While it’s not uncommon to lose 1/4″ of pool water each day because of evaporation, if you find your pool losing significantly more than you may be asking yourself, “How am I ever going to find out if there’s a leak?” If you suspect your pool is losing water, here are the steps on how to find a leak in a pool:
To ensure that you’re not just losing water due to evaporation, try the bucket test. Fill a sturdy bucket with pool water and set it on the steps of the pool or on a top ladder tread so that the top of the bucket is above water level (this way the temperature of the water will stay the same as the pool). Over the next several days, compare the water levels. If there’s a difference, it’s safe to assume that you may be in need of some Phoenix swimming pool repair.
The leak typically occurs in one of two places:
How to Find a Leak in a Pool – The Plumbing: Start by filling up your pool to normal levels and then mark it with duct tape. Keep your filter system running, wait for 12 to 24 hours, and then measure how much water is lost. Then refill the pool again, turn the filtration system off, wait the same amount of time and during the same time of day, and measure the water loss.
Should you be losing more water when the filtration system is running, the leak is likely on the pressure side of the plumbing and past the impeller. If you’re losing less water with the filtration system not running, however, the leak is likely on the vacuum side and before the impeller pump.
For the most part, fixing this type of leak will require a professional to pinpoint the exact spot of the leak so that it can be professional fixed.
How to Find a Leak in a Pool – The Structure: Turn off the pump for one hour and grab some food coloring. If there are no visible cracks, squeeze any food coloring around items that may pierce the shell of your pool (i.e. lights, returns, main drain). Check the mouth of the skimmer as well as this is a common leaking spot. A patching material can likely be used to fix the problem.
If you have a vinyl pool, start by checking around items that would pierce the liner. If you find no signs of a crack there, start feeling around the liner yourself or look for any depressions which could indicate erosion. Small leaks can be fixed with a patch kit, though larger leaks should be left to a local pool repair Arizona professional.
Shasta Pools is a Phoenix pool builder who provides a variety of services including swimming pool remodeling, commercial pool building, and pool service and repair. Since its establishment in 1967, Shasta has helped over 80,000 families realize their dream of pool ownership. By providing exceptional value, quality craftsmanship and superior customer service, the Shasta team continues to fulfill the corporate mission of astonishing and delighting their customers and exceeding expectations. You can learn more about Shasta Pools & Spas by visiting them online, or by connecting with them on Facebook or Twitter.
