HOW TO DETECT A LEAK IN YOUR SWIMMING POOL

 
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It's perfectly normal for your pool to lose water every day to evaporation, but if you notice an excessive loss of water, chances are you have a leak.  A leak needs attention right away because

the water level needs to be maintained in the middle of the skimmer.

When your pool water level is too low, the skimmer takes in too much air, and this will cause problems with your pool system and will eventually cause the motor of your pump to burn out.  If you are maintaining your water level and are continually needing to refill, prepare yourself for a high water bill, not to mention the extra time and chemical expense of maintaining water balance.

Before becoming overly concerned with a potential leak, you can do a simple test to determine if your water loss is due to evaporation or is an actual leak.

This simple test is called the bucket test. The bucket test exposes water in a bucket to the same conditions as those affecting your swimming pool. By comparing the water loss in each, it's possible to determine if the pool is leaking or if supposed leaks are just the result of water being lost to evaporation.

Here's what you need:

  • 5-gallon bucket

  • Painters tape

  • Water

Here's what to do:

  • Bring the pool water level to the middle of the skimmer

  • Fill an empty 5-gallon bucket with pool water to about one inch from the top. (By filling the bucket close to the top, you are ensuring that air movement over the surface of the bucket will be similar to the surface of the swimming pool.)

  • Place the bucket on the first or second step of the pool. It may be necessary to place a few bricks or rocks into the bucket to keep it from floating away. (By placing the bucket in the pool water, you ensure that the water temperature of each will be similar).

  • Mark the water level inside the bucket with the painter’s tape.

  • Mark the water level of the pool on the outside of the bucket with the painter’s tape.

  • Operate the pool for 24 hours as it was operating when a leak was first suspected.

  • After 24 hours, compare the two levels. If the pool water (outside mark) goes down more than the inside water level, there is most likely a leak.

If you discover that you have a leak, give us a call, and we'll have our experts pinpoint where your leak is located.

Don't hesitate to contact us with any questions, big or small.

 
Pool MaintenanceElizabeth Johnsonleak, pool leak, bucket test