Pool Leak Detection in West Miami, FL (Verified, Not Guessed)

🕵️‍♂️ New Homeowner in West Miami: “My Pool Drops Halfway Overnight”

A new homeowner in West Miami reported that the pool was half empty every morning after filling it the night before. On arrival, the pool already had a low water level, suggesting an aggressive leak — but the cause was not obvious.

I carefully inspected the pool shell, tile line, skimmer, returns, light niche, and main drain. No structural cracks or suction/return leaks were found inside the pool itself.

🔧 Equipment Pad Inspection

At the equipment pad, there was only a small, subtle drip coming from the multi-port valve — not nearly enough to explain the aggressive water loss described. Multi-port valves contain several internal components (o-rings, seals, diverter mechanism) that wear out over time and should be rebuilt or replaced as needed.

I also noticed the backwash line had no shut-off valve installed after the multi-port. While not always required, a valve on the backwash line is an excellent safeguard so you’re not relying 100% on an aging multi-port to hold water in the “filter” position.

🌱 The Real Culprit: Backwash Line Discharging into the Yard

Since the pool and equipment didn’t justify the reported loss, I expanded the search to the yard. There was a large muddy area with active water movement — a strong clue that water was being discharged underground.

For confirmation, I opened the backwash line at the equipment pad. Water immediately began gushing out from the same area in the yard, matching the puddle location. This confirmed that the backwash line was the source of water loss, not a structural pool leak.

✅ Good News: No Structural Pool Leak

• No leaks found in the pool shell, skimmer, returns, or main drain.
• Water loss was traced to the backwash line discharging into the yard.
• The small drip at the multi-port indicates worn internal components that should be serviced.

🛠️ Recommended Fix for This West Miami Home

• Rebuild or replace the multi-port valve internals (o-rings, seals, diverter) so the “filter” position reliably holds water.
• Optional security upgrade: add a ball valve on the backwash line downstream of the multi-port. This provides a physical backup if the multi-port ever fails again.
• Important: if a valve is added, always ensure it is fully open before turning the multi-port to “waste” or “backwash” to avoid over-pressurizing the system.

In this case, the homeowner feared a major structural pool leak in West Miami — but the real issue was a discharging backwash line and a tired multi-port. No deck breaking, no shell cracking, no hidden structural failure.