Pool return leaks are usually a simple PVC patch

You can fix a return line leak yourself if it’s exposed PVC, but if it’s buried, call a pro.

The return line is the pipe that pushes filtered water back into the pool through the jets. Most leaks show up where the pipe is above ground — near the pump, around the valves, or right at the jet fitting. Look for wet spots, calcium deposits, or bubbles coming out of a crack when the pump runs.

If it’s a small pinhole or hairline crack, the honest answer is: you don’t fix the tiny spot with goop forever. You cut out the damaged section and replace it with a PVC coupling. Clean the pipe, dry it, apply purple primer, then PVC glue, then push on the coupling. Give it an hour to cure before you run the pump. That’s a permanent fix for a few bucks. A repair clamp or