Is My Pool Leaking?
How To Perform a Leak Test
Every pool is different, and it can be quite difficult sometimes, with rain and evaporation, to determine if a pool is leaking. Follow these simple steps to determine if you have a leak, or if you are experiencing normal evaporative water loss.
Required Items
Bucket & Crayon (or wax pencil, or tape)
What To Do
1. Fill your bucket about 1" from the top with the pool water
2. Set the bucket on the first step
3. Mark the pools water level on the outside of the bucket
4. Mark the bucket water level on the inside of the bucket.
5. Wait 24 hours and compare marks. If pool water has dropped more than the bucket did, you may have a leak.
Some Notes About The Test
Place your bucket in an area where it will receive similar sun and wind exposure as your pool. This is important for an accurate comparison. Fill the bucket nearly to the top so it reflects your pool’s water level. If your pool steps are shaded or covered, they may not be the best spot—placing the bucket on the deck in direct sun will usually give better results.
To mark your pool’s water level, turn the pump off and immediately mark the level inside the skimmer. Then turn the pump back on. When you return to check the level after 24 hours, make sure to turn the pump off again before comparing.
Because the water in the bucket is still while your pool water is constantly moving, you may notice a very small difference over a 24-hour period. This is normal. However, over longer periods, that difference can become misleading, which is why a 24-hour test is recommended.
At the end of the day, if you can’t clearly see a difference in 24 hours, you’re probably not dealing with a leak.