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Why is the Light Tester (LCDT) currently sold with an opaque dome?

We introduced the Light Cover for use with our LeakTrac – Vinyl Liner Leak Detector more than 20 years ago.  The purpose of the cover is to insulate the light from being a distracting electrical connection from inside the pool to ground.   As many of you know, skilled artisans in the leak detection business have also used the domes from these covers (and other types of covers, bowls and plugs) with dye to detect the presence of a leak in an isolated area, and they have been doing so for many years.

Red Rhino Leak Detection of West Palm Beach FL, recently acquired patents for a method and device for locating leaks in swimming pool lights using a transparent dome, dye, and a suction cup to hold the dome over the light, (#9464959, #9128002).  They filed a lawsuit against us, alleging that the manufacture, sale and use of our Light Cover dome for dye testing infringes on one of their patents.  We feel strongly that Red Rhino’s patents are invalid because the claimed technology has been known and used in the industry since well before Red Rhino filed its patent applications, and we also feel strongly that our LCDT product does not infringe for multiple reasons.  We shared these beliefs with Red Rhino even before they sued us.

Nevertheless, we also respect the intellectual property of others.  Thus, until the suit is resolved, we have elected to replace the clear dome of the LCDT product with an opaque dome.  The patent at issue specifically requires that the housing (or dome) of the device be “transparent whereby the flow of dye in the hollow housing is observable by a user of the device.”  With the opaque dome, the user of the LCDT product cannot observe the flow of dye in the hollow housing (dome).  Thus, the modified LCDT product does not meet this requirement of the patent claim.

This modification does not change the utility of our LCDT product.  To detect the presence of a leak in the area isolated by the dome of the LCDT Light Cover, we instruct the user to administer dye outside an opening in the dome.  If the dye is sucked through the opening in the dome the user knows there is a leak somewhere in the isolated area that will warrant further inspection and ultimately a repair.  If dye is not sucked through the opening the user can eliminate it as a possible leak source.

Thus, it does not matter whether the dome is transparent or opaque for the purposes of detecting the presence of a leak.  And in fact, spending time watching the movement of dye inside the dome will provide no additional benefit because currents resulting from the draw of water into the dome actually disperses the dye faster than would be the case without the dome.  In order to actually see dye move toward the leak one would have to deliver it just as carefully and closely to the suspected area as one would without the dome.

Clear domes are of benefit for other leak detecting purposes however, and we do still sell transparent domes in other configurations for these applications.


Case Study: Leakalyzer Saves Callback

Type of Pool:

Vinyl / Indoor

Equipment Used:

LeakTrac  2400, Leakalyzer, Dye

Situation:

Customer told us that pool leaked down to 1” above the skimmer pretty quickly, then seemed to hold at that level.

Solution:

When we arrived at the job site we started our Leakalyzer test with the pump on which confirmed the water loss. After turning the pump off and marking the current test, we could see that the slope of the line continued to be the same as during the pump off test.  Because of this we suspected a shell leak. Our observations of the pool equipment and plumbing system validated that the plumbing didn’t appear to be the problem.

Since a shell leak was suspected we began systematically dye testing the pool from the deck. By doing so we were able to find a crack in the skimmer bowl at the same level the customer indicated the pool water level held at. The size of the crack seemed consistent with what the customer and Leakalyzer indicated the water loss would be.

We then patched the skimmer with the Leakmaster Pool Glue Kit, which is adheres very well to the skimmer bowl and works underwater.  After the patch we ran another Leakalyzer test to verify that the pool had stopped leaking. Although not as much as the first time, the test still showed water loss that was more than estimated evaporation.

With additional dye testing we quickly found another small leak in opposite skimmer. That leak was patched with Quick Set Putty.

We ran yet another Leakalyzer test and found the pool was losing less water than before, but still losing.

We finished checking fittings and gaskets with dye and then pulled out the LeakTrac. The LeakTrac was able to pinpoint one hole in the liner and eliminate the rest of the liner as a suspect area. Leakmaster Flexible Sealer and Leakmaster Peel and Stick Vinyl Pool Patches were used to patch the leak in the vinyl liner.

The water level was a little too turbulent after patching to get a great Leakalyzer test, but we spoke with the customer one week later and pool was not losing water.

Learnings:

  • The Leakalyzer helped us make sure all the leaks were found before leaving the job, instead of just finding the first one
  • Dye testing is really fast and effective
  • Gathering good information from the customer shortened the leak detection process

Case Study: Fill Pool to Find Leaks

Type of Pool: Concrete, no spa, 400 sq. feet

Equipment Used: Dye, Leakalyzer

Situation:

No information was provided prior to arriving at the job site, but when we arrived the water level was down to bottom of the skimmers and the customer confirmed that the water leaked down to that point and then stopped. A Leakalyzer test confirmed the water level had settled and was not dropping any farther. We established some suspect areas then put a hose in to fill the pool back up while we headed to our next job. We came back later once the water level was back up to finish the leak detection.

Solution:

When we returned to the job site, we confirmed the pool was indeed leaking with the Leakalyzer, then started to dye test the suspected areas along where the water line had settled. Not all suspected areas drew dye when the water level was raised, but we did locate two leaks in the corners where grout was gone from the tile line. We repaired the leaking areas with Quick Set Putty, then confirmed that the leaking areas were no longer drawing dye and that the pool water level had stabilized with the Leakalyzer.

Learnings:

  1. It’s extremely helpful to know if the water level stops dropping at a certain point.
  2. Pool water level needs to be at normal operating level to efficiently locate leaks.
  3. Some leak detections are very straight forward!
  4. Job also led to a sale of upgrades in pool filter.

New Product: Dye Testing Cones

 

Cones conveniently stack to fit in tool box.
Cones conveniently stack to fit in tool box.

Dye Testing Cones enable you to quickly and easily determine if a section of plumbing is leaking.  Block off all but one opening of the line to be tested with the one-sized-fits-all cones that friction fit into any pipe or fitting up to 2”.  In the remaining opening use the cone with a hole through it.  Now dye test just outside this hole . . . if there is a leak in the line, dye will be visibly drawn into the hole.  Use to test returns, jet lines, floor cleaning systems, spa therapy jets and double bottom drains.

Six total cones, including the one with the hole, nest conveniently into a compact stack.


Trade Shows and Retail Products

Trade show season is here and to help you get ready for it Aqua Magazine put out an article titled Tips for a Better Trade Show.  We couldn’t help but notice the nice picture of Anderson Manufacturing’s Lance Anderson in the booth talking over retail products with a customer.

Anderson Manufacturing at the International Pool Spa and Patio Show.
Anderson Manufacturing at the International Pool Spa and Patio Show.

In the post Ted Lawrence highlights tips from good notetaking to beating the traffic.  Much of his article, however,  was directed towards finding new products.  While lots of our time, energy and promotion is spent on the leak detection equipment side of things we have many innovative and time tested leak detection and repair products that make great retail intems.  Here is a highlight of a few retail items that you could sell to customers or stock your service crews with:

  1. Leak Locating Dye
    Florescent Dye Tester
    This dye tester is a crucial tool in leak detection both for the experienced leak detection crew or the homeowner that wants to try to locate themselves.  It is a low cost but  high value product that can move on a retail floor. Try the new florescent if you haven’t used it before.
  2. Leakmaster Quick Set Putty
    Quick Set Putty
    Fast Curing, two part epoxy in a convenient single stick format.  Quick set putty is great for cracked skimmers, cracked in the pool shell and has thousands of applications outside of the pool as well making it a desirable purchase.
  3. Vinyl Pool Patches
    vinyl-patches-sm
    Peel and stick patches work above and below water.  Patch fast and effective.  Works in cold water.
  4. New Leakmaster Pool Glue – Stop by the booth this year to get more details on the new Leakmaster underwater all pool glue.

We have lots of retail and repair items available. Make sure read the article to prepare for the show and plan to stop by our booth!

 


Example of Typical Leak Detection

Even though we stay busy making, selling and servicing equipment and supplies for the trade we make sure to regularly get into the field and find leaks to stay sharp and test products.  Just recently we were called by a local pool professional who had a customer with an elusive leak and a long history of water loss in their pool. Two companies had been out before us with no success so we knew we were in for a challenge.

Background information from the customer:

  • Water loss dates back several years.
  • New liner installed last summer.  Light was abandoned.
  • Customer was suspicious of steps but said it had been thoroughly dye tested with no results.
  • Was losing at least an inch per day and pool owner revealed it had lost 3/4″ in the 14 hours prior to our visit.
  • Previous companies had done pressure tests and everything passed as leak free.
Leakalyzer analyzes water level to provide valuable information.
Leakalyzer analyzes water level to provide valuable information.

The first task for us was to gather our own information so the Leakalyzer was set up promptly upon arrival.  The Leakalyzer is able to measure water loss to the 10,000th of an inch.  It quickly (5 mins) confirmed that we were losing an inch or more of water per day.  The initial test was done with the pump on – the way the pool was when we arrived.  We then did another test with the pump off.  The leak was consistent regardless of whether the pump was running or not.  Since we were losing an inch or more per day we knew we were looking for a significant leak.  Our calculations brought us to around a quart per minute.

The next step was to dye test the fitting and stair gaskets then get the LeakTrac going.  A Quick 10 minute sweep of the pool with The LeakTrac confirmed there were no leaks in the new liner.  All the gaskets passed their dye tests.

Even though a pressure test had been performed by others we wanted to do our own to make sure.  We had a hunch it was the main drain line so we started there and did an air lock test. It held right at 4.5 pounds of pressure (generated from 8 feet of water column).  We then tested the skimmer and return lines and they held pressure too.

Now with all the lines plugged the Leakalyzer was still showing us that the pool was loosing over an inch per day.  The leak seemed be someplace other than the plumbing and the liner.

LeakTrac locates a leak in a stair return fitting.
LeakTrac locates a leak inside a stair return fitting.

We decided at that point to check with the LeakTrac one more time before getting into the pool to dye test the main drain.  As we more thoroughly swept the pool one return was screaming louder than the others. The return in the stairs.  This shouldn’t be since the stair return doesn’t have screws penetrating through the fitting and it currently had a nylon plug in it eliminating any distracting connection to ground through the equipment.  We shouldn’t be getting a signal here but we were.  The signal was not around the fitting but right next to the plug.

A dye test confirmed that water was escaping right past the plug that was sealing the threads.

We needed a mirror to fully see the problem when the plug was removed. Inside the  top of the fitting was a small crack  that was pulling a lot of dye.

FITTINGCRACKMIRDYEweb

The customer was happy we had finally found the problem.

Quick Notes / reminders from the job:

  • Following a systematic process of elimination helped zero in on the problem.
  • Leakalyzer helped us understand the true nature of the problem and confirm we stopped the leak once fixed.
  • LeakTrac helped us confirm the liner was OK and pinpointed the leak at the stair fitting.
  • Mirror was essential to thorough dye testing.

 

 

 

 


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