Pool Leak at Hayward Skimmer

[Jimmy C]

OK, I have a leak in my Gunite IG pool, 16,000 gallons. It is at the main
Hayward skimmer where it butts against the cement at the rectangular water
inlet. This was sealed before with two part epoxy putty. It seems like this
stuff softens after a few years, and eventually raises up causing a leak.

So I proved the leak with red dye, and then chipped away the epoxy. That was a
lot of work. Then I filled it all in with ordinary plumbers putty. That stuff
does not stick very well, but for now seems to be holding. I do not think this
is a good long term fix.

I am wondering what is the right stuff to use here? Maybe silicon caulk made for
pools after I drain the pool about 3" so I can apply it? I am assuming this
stuff needs to be applied when the area to be sealed is clean and dry?

Thanks,
Jim

[Bowmar]

Hi Jim,

It sounds like the two part epoxy that was used was something like an epoxy stick that comes in a tube, and then you cut off a piece and mix it together with your hands. That stuff is an OK temporary fix, the best part about it is that you can apply it underwater. My old skimmer had the same problem, and someone repaired it with the same stuff. I ended up scraping the old epoxy stick off, draining the pool below the level of the skimmer mouth, letting it dry out, and then I used a real two part epoxy called Marine-Tex. I put tape about 1/2" away from the seam on the pool wall and the skimmer, then cut a yellow Bondo spreader with a nice fat radius, mixed up the Marine-Tex, spread in on with the radius end. I was in a hurry so I put a halogen light near the repair (about 18" away) for twenty minutes, removed the light, then it was dry and ready to be filled back up with water 20 minutes later. It's important to do the repair with a large radius because that creates thickness and strength. This kind of repair I would consider permanent. Marine-Tex is available at any boating supply.

Hope this helps

Doug