Help, my swimming pool is leaking!

When we think our swimming pool can be leaking… it usually isn’t.

Most of the times the drop in water level is due to evaporation, albeit sun or wind, but in some extreme cases, it can be an actual leak that needs to be repaired.

Before you press the panic button. Find out is it a leak or evaporation ( sun or wind, they both have a similar effect), and to help here are a few helpful tips that can be carried out before you make a call to a professional leak locating company.

First try the bucket test

Shut the pool down, turn the pump off and do not allow it to turn back on until it is turned on manually.

Use a 3 or 5 gallon plastic bucket, fill the bucket approximately half full and mark on the bucket the water level.

Place the bucket on the top step of the pool and mark the water level of the pool.

Check both bodies of water in 24 hours and note the amount of drop in both the bucket and the pool.

If the bucket and the pool lose about the same amount, ( by your measurement mark) the water loss is most likely evaporation.

If the pool goes down considerably more than the bucket the pool may have a leak.

Second, check the obvious places that a leak may occur.

Pump, filter, chlorinators, valves and plumbing, skimmer, lights, around the inlet jets, or even the bottom drain.

Sometimes it may take several days to determine if a pool is actually leaking, many tests and monitoring of the pool level.

Remember that once the bucket test has been done with the pump off and results are determined; do the bucket test with the pump running as normal. By doing both tests it can be very helpful to determine if an actual leak is in the body of the pool or possibly in the pool plumbing ( piping) system. Many times when the pump is operating, the pressure of the water forces the water out of a plumbing leak causing the leak in the pool to be much greater.

Most pool shops sell a pool sealer, to help with small leaks, but it should only be used as a temporary measure and once you have located the exact area of the leak you should call in professional help.