How to Detect a Leak in Your Pool

How to Detect a Leak in Your Pool

Leak Detection: How To Find a Pool Leak

Your backyard pool is the source of countless hours of summertime fun for the whole family. Whether you use it for entertaining or relaxing, your pool is the center of attention during the warmer months. 

The one thing that can put a damper on your poolside fun is discovering you may have a leak in your pool, which can become a costly issue to solve. Pool leak detection can be a confusing process if you do not know where to start; luckily, there is a simple way to find the leak quickly so you can have it repaired right away.

If you think you may have a leak in your pool, continue to find out how to pinpoint the problem area. And for all your pool maintenance needs, Backyard Pool Specialists has been taking care of pool owners in the Houston area since 1978.

Signs You May Have a Pool Leak

To detect a pool leak, you must first familiarize yourself with the signs of a leaking pool. While water loss is the most common sign, there are other symptoms you can look for to determine if you should continue to the next step. These symptoms include:

  • Cracks or falling tile
  • Water level changes
  • Wet spots in the surrounding yard
  • High water bills
  • Algae growth
  • Water under equipment
  • Air or dirt blowing into the pool

If you notice any of these symptoms occurring around your pool, you may have a leak. When this is the case, your next step is to determine the exact location of the leak.

Test To See If Pool Has a Leak

Before seeing how to fix a pool leak, here is a test to see if the pool may be leaking.

Remember where the water level is in your pool. Take a picture or draw a line. Then fill a bucket with water. After a period of time, see how much the water level went down in the bucket. If the water in the pool went down much more, then it is likely you have a leak in the pool or in the plumbing.

How to Find a Pool Leak

To be sure you have a leak in your pool, you can conduct a simple test that will point you to the breakage area. All you’ll need is some food coloring, preferably red or another dark color, for this test.

First, check the ground and walls around the pool for any wetness. This will indicate where the source of the leak may be. If there is no unusual wetness surrounding your pool, you may be able to determine the direction of the water flow by observing the pool while it is still. While these steps are not necessary, they may help you narrow down the general area of the leak more quickly.

Next, squirt a few drops of your food coloring close to the wall of your pool. Observe to see which direction the dye travels; if the leak is nearby, it will move toward the source quickly. Once you’ve located the leak, you can start the process of getting it repaired.

Although this may seem like a quick and easy fix, it’s not always the case, perhaps you have a large pool, and the leak is not nearby; this task can be very time-consuming.

Calling in the Pros

If you are still reading this, you must see some of the signs that you may have a leak in your pool. It can be pretty frustrating.

So, if you have not solved the leak yourself, it’s time to get it fixed by a professional pool company.

Rather than struggling to repair yourself, call in a trusted pool professional to get the job done right.

Contact BPS The Backyard Pool Specialists today for the best pool maintenance services in the Houston area of Texas and beyond. We will find the leak and fix it quickly so you, your family and guests can be enjoying the pool again.