Is Your Pool Losing Water? How to Tell If It's a Leak or Just Evaporation
Every pool loses some water to evaporation--it's normal, especially in South Florida's heat. But how do you know when your pool is losing more water than it should? A pool leak can waste thousands of gallons of water, damage your pool deck, erode surrounding soil, and cost you hundreds in extra water and chemical bills. Here's how to tell the difference.
Normal Pool Evaporation in Florida
In South Florida, normal pool evaporation rates are:
- Summer (May-September): 1/4 to 1/2 inch per day
- Winter (October-April): 1/8 to 1/4 inch per day
- Windy days: evaporation can increase significantly
- With a pool heater running: evaporation rates increase 50-100%
If your pool is losing more water than these ranges, or if the water level drops overnight (when evaporation is minimal), you likely have a leak.
The Bucket Test: Your First Step
The bucket test is a simple, reliable way to determine if your pool is leaking. Here's how:
- Fill a bucket with pool water and place it on the first step of your pool (the bucket should be partially submerged)
- Mark the water level inside the bucket AND the pool water level on the outside of the bucket
- Turn off your pool pump and auto-fill
- Wait 24 hours without using the pool
- Compare the two marks: if the pool water dropped more than the bucket water, you have a leak
Run the Test Twice
For the most accurate results, run the bucket test twice: once with the pump off and once with the pump running. If water loss is greater with the pump on, the leak is likely in the plumbing return lines. If it's the same in both tests, the leak is likely in the pool shell.
Signs Your Pool Has a Leak
Beyond the bucket test, watch for these indicators:
- You're adding water more than once a week
- Cracks in the pool deck or surrounding concrete
- Soggy or mushy spots in the yard near the pool
- Pool equipment (pump, filter) losing prime or running dry
- Constant need to add chemicals--water replacement dilutes chemical levels
- Air bubbles in the return lines
- Settling or shifting of the pool deck
- Algae growth despite proper chemical treatment (leaking water brings in contaminants)
Where Pool Leaks Happen
Pool leaks can occur in several areas:
- Pool shell -- cracks in gunite, fiberglass, or vinyl liners
- Skimmer -- separation between the skimmer and the pool wall
- Return lines -- underground plumbing carrying water from the filter back to the pool
- Main drain -- leaks at the drain fitting or underground pipe
- Light fixtures -- failed gaskets around pool lights
- Tile line -- deteriorated grout allowing water behind the tile
Professional Pool Leak Detection
If the bucket test confirms a leak, a professional pool leak detection service can pinpoint the exact location using:
- Dye testing -- colored dye is applied near suspected areas and observed for movement toward the leak
- Pressure testing -- each plumbing line is isolated and tested for pressure loss
- Electronic listening -- acoustic equipment detects the sound of water escaping underground pipes
- Camera inspection -- video cameras inspect underground plumbing for damage
Professional detection means targeted, less expensive repairs instead of guessing and digging up your yard.
Pool Losing Water?
Our pool leak detection experts use dye testing, pressure testing, and electronic equipment to find the exact source. Stop wasting water and money.
Mike Torres
Certified Leak Detection Specialist with 15 years of experience in South Florida. Mike leads our electronic detection team and has located over 5,000 hidden leaks for homeowners across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.