Is My Pool Leaking, or is it Evaporation?

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:

1. Get a 5-gallon bucket.

2. Secure it to a step in your pool. A heavy rock in the bottom of the bucket is often all you need.

3. 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.

4. Leave the bucket in place overnight.

5. 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.

How to Detect a Leak in Your Vinyl Pool

As pool opening season rapidly approaches and you get the cover off your pool, you may notice your water level is down. Don’t immediately panic- inground pools regularly lose water each day to evaporation. Additionally, your pool has been sitting all winter, so some water loss isn’t out of the ordinary. That being said, an excessive drop in your water level can be indicative of a leak.

Leaks must be located and repaired, because they could not only lead to significant water loss in your pool, but also increase water bills and can weaken the structure of the area surrounding your pool. Before deciding how best to repair a leak in an inground pool’s vinyl liner, however, the water loss or leak’s location must be identified and severity assessed.

The first question to answer when you notice water loss is, “How Much Water Loss in a Pool is Normal?” It’s normal for your pool to lose a small amount of water due to evaporation, splashing around each day and if you backwash. Additionally, it is actually common for swimming pools to lose water at night. Even without sunlight, evaporation can still occur, especially if the pool temperature is higher than the air temperature. However, if your pool is losing more than half an inch to an inch of water per day, it may indicate there is an issue.

A relatively easy way to see how much water you have lost is by doing a bucket test.

1. Have your pool filled to its standard level. Using a 5 gallon bucket, fill it 1 inch from the top with pool water.

2. Immerse the bucket in the pool to about 5 inches. Setting it on the first or second step of your pool should suffice.

3. Mark the water level inside the bucket and the water level outside the bucket.

4. Come back in 24 hours to compare the inside water level to the outside water level. If the water level outside the bucket has dropped more than half an inch- you may have a leak. Note: If it rains during the 24 hour waiting period, you will have to re-do for more accurate results.

If, after completing the bucket test, there is still concern about a leak- contact us! We offer a leak detection service. A leak detection is done by a highly-trained technician who can pinpoint leaks using advanced technology.

By determining where the leak is, we can then offer the best possible solution to resolve your leak!