Hi everyone. The past two weeks has been a daily routine of problems followed by another. To begin with, the soil around the pool was not done per the engineering specs when originally built. As such, the area was unstable and the problem hidden by the concrete deck. All pavers have now been removed and the engineer is requiring us to remove 1.5 to 2' of dirt across the entire deck and then spot check down another 3' all around the pool. In starting that work, we have already hit an electrical line that is by code suppose to be 18' in ground, it was only 2" and the excavator hit it. So removing 2' all around the pool will now be a slow and careful project. The plumbing and electrical are clearly not installed as per the plans and we are being surprised on a daily basis.
As you know, we had closed up the ruptured pipe by the heater and filter rooms, the engineer tested the soil in the repaired area and gave us a 100% completion report. Following the day of rains a week ago, we came back to find water near the heater equipment that was a little out of place to be rain related. Later that day, the spa "burped" and drained in an instant. Another pipe broke and it was traced back to an area adjacent to the repairs we made in the heater area. It snapped at a 45 elbow ( 4" PVC ) and it was surrounded by very large rocks. We do not know if when the fire suppression line ruptured under force, if it through the rocks in the ground ( which should not have been there per engineering ) against the pipe and caused a nick or crack that failed or if the pipe was lifted by the swollen dirt during the rupture and then when the soil below was washed away, it snapped from lack of support.
The proper way to deal with this is to remove the pool heaters and demo the majority of the heater equipment area. Expose as much pipe as possible for inspection and repair any pipe that appears nicked or etched.
The area under the heaters has over 20 pipes in various elevations that operate the pool systems including fill lines, return lines, filter lines,booster lines and more. This will be a very slow process as we don't want to break anything while excavating. Even by doing this, we will not be able to inspect the surface of pipes that are installed right up against each other and as such, when we believe we are ready to close it up, the heaters will be installed on concrete pads and the area around them in gravel so we can have quick access should a problem arise in the next year.
All of the areas we have already repaired are signed off and approved without add'l comment, so the repairs being made are being done properly.
I will do my next report after we have what we hope will be a full assessment of the issues. Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends!
As you know, we had closed up the ruptured pipe by the heater and filter rooms, the engineer tested the soil in the repaired area and gave us a 100% completion report. Following the day of rains a week ago, we came back to find water near the heater equipment that was a little out of place to be rain related. Later that day, the spa "burped" and drained in an instant. Another pipe broke and it was traced back to an area adjacent to the repairs we made in the heater area. It snapped at a 45 elbow ( 4" PVC ) and it was surrounded by very large rocks. We do not know if when the fire suppression line ruptured under force, if it through the rocks in the ground ( which should not have been there per engineering ) against the pipe and caused a nick or crack that failed or if the pipe was lifted by the swollen dirt during the rupture and then when the soil below was washed away, it snapped from lack of support.
The proper way to deal with this is to remove the pool heaters and demo the majority of the heater equipment area. Expose as much pipe as possible for inspection and repair any pipe that appears nicked or etched.
The area under the heaters has over 20 pipes in various elevations that operate the pool systems including fill lines, return lines, filter lines,booster lines and more. This will be a very slow process as we don't want to break anything while excavating. Even by doing this, we will not be able to inspect the surface of pipes that are installed right up against each other and as such, when we believe we are ready to close it up, the heaters will be installed on concrete pads and the area around them in gravel so we can have quick access should a problem arise in the next year.
All of the areas we have already repaired are signed off and approved without add'l comment, so the repairs being made are being done properly.
I will do my next report after we have what we hope will be a full assessment of the issues. Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends!
RSS Feed
