Mike's Diving Services

06/11/2026

This customer had serious water loss in the pool. They suspected possible liner defect, from a pool inspection (not done by me), but I did a normal search of everything.
To begin with, this was an evening appointment, and I arrived just after severe weather had moved off to the east, entered the water as light rain was still falling. The pool had silica sand on the bottom, at least a couple pounds. This was from the sand filter.
The liner is in good condition, seams good. I located three leaks, close to each other, punctured with an object, on the pool cove close to the ladder. The ladder didn't cause the punctures. One of them (larger) was approx 1/4", and leaking heavily. The other two were about 1/8" each and also leaking. I prepared the patches and put them in place. While the patches were curing I did a full liner inspection including all seams, and the sides. No seam leaks, liner appears to be in good condition, no bleaching, flexible and not brittle. Water temperature 74, air temperature 74 (and raining). After inspection, checked the patches and they were cured and sealing. Water pressure caused dimpling of the patch area (normal). As the cove underneath the leaks dries out, sand can be pushed back into place under the patched areas to provide support.

06/09/2026

This customer had a water level drop, and not due to skimmer or water return jet leaks (water dropped below those points and kept dropping). After gearing up and in the water, I found the leak, fixed up a patch and secured the patch in place. While it cured, I did a full inspection of the liner including the sides.
Water temperature 74, air temperature 80. Liner is in great condition, other than the puncture, which was about the size of a half dollar, caused by a pole or handle. Patch is cured and sealed.

06/06/2026

This customer owns an onground/inground Kayak pool. Steps built into the pool, custom liner, two main drains in the deep end. I inspected the liner and found a 1/4" crescent cut, near one of the seams in the deep end. patched this leak, and stayed in the pool to continue liner inspection while the patch cured. The liner around the leak was mushy and debris was being drawn into the hole. I estimate this would lose at least one inch of pool water a day. Fixed! Liner is in good condition, with some bleaching from chlorine, but liner isn't brittle and should last for quite some time.

06/04/2026

This customer had an urgent water leak! lost 8 inches of water in a day. I located the leak, it was a cut about 4.5 inches long, caused by the pool steps getting lowered too quickly into the pool. Remember to lower the pool steps slowly and secure them to the deck properly!
I cleaned the area around the leak, prepared a clear vinyl patch and placed it over the cut. The water pressure helped to bond the patch and while it cured, I did a full liner inspection. Liner is in great condition. No signs of chlorine bleaching or damage. Seams are good. Water temperature 69 degrees, air temperature 87 degrees. Patch cured quickly and I instructed the customer to secure the stairs about a foot over from the repair. This will put the repair under the stairs, where it wont be disturbed.

06/04/2026

This customer had a skimmer which had been installed (liner cut) before the pool was filled. The liner stretched down and had torn at the skimmer face plate screw holes.
The old skimmer was cracked from age/ice damage. A new skimmer was ordered, old one removed and sealer/caulk removed. Old patches removed.
New skimmer installed, new reinforced vinyl patches cut for just below the skimmer for torn liner and across the skimmer.
Once it cured the gasket and face plate were installed and inside liner trimmed. Customer hooked up their pump and filter and started filling once the face plate was installed.

05/26/2026

This customer I had originally located a leak and patched it three years ago. In addition to full pool inspection (and replacing that leak patch which came off recently from pool vacuum), the side of the pool by the deck had a rusty hole in the pool wall and a clean cut in the liner. Customer put in temporary patches on the inside and outside. I prepared underwater epoxy to plug the hole in the pool wall, and prepared clear vinyl patches for the bottom leak (old) and the new pool wall leak. Water temperature 70 degrees, air temperature at start 77 degrees, at end 83 degrees. Pool liner is in great condition, pool is an oval flat bottom, no main drain or deep end.

05/12/2026

Upgraded/repaired the safety covers at The Flex in Joliet, the former Galowich YMCA pool. Ready for swimming!

05/02/2026

05/02/2026

Who’s going diving?

03/25/2026

First pool repair customer of 2026. This pool had big holes and no water! Liner is actually in newer condition. Holes look like they had been punctured by the handle of the leaf skimmer.
I cleaned each of these and was able to patch the smaller holes with clear vinyl. The biggest cut I used patterned vinyl. Since these aren’t underwater they take longer to cure.
I advised customer to wait 48 hours (at least) and then begin filling the pool, on a sunny day at least 70 degrees.