Termites

Termites are some of the smallest members of the savanna biome. They are part of the diet of many creatures, including the aardwolf may consume hundreds of thousands of termites in a day. Other animals, like birds and snakes, find shelter in the tall mounds termites build. Some even move into a mound after the termites have abandoned it.

There is some evidence that some species of termites create damp zones in sandy areas to allow plants to survive dry periods. (Link)

We live on Long Island and had the same problem. Put your flex pipe inside solid PVC pipe like a sleeve. We dug a trench around the perimeter of the pool and had an exterminator treat the PVC and the soil. It's been three years and so far so good. Check your liner. We had to replace it last year because termites made it look like a sieve. They come up through the bottom. Good luck!

There are many types of pools being built these days. Pools made of cement, gunite and other solid materials similar to rock are generally not going to have problems with termites.Any type which uses a liner is susceptible to termite damage; pools which use both wood and liners have the two ingredients termites spend their lives targeting. In ground pools typically have some wood beams installed which are laid in the ground. Liners are set over these foundations and though the wood used will many times be pressure treated or impregnated with some type of protective chemical, such treatments will break down over time. This breakdown, combined with the moisture wood will typically absorb from the ground, is the basis of a good termite food recipe. In ground pools which don't utilize wood but instead have chosen all manmade supplies are at risk as well. Termites will be drawn to these pools because of their water or termites will find them by mistake. Since termites almost always have some part of their colony out on a "seek and find" mission for both food and water, in ground pools can't hide even if they are made with all synthetic material. Their thin liners are not enough to hide the water which lies inside. Termites will detect the water and target any weak part of a pools design. As our on line article about termite biology describes, most any active termite colony will have thousands of termites out and about seeking moisture and new food supplies - even when the colony already has ample supplies. This is one of their natural defenses and allows them to have "priority" supplies so that when main targets are lost, lower priority water and wood are at hand and can be farmed. This constant search will inevitably bring some termites to find most any in ground pool at some point during the pools existence. Termites ability to detect water - even through thick pool liners - will initiate an interest. If they desire or need the water bad enough, they will chew their way through causing leaks. Slow at first, water loss will almost be non-detectable. However, most termite harvesting of water will tend to increase and as more and more access holes are created, water loss will be fast and noticeable. Soon, water loss will so bad the liner will have to be replaced. Many people believe termites "ate" their liner when in fact the termites really "ate through" the liner (at this point we don't think termites are able to digest and convert plastic to food!).

Now, it seems to me, that why would you go to all the trouble to put the flex pipe inside regular PVC pipe or any other type of pipe. When you could just as well use schedule 40 or even schedule 80 PVC pipe by itself installed in the trenches. And you never install flex pipe underground for pools. k

I couldn't figure out why my above ground pool was losing water. I hired a professional "leak buster" outfit to help me find the source. It turned out there wasn't one hole in my liner, there were thousands of tiny holes cause by moisture seeking subterranean termites! I tried treating the issue myself with some Home Depot bait stakes. That liner lasted 1 season before the pool started losing water again. I somehow found this site and started to research this Termidor stuff. I bought a jug and a pump sprayer. Since the lining needed replaced (again) I got all set up. When the old lining was removed, I soaked the sand base with my sprayer filled with the Termidor solution. I replaced the liner. Then, I sprayed the outside base of the pool and let the solution roll down the sides through the gravel. Since I had about 12 bait stake holes, I pumped them full of the diluted solution as well. I used the entire bottle on my pool. It's been two full seasons since I treated with Termidor and needless to say, I am thrilled. Not even a hint of termites! If I were to ever install a pool again, I would treat with Termidor as a preventative measure. I had no idea termites hunted for water in swimming pools. I highly recommend Termidor!