Leak testing your swimming pool!

One of the first steps to find out if you have a leaking pool is to try a bucket test, this is to measure the evaporation levels surrounding your swimming pool.

Start by filling the swimming pool to it's normal operating level.

Step 1. Place a bucket full of pool water on one of the step's located in the swimming pool, so as to have similar water temperatures contained within the bucket.

Step 2. Mark the outside of the bucket where the swimming pool water level rests.

Step 3. Mark the inside of the bucket where the water level rests.

Step 4. Leave for 24 hrs or a shorter period of time and measure the two levels. Compare the two levels to identify if you have a leaking pool or if it's just evaporation!

Result if the water level in the pool goes down more than the bucket, the swimming pool is leaking. If the two levels are the same, evaporation and if the bucket goes down more, probably a thirsty dog.

Next if you have confirmed that you have a leak, you can now try to locate to which part of the swimming pool system may be leaking by using a similar system as above.

Steps 1,2,3 are the same but now we need to try and find if there is a difference to the two levels whether the filtration system is running or if turned off. This can be done by taking the two measurements over two identical time limits. So you could try this test over say a period of 10 hrs or can retry over a longer period if it's a smaller leak!

Step 4 Reset the water level to the operating height. Run the system for a period of time, 10hr's. Then after the time expires take a measurement of the two levels on the bucket, record this!

Step 5 Reset the water level to the operating height. Turn off for the same period of time 10hr's. Then again after the time expires take a measurement of the two levels on the bucket.

Now by comparing the two results of this test it will tell us one of actually three things that could be going on, but first subtract the evaporation component of the two tests. Just in case the evaporation was different while conducting the tests.

Example. Pump running 10 hrs, Inside bucket level down 15mm and outside bucket level 55mm.

55mm-15mm is 40mm water loss while system running.

Pump turn off 10 hrs, Inside bucket level down 22mm and outside bucket level 24mm.

24mm-22mm is 2mm water loss while system off.

Now If the two water level losses appear to be the same regardless if the filtration system is running or not then it's probably a static leak located with the swimming pool it's self.

If the water loss appears to increase when the filtration system is turned on then the leak is probably located with in the pressure pipes that deliver the water back to the pool.

If the water loss appears to stop or slow down when the system is running then it could be located within the suction line as it operates under a vacuum.

By conducting this test accurately when dealing with a swimming pool leak person can enhance the outcome by directing them to cause of the leak saving time and money.