FAQs Archive

Q: How to find a leak in a pool without equipment?

Inspect the liner or shell carefully for cracks, feel for soft spots on the floor, and perform the bucket test . You can also use a few drops of food coloring or dye around suspect areas like the skimmer or returns—the dye will flow toward the leak if there is one.

Q: How to detect a pool leak?

Start with a bucket test to rule out evaporation, then move on to dye testing around fittings, lights, and seams to see if water is being pulled through a crack. For underground or hard-to-find leaks, professionals can sometimes use pressure testing and listening devices to locate the problem.

Q: How do you distinguish evaporation from leaks?

Beyond the bucket test, consider the rate of loss . Normal evaporation rarely exceeds ½ inch per day, even in hot climates. If your pool loses more, or if the water stops dropping once it reaches a certain point (like below the skimmer or return fittings), that’s a strong sign of a leak rather than natural evaporation.

Q: How to fix a leak in a pool?

The fix depends on the leak’s source. Small liner tears can be repaired with a vinyl patch kit , while cracks in concrete or gunite pools may be sealed with epoxy or resurfacing material. Plumbing leaks often require pressure testing and pipe replacement . For best results, a professional leak detection service can identify the issue and provide a long-term solution rather than a temporary fix.

Q: How to tell if a pool is leaking or evaporating?

The easiest way is to perform the bucket test . Fill a bucket with pool water, set it on a pool step, and mark the water levels on both the bucket and the pool wall. After 24 hours, compare the two. If the pool’s water level drops more than the bucket’s, you likely have a leak. Evaporation will affect both equally, while leaks will only affect the pool. We recommend that you turn off water features during this test. For further monitoring, click here for more info .

Q: How much water should a pool lose in a week?

Under normal conditions, most pools lose about ¼ to ½ inch of water per day , which adds up to around 1 to 3 inches per week . The exact amount depends on the climate, wind, sun exposure, and whether your pool is heated. Anything beyond this range is usually a sign of a leak or excessive splash-out from swimming activity.

Q: Where does water go when a pool leaks?

When a pool leaks, the water usually seeps into the ground or soil surrounding the pool. Depending on where the leak is located, it might also flow along the outside of underground plumbing lines, causing soil erosion or even making its way into nearby structures. In some cases, leaks can lead to wet spots in your yard or cause your pool deck to shift or crack over time.

Q: Why is my pool losing 1 inch of water a day?

Losing 1 inch of water per day is typically too much to be evaporation alone, especially if weather conditions are mild. This rate usually points to a leak somewhere in the system—whether in the pool structure, plumbing, or equipment pad. A small leak can waste hundreds of gallons daily and increase your water bill, so it’s important to rule out evaporation. Click here for more info and schedule a professional inspection if the water loss continues.