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Is Your Pool Leaking?
How to Determine if Your Pool is Leaking
Generally speaking, pools lose approximately ¼” of water per 24-hour period* on average due to evaporation, although this can vary due to factors such as humidity, wind, air temperature, and water temperature. With that being said, pools CAN lose up to ½” of water per 24-hour period* due to evaporation if the right atmospheric conditions exist—primarily low humidity, high winds, and a high variance between air temperature and water temperature.
Note: There is a very good evaporation estimator at leaktools.com/evaporation-estimator.html.
If you have an automatic fill line on your pool, we suggest that you turn it off periodically in order to check to see if the pool is losing water.
If you are unsure if a pool is leaking, the bucket test is an effective method of determining whether the pool is leaking:
The Bucket Test
- Fill the pool to the normal level.
- Fill a bucket with pool water and place it on the top step of the pool.
- Mark the level in the pool and the bucket.
- Measure the water levels in the bucket and the pool after 24 hours.
- If the pool loss is greater than the bucket loss, there is a leak in the pool.
Once you have determined that the pool is leaking, the next step is to determine where the leak is. It is typically very difficult for a pool owner to determine the location of the leak, due to the vast amount of plumbing and other potential areas of water loss. Therefore, it is normally best to have a leak detection service locate the leak. Leak detection services for swimming pool usually cost $650-$1,000 for locating the leak, which typically does not include repair of the leak. Once the leak is located, repairs can be made. In addition to the cost of water, prolonged pool leaks can cause damage to the pool structure or deck over time if they are ignored.
Contact us or call, 940-384-7665, if you have any questions about pool leaks.
*This does not include splash out (by swimmers or water features) or backwashing of the filter.
