoxy can be applied to seal minor cracks in the skimmer throat. However, this is not a permanent solution and may degrade over time.
- Professional Skimmer Repair – A more reliable repair involves removing deteriorated material and resealing the skimmer throat with hydraulic cement or a professional-grade underwater sealant. This typically involves removing the tile, redoing the hydraulic cement in the cold joint, reinstalling the pool tile, and restoring the skimmer throat to its original condition.
Preventing Future Skimmer Throat Leaks
While leaks are sometimes unavoidable due to aging and shifting structures, regular maintenance can help minimize the risk. Here are some preventative measures:
- Regular Inspections – Check the skimmer throat for cracks or separations during routine pool maintenance.
- Proper Water Chemistry – Keeping balanced water chemistry prevents premature degradation of sealants and materials.
- Seasonal Care – In colder climates, winterizing your pool correctly can reduce damage from freeze-thaw cycles.
Conclusion
Precision Leak Detection specializes in identifying and repairing swimming pool leaks, including skimmer throat leaks, throughout West Palm Beach and the surrounding areas.
Our expert team uses advanced leak detection techniques to pinpoint leaks accurately and provide reliable solutions. If you suspect a leak in your pool, don’t wait for the problem to worsen—contact Precision Leak Detection today for professional service and peace of mind.
