How do I know if I have a swimming pool leak?
The most obvious reason for suspecting a leak in your pool is the observation of a larger than normal drop in water level. What is normal evaporation for a pool? It depends on the water and air temperature, the time of year or additional water features like spa spill-overs or waterfalls. Although it can vary if you suspect a leak and are losing more than 1/8’ per day you should perform the bucket test below.
Other symptoms that may cause a spa or pool leak:
- Increased chemical demands
- Cracks in the deck resulting from settling earth
- Unexplainable evidence of water outside the pool
- Higher than normal water bills (if you have an automatic fill device)
A simple way to account for evaporation and confirm a leak is to do a bucket test.
Swimming Pool Leak Bucket Test
- Make sure the pool is full to the normal operating level (usually half way up the tile or skimmer mouth)
- If you have a Spill-over Spa let the pool run so the spa is full to the spill over.
- Shut the pool off.
- Fill a bucket to about an inch from the top with water and place it on the first or second step or a bench in the pool. You can weigh it down with rocks or a brick if needed so it won’t float away.
- Using a marker or pencil make a mark where the water level is on the inside of the bucket. Next, make a mark on the outside of the bucket where the pool water level is touching the bucket.
- Turn your pool back on and let it run normally.
- After approximately 24 hours shut the pool off if it is running (make sure the spa is full again if you have one) and check both marks. The mark inside the bucket approximates the evaporation for that day. The mark on the outside is how much your pool dropped.
- If the marks are down the same amount then any water loss is normal evaporation. If the pool mark shows excess water loss than give us a call to come locate and repair your pool leak.
