4 Clues for Detecting a Pool Leak

When pool season starts, it’s common for customers to notice signs of a leak in their swimming pool or liner. This can be caused by the ground freezing and thawing over the winter, which shifts the concrete pools and the surrounding land.

While modern swimming pools are efficient, leaks can cause landscaping damage, wasted water, and higher water bills. To avoid these issues, it’s important to detect leaks as soon as possible. Look out for these 4 clues:

1. Wet spots in the surrounding lawn, even if they aren’t near the pool.
2. Inconsistent pool chemistry despite accurate measurements.
3. Sunken or eroded areas around the pool.
4. A squishy vinyl liner caused by leaks that turn the sand base under the liner into mud.

A pool’s water level can be influenced by various environmental factors such as temperature, wind, humidity, and rainfall. However, if you observe a consistent drop of more than two inches per week (equivalent to about 1/4 inch daily), it is highly likely that the pool has a leak.

In case of suspecting a leak, it is recommended to mark the water level of the pool and monitor the water loss over a 24-hour period. The experiment should be conducted twice, once with the pump on and once with the pump off. This method helps to determine the potential source of the leak, which could be due to a variety of factors such as plumbing, fittings, or vinyl liners.

To locate a leak, you can perform the Dye Test by adding a small amount of visibly coloured water (non-toxic food colouring is sufficient) as close as possible to the suspected leak. If there is a leak, the colouring will be drawn into the water and outside the pool, indicating the location of the leak. This is a useful technique for finding elusive leaks and is frequently utilized by Bremner Pools’ diver and pool technicians.

If you suspect your pool has a leak, don’t hesitate to act. Contact us today and let our team of experts help you locate and repair the leak. With our specialized tools and expertise, we can quickly diagnose the issue and provide a solution that fits your needs.