How to Detect Leaks in Your Swimming Pool 

When it comes to your swimming pool, it’s pretty hard to argue that having water in it is fairly important.  Now, the water level in your swimming pool will naturally decrease over time with evaporation removing some and probably even more lost to splashing and people getting in and out. But if you find the water level in your pool is decreasing on its own or simply getting too low sooner than it should, then it is likely that you have a leak somewhere.  This will be a big problem if it is left unattended as the leak will only cause further damage to your pool and the surrounding area, which may well include the foundations of your house.

Water level

There are some basic checks you can carry out to ascertain if your pool is leaking, or if you are just imagining things.  The first thing you should do is check the water level; this is best done after you have topped the pool up and can be checked in a few different ways.  You can use some waterproof tape to place a mark on the wall of the pool at the waterline and see if it decreases over six, twelve or twenty four hours.  Alternatively you can measure the water depth if you have a means of doing so, or you can use a bucket and a brick.  Place the bucket on the steps in the water so that the level is the same inside and outside of the bucket, then weigh it down with the brick.  If the water level drops below the level in the bucket, then you have a leak.

Where is the leak?

It might not be easy to identify where your pool is leaking from, but there are a couple of things you can look for to help narrow down your hunt.  If the water level stops decreasing at a specific level, then you know the leak is in the pool wall at that level.  If you cannot find it or there are multiple leaks it is most likely worth contacting a professional pool renovations company to do the job for you.  If the water level doesn’t settle, then there is a good chance the leak is in the pipes and filter mechanism of your pool and this should be inspected.

Bad plumbing

If you suspect your pools plumbing is the problem you are facing, then there may well be a wet patch in the soil around the pool but you may need to probe the ground a little to find it if it is deep.  The plumbing can be tested by shutting off the pump and blocking the lines that lead into the system, if the water level in the pool continues to decrease, then the pipes aren’t the problem as they are out of the equation.  If this is inconclusive, then you can buy or rent pressure testing equipment, and remember that a whole run of pipe rarely fails, you will probably be looking for a joint or a small crack.