Sometimes the hardest leaks to repair are those micro leaks or really tiny leaks simply because they’re such a pain to locate. We can partially drain our pool, patch up a leak, and when we refill the pool, the leak is still there somewhere or there was another leak that we failed to detect! Well, those days are now over with Mr Pool Man’s latest addition to its online store! We’re talking about the Lo-Chlor Leak Sealer!

Simply put, the Lo-Chlor leak sealer is a chemical that is specially formulated to work in swimming pools with different surface types (except vinyl!) that will seal up minor leaks without the need for expensive repairs and losing days at a time.

SEE ALSO: Swimming pool repairs that shouldn't be delayed

Without going much into the scientific details, the Lo-Chlor leak sealer works by seeping into the tiny cracks and once they reach the other side of the leak and get exposed to air, they start to gel and crystalize, forming a solid substance that effectively plugs up the leak. Once it starts to get and crystalize, any other leak sealer chemical that is still in liquid form that comes to contact with it will gel as well, creating a thick “plug” that will effectively seal those tiny cracks.

As with any pool chemical, some precautions will need to be taken before applying the Lo-Chlor Leak sealer to avoid any damage to your pool and to maximize effectiveness.

• If you have a cartridge filter, set your valves to bypass it. If you do not have a bypass valve, take out the filter cartridge element before any application of the leak sealer. Also, make sure that your cartridge filter’s O-ing doesn’t have any leaks or else there’s a chance that it will get sealed up by the compound, and we don’t want that to happen.
• If you have a sand filter, make sure to set it to “recirculate” so that the sealing chemical will bypass your sand filter elements.
• Make sure that your pool chemical balance is on point before using the leak sealer.
• Take out any automatic pool cleaners, robotic pool cleaners, and other cleaning equipment from your pool.
• Make sure that your pool is free of any debris before any application.
• If you have any water features like waterfalls and the like, divert water from them as the chemical may identify the nozzles as a leak and plug it up.

• Turn off the pump prior to application
• If you know the location of the leak (see here on how to quickly determine if your pool has a leak) pour the chemical directly on the site of the leak following direction set “A” on the bottle.
• If you don’t know the location of the leak or if you suspect that you have a pipe leak, don’t worry! Add the Lo-Chlor Leak sealer directly to your skimmer box and then refer to direction set “B” on the bottle
• Allow the chemical to rest for 30 minutes before turning on the pool pump.
• Allow the pump to run for eight hours to allow the chemical to fully circulate around your pool and get into any cracks and leaks.
• After 24 hours, check your pool water levels to see if the leak has been properly sealed. 90% of the time this will work. But around 10% of the time due to larger leaks or strangely shaped leaks, a second application of Lo-Chlor leak sealer may be needed (shameless plug, so you should have two bottles handy! Don’t worry, they have a very long shelf life so it’s always a good idea to have one on hand)

Here are some of the more commonly asked questions about the Lo-Chlor Leak Sealer that we get so we’re sharing them with everyone!

• What types of pool surfaces does it work on?
• It will work on concrete, plaster, diamond brite, porcelain, and all cement-based surfaces. It will not work on a non-rigid pool surface like a vinyl liner.
• Does it work on pipes?
• Yes, it will work on all rigid pipes and PVC surfaces like on your skimmer box or its attached pipes. For flexible and non-rigid pipes, this product will not work.
• Can it be used in salt water pools?
• Yes, no difference has been noted in using the leak sealer on both regular pools and salt water pools. It has also been proven safe for use with salt water chlorinators.
• Do I need to drain the pool?
• No! That’s the beauty of the product, it saves you water and it makes it easier to plug up leaks fast!
• How long does it last?
• Leaks will remain plugged up for six months to a year! After that, reapplication may be necessary, depending on the size and location of the leak.

You really couldn’t go wrong with using the Lo-Chlor Leak Sealer! I mean, the cost for a bottle is less than just getting professional leak detection done! And that doesn’t include the cost of fixing the leak and the expense of partially draining the pool, refilling the pool, and rebalancing the pool chemical levels after the fact!