Do I Have A Leak?
As easy as it may sound, determining if you have a leak can save you both in frustration and your wallet. We field multiple calls a year of people asking this question. Our first response is always, “Have you done a bucket test?” Many people will think their pool has a leak because they feel they are adding more water then “usual”. However depending on the weather, evaporation can remove up to 1/4” of water every day. That’s almost 2” of water per week, which will definitely catch your attention. Performing a bucket test is a simple, inexpensive, and difinitive test that will show if you are losing water from a leak, or just “normal” evaporation.
Performing a bucket test is easy, and only requires a 5 gallon bucket, some duct tape(or marker), and time.
Start by topping off your pool to is normal operating level.
Now you will take your 5 gallon bucket and fill it with pool water, leaving approximately 1” of space from the top of the bucket, mark this level.
Now place this bucket on the second step in your pool. Mark the level of the water in the pool.
Make a quick note of the weather conditions(sunny, cloudy, windy, calm, humid, dry, ect.). This test should not be performed if it is raining or the pool is currently in use.
Wait 24 hours, run the pool as normal.
Finally, measure the water loss in the bucket and the pool. If the water loss in the bucket and the pool is equal, there is no leak. If the water loss in the pool is more then the bucket, you may have a leak. And if the water loss in the bucket is more then the pool, I think its time for a new bucket.
How To Perform A Bucket Test
After performing a bucket test and deciding you have a leak, what’s next? You can perform the test again with your pump and filter turned off. This will help determine if the leak is in the plumbing, or the shell of the pool. When the leak is in the suction side of your plumbing you will lose less water while it is running, and if it is in the pressure side it will lose more. If it is in the shell of the pool it will lose the same regardless. The more information you can provide us, the faster we can identify your problem, and get you back to enjoying your summer.
