Offering clear, honest pool leak solutions (407) 924-9888

How Can I Tell Where My Pool Is Leaking?

  • Home
  • Blog How Can I Tell Where My Pool Is Leaking?
A hedgehog resting on a pool inflatable

How Can I Tell Where My Pool Is Leaking?

November 13, 2023 Jenn Pendrak Comments Off

The beauty of Central Florida is a longer swim season. Your pool is the perfect family getaway, celebration spot, and exercise tool. The problem is that pools can sometimes spring a leak, and your getaway suddenly becomes a headache. When you suspect a leak, it’s a source of stress and concern—now you have to find the problem, figure out how to fix it, and spend time on something you’d rather not deal with. 

Aaron’s Leak Detection is here to ease your burden! We’ll help you understand how to determine if your pool is leaking, locate the leak, and get to know the most common causes of pool leaks. We’ll also highlight why hiring a professional pool leak detection service is crucial for a trustworthy and honest solution.

Is Your Pool Really Leaking?

Before getting too worried, it’s essential to determine whether your pool is definitely leaking or if it’s simply experiencing normal water loss. Pools can lose water due to factors like evaporation, especially if your pool is heated. Water levels can also drop due to splashing and backwashing. If those don’t seem to be the culprit, here’s how to detect a pool leak:

Conduct the Water Level Test

This involves measuring your water level and watching what happens over the course of a few days. As shown in our handy guide, first turn off the pump so that the water is calm. You’ll want to be sure you’ve filled your pool to its normal height, then use a pencil to mark the height of the water in the skimmer. Return the pump to its normal schedule and come back in a few days. Turn your pump off for a few minutes to allow the water surface to settle, then measure the current water line compared to your pencil mark. If you’ve lost more than a quarter inch per day of the test, you’ve likely confirmed the presence of a leak. Keep in mind if the kids were playing in the pool, splashing can falsely increase the amount of water loss you’re seeing. Conversely, if it rained, the measurement might show less water loss than in reality. 

Monitor Water Usage

Keep an eye on your water bills. If you notice a significant and unexplained increase in water usage, it might be a sign of a leak. This is sometimes the first inkling that something’s up. If you find yourself refilling the pool more often than you’re used to, that’s another leak indicator. 

Look Around the Pool Area

Check for visible signs of leakage, such as wet spots, soft or mushy ground around the pool, or cracks in the pool’s structure. Unless someone was soaking wet and standing there, you shouldn’t have massive damp spots in the grass or around the area. Look at the pool equipment, checking for water leaking from components that run the system. 

Call a Leak Detection Expert

If you’re in the Central Florida area, give Aaron’s a call. We’ll find the leak (if there is one), guaranteed. If we do, we’re likely able to fix it at the same time—saving you a whole lot of hassle. 

How Do I Find Where My Pool Is Leaking?

Once you’re reasonably certain your pool is leaking, the next step is locating the source. Pool leaks can be elusive, but with some patience and careful observation, you can narrow down the possibilities. Don’t stop searching if you find just one leak! We often find multiple leaks in every pool. A good examination should be thorough, looking into every spot outside and inside the pool. There’s a reason our leak detection technicians get into your pool with dive equipment on! Here are a few areas to look at: 

Check the Pool Equipment

Check the pool’s equipment, including the pump, filter, and heater, for signs of moisture or dripping. Pay close attention to areas that are difficult to visualize so you don’t overlook the source. Clear away leaves or debris from the ground that may be hiding any visual clues to an equipment leak.

Do you have a vinyl-lined pool Eyeball the liner, looking for visible tears, punctures, or cracks. Even small holes or tears can allow water to escape, and even if it’s just a little at a time, it adds up. These can often be patched, but larger damage may require professional repair.

Examine the Plumbing

Inspect the plumbing system, including pipes, fittings, and valves, for any signs of leaks. The connections between these parts of the system have to be properly glued or they leave space for water to escape. Check for loose connections or corroded components, which are red flags signaling a leak.

Focus on the Skimmer and Returns

The skimmer and return lines are common areas for leaks. Look for gaps in the material or cracks that indicate the possibility they’re letting water out of your pool. 

Where Is the Most Common Pool Leak?

More often than not, the cause of a pool leak isn’t a broken pipe or skimmer, but an imperfect space where one material meets another. If materials aren’t completely flush, it’s easy for water to find its way out of the pool. Understanding the locations of leaks can help you troubleshoot and communicate effectively when you give us a call to explain what’s going on:

Plumbing

Deteriorated seals and unsecured fittings can all contribute to plumbing-related pool leaks. It’s possible for the pipe to actually be damaged, but thankfully that’s uncommon.

Lights

A light’s housing can either be cracked or not properly fitted to the wall of the pool. When that happens, water can leak out 

Liner

If your pool has a liner, tears or punctures can occur due to age, sharp objects, or improper installation. Like any material, the pool liner is exposed to forces and sometimes becomes stressed in spots and can start leaking. 

Skimmer or Return Leaks

Leaks in the skimmer or return lines can be challenging to detect but are common culprits of water loss. 

Structural Damage

Cracks in the pool’s structure, including the shell or concrete, can lead to leaks. These may result from shifting soil, drastic temperature fluctuations, or even the settling of the pool. If you have a lot of erosion in your yard, that may affect the integrity of the pool. 

The Importance of Hiring a Professional Pool Leak Detection Service

While the DIY approach can work for some pool issues, pool leaks often require the expertise of a professional pool leak detection service. The leaks can be tiny and difficult to detect, especially if you aren’t certain where to look. Aaron’s Leak Detection makes fixing your pool easy by taking the work off your plate. We use specialized equipment and techniques to pinpoint leaks accurately, saving you time and money in the long run. By quickly determining the issue, we’re able to give you a solution that will stop the leak in its tracks, keeping your water bill and stress level down! 

Our approach is one of education and honesty. We emphasize creating an experience that makes you feel supported, understood, and in good hands. As part of our assessment, we detail our findings and our recommended solutions through conversation and thorough reporting so that you never feel like you’re being taken advantage of. 

Aaron’s Leak Detection isn’t commission-based, which means our answers aren’t biased toward better earnings. The majority of repairs can be done on the same day and are included in the cost of the detection service. We take immense pride in our reputation, which is why so many homeowners in the Central Florida area have trusted us as the top pool leak detection companies over the past 20 years. If the pool requires specialized repairs, we’ll provide you with a quote for what it’ll take—no shocking bill for services you didn’t agree to. 

Our goal is to get you back in the pool again because we know how much you treasure your time in it. Trust Aaron’s for prompt repairs that will last. Ready to get that leak fixed and save on your water bills, chemical use, and frustration? Reach out to us at (407) 924-9888 and be one step closer to loving your pool again!