Finding a Pool Leak

It is normal for your pool to lose water, but when you find yourself having to top it up more than usual, this could suggest you have a leak. I have specialised equipment that helps me isolate and find pool leaks.

One of the best methods for finding a leak in a pool is fluorescent dye. The bright dye is added to the water, it is very visible and you are able to follow the flow of the water and track if it is escaping through a leak. Using this dye, I was able to help Dan find where water was leaking in his pool.

A cracked pool

Dan noticed that he kept having to top up his pool as the water level kept dropping significantly. With it being winter and with very little wind around to account for the loss of water, he suspected that he had a leak.

He gave me a call and I suggested that he try the bucket test described below, which confirmed that there definitely was a pool leak.

When I arrived onsite, I did a visual inspection and ran a few tests. I then topped up the pool a bit and added drops of fluorescent dye near where I suspected the leak to be. We very clearly found that the water was disappearing through a horizontal crack in the pool, confirming my suspicions. This crack was so difficult to see because, when the water line dropped, it was sitting directly over the crack, concealing it.

I topped the pool up and ran the test again, recording the results so that Dan could send it to his insurance.

Signs you may have a pool leak

It is not always easy to tell if your pool is leaking. Here are a few tell-tale signs that point to you having a pool leak.

SUDDEN, CONSISTENT DROP IN WATER LEVEL

You notice that the water level in your pool seems to be dropping quicker than usual and you are having to top your pool up more and more often.

INCREASE IN YOUR WATER BILL

Your water bill and usage has spiked for no reason, you may have a leak and it would be a good idea to rule out that it isn’t your pool first by using the tests below.

WET PATCHES AROUND THE POOL

There is soggy and muddy ground around your pool.

SUNKEN GROUND AND CRACKED TILES

The ground around your pool seems to have sunken in or shifted and tiles are cracking. Excess water leaking from the pool could cause the ground to become unsettled and shift. This can cause visible changes to the area and tiles around the pool.

How to test for a pool leak

There are two simple tests that you can do yourself to determine if your pool is leaking.

TAPE OR MARKER TEST

Top up your pool then mark the water line with a piece of tape or a marker. Wait 24 hours and note where the water line is in relation to the mark you made. If the difference is roughly more than two fingers or so, then you may have a leak.

BUCKET TEST

Fill a bucket with water from your pool and place it on your step. Make sure the water inside the bucket is the same level as the water outside the bucket. Mark the water levels inside the bucket and outside the bucket.

Leave the bucket in the pool for 24 hours and check the water levels. If the level of the water outside the bucket has dropped more than the water inside the bucket, there is a good chance you have a leak.

A happy outcome

I am really glad I was able to help Dan find the leak in his pool. He had this to say about the experience:

Working with Atlantic Leak Detection was a pleasure. Werner was helpful and gave a detailed explanation of the methods he uses and what would work best to find the leak in my pool. He was very thorough and found the leak quite easily and provided the proof I needed to claim from insurance. I highly recommend Atlantic Leak Detection if you suspect you have a pool leak.

Dan Burman, Parklands

If you suspect you have a pool leak, give me a call.