With the arrival of warmer weather, we commonly hear concerns about water loss. Customers observe their water level dropping from one day to the next and become concerned. But, not all water loss is due to a leak or crack. Evaporation plays a big role in some water loss as well.
Evaporation occurs when heat causes water to turn into vapor or steam, like when you’re boiling water on the stovetop. However, evaporation isn’t always a dramatic or even visible process — nor are high temperatures needed to kick-start the process. Evaporation can also occur as a result of ambient heat; like the hot sun outdoors beating down on the surface of your pool.
Generally speaking, pools lose approximately 1/4” of water per day on average, though this can vary due to factors like wind, temperature, humidity and of course, the pool’s total surface area. As we do live in an area that does experience all four seasons, you may think that you’re safe from the threat of evaporation. The colder the water in your pool becomes, the greater the pressure difference grows between the water and the surrounding air. As this difference increases, the evaporation process speeds up — especially in the dry, low-humidity air that winter so often brings.
If you are losing water and are concerned the water loss may be more than evaporation, there is a simple test you can run; a bucket test:
Get a 5-gallon bucket.
Secure it to a step in your pool. A heavy rock in the bottom of the bucket is often all you need.
Fill the bucket with water up to the same level as the pool water. Use tape or waterproof pen to mark the water level in the bucket.
Leave the bucket in place overnight.
Check the bucket water level in the morning.
If the pool water level has dropped but the bucket level has not, it’s possible that you have a leak. If both have dropped at the same rate, the cause is almost certainly evaporation. If you are still concerned you may have a leak after performing a bucket test, please contact Colley’s Pools & Spas at (716) 649-7640 to schedule a leak detection.
Colley’s Pools & Spas employs seasoned technicians who are equipped with the latest, high-tech equipment to accurate pinpoint a potential leak in your pool.