A broken pool line doesn't have to mean a torn-up deck. When a suction or return line fails underground, the old approach is to break out long sections of concrete until someone finds the problem. The Leak Geeks takes a different approach: we pinpoint the leak first, then repair the pool plumbing with as little digging as possible, often through one small access point instead of a trench across your patio.
I'm Ray Sanders, a Leaktronics-certified leak technician with an engineering background and more than 40 years in construction. I repair pool plumbing for homeowners and properties across West Columbia, Cayce, Columbia, Lexington, Irmo, Chapin, Gilbert and Lake Murray.
Signs of an Underground Pool Plumbing Leak
- The pool loses more water with the pump running than with it off, or the other way around
- Air bubbles in the returns, or a pump that keeps losing prime
- Wet, sinking or unusually green areas in the yard or around the equipment pad
- Cracks or settling in the deck along a pipe run
- Water loss that continues after the liner or shell checks out
Step One: Find the Exact Spot
No-dig repair only works if you know exactly where the problem is. We isolate each suction, return, skimmer and main drain line and pressure test them one at a time. Then we use Leaktronics electronic listening equipment to hear water escaping through the pipe wall and mark the leak, usually within inches. See pool leak detection.
Step Two: Repair From the Inside with Pipepoxy
Once the leak is pinpointed, most underground pool line leaks can be repaired from the inside with Pipepoxy, our in-pipe epoxy lining method for pool plumbing. Pipepoxy is a division of The Leak Geeks, developed over more than five years of field and lab testing. There's no cutting and no digging, and your deck, pavers or stone stay untouched.
- Blow out and dry. We clear standing water from the line and dry the inside of the pipe.
- Sand and clean. A specialized sanding disk cleans the pipe wall to create a good bonding surface.
- Apply Pipepoxy. A precisely measured epoxy mixture coats the inside of the pipe and seals the leak.
- Verify and cure. We pressurize the line with air to confirm the leak is sealed, then let the epoxy cure.
Pipepoxy works on skimmer lines, return lines, suction lines, spa fill lines and main drains, and most repairs are finished the same day.
If a line can't be lined (for example, a collapsed or badly separated pipe), we fall back to the least invasive conventional option:
- Single small access point. We open a small area right over the leak, repair the section, and restore the deck or ground.
- Line rerouting. If a run under the deck is badly damaged, we can sometimes bypass it with a new route that avoids breaking out concrete.
- Pressure test after repair. Every repair is pressure tested so we know the line holds before we close up.
Why It Matters on Midlands Properties
Pool decks, pavers and landscaping are expensive to replace. In our clay soil, a leaking line can also wash out the base under your deck and cause settling. Fixing the leak quickly and precisely protects both your pool and the hardscape around it.
What to Expect
We'll talk through the symptoms on the phone, test on site, and show you where the leak is before recommending a repair. You'll know how big the access opening will be and how we'll restore the surface before any work starts. Once the repair passes its pressure test, we backfill, patch and clean up.
Pool Plumbing Only
To be clear, our trenchless work is for pool plumbing: suction lines, returns, skimmer lines, main drains and the plumbing connections at the equipment pad. We don't repair pumps, filters or heaters. For house plumbing leaks, see plumbing leak detection.
Areas We Serve
We're based in West Columbia, SC and serve pool owners in West Columbia, Cayce, Springdale, South Congaree, Pine Ridge, Columbia, Forest Acres, Lexington, Red Bank, Gilbert, Irmo, Chapin and Lake Murray.
What our customers say:
"I had a great experience working with Ray Sanders from The Leak Geeks. He came out to troubleshoot an issue with my pool and quickly got to the root of the problem. What really stood out was his communication—he walked me through how he was going to diagnose everything, kept me informed along the way, and made sure I understood the process. He was professional, knowledgeable, and efficient, and he was able to get everything fixed without any hassle. It's hard to find service like that these days. I'd absolutely recommend Ray and The Leak Geeks to anyone needing help with pool leak detection or troubleshooting."
— Brian Wilds, Google review
Why Precision Saves Money
Every square foot of deck you don't break out is concrete you don't have to pour, match and cure. Pinpoint detection typically means a smaller opening, a faster repair and a patch that blends in, which matters most on pavers, stamped concrete and travertine.
Get Your Pool Line Fixed Without the Demolition
Call 803-570-5283 or contact us for a free quote on your pool line repair. All repairs are backed by our 1-year warranty.