WARNING SIGNS OF A LEAK
Determining when your pool has a leak can be tough. Environmental factors do play a role in the water level, and just because your pool’s water is lower than normal does not mean it has a leak. Wind, humidity, and sun exposure all impact your rate of evaporation.
Keep a lookout for these leak warning signs:
Your pool, fountain, or spa loses more than 1/4 an inch of water a day
There are cracks in or around the pool decking
You need to add water more than once a week
Grass around the area is soggy
Your pool deck is sinking or lifting
WHERE IS THE LEAK?
Any number of factors could be responsible for the leak in your system. Your pool is made up of a number of components.
A pool leak could be found in:
The structure around the light, main drain, return outlets, tile line, etc.
Suction lines
Return lines
The main drain
Pool pumps and filters
Skimmers
Pool accessories like water slides
The liner
Stairs and/or Steps
How Much Water Evaporates from a Pool Each Day?
POOL WATER EVAPORATION RATES IN ONE DAY OR ONE WEEK
It can be easy to misdiagnose pool water evaporation. Evaporation rates depend on both geographic and environmental factors. Pool owners who notice a sizeable water loss in their pool should implement the Bucket Test to determine whether their pool has a leak or is just experiencing routine water evaporation. If pool owners or maintenance workers are constantly filling up the pool, there may be a leak.
On average, swimming pools lose about a quarter of an inch of water each day, yet variations in wind intensity, humidity and sunlight can drastically change water loss rates.
How to Perform the Bucket Test
Have your pool filled to its standard level. Using a 5 gallon bucket, fill it 1 inch from the top with pool water. If you are performing this on a commercial pool, turn any autofill valve off and close access to the pool. Homeowners also need to check if they have an auto-fill device and turn it off.
Immerse the bucket in the pool to about 5 inches. Setting it on the first or second step of your pool should suffice.
Mark the water level inside the bucket and the water level outside the bucket.
Come back in 24 hours to compare the inside water level to the outside water level. If the water level outside the bucket has dropped more than the water level inside the bucket, you likely have a pool leak and need to call a professional.
Make a note to check the bucket at exactly the 24 hour mark, as waiting longer than this can give inaccurate results. If it rains you will have to wait and start over when there is a clear forecast. After the test, use our pool water loss calculator to find out how much water is being lost to the leak.
Disclaimer
Leak Detection / Repair Disclaimer: It is possible for more than one leak to be present on a single plumbing line. Typically only one leak can be detected on a single line at one time. Therefore, after the recommended repair is completed it is possible for another leak to exist. If another leak is present and Patio Pleasures service is notified with in 30 days of repair completion no additional leak detection charges will incur. Customer will, however, be responsible for repair cost once additional leak is diagnosed.
