Pool keeps losing water — where should I start looking?

[Jake Roberts]

Hey folks, my pool has been losing water faster than usual this past week. I checked for obvious leaks but don’t see anything around the equipment. Where should I start troubleshooting? Could it be evaporation or something worse?

 

[Mark Davis]

Hey John, some water loss is normal from evaporation, especially if it’s hot and windy, but if it’s more than 1/4 inch per day, you might have a leak. First thing I’d do is the bucket test place a bucket of water on a pool step, mark the levels, and compare after 24 hours. If the pool drops more than the bucket, it’s probably a leak.

 

[John Miller]

Good advice from Mark. If it’s a leak, most common spots are around the skimmer, return jets, or pool lights. Also check your pump seals and filter connections for slow drips. Sometimes the leak is in the liner or plumbing underground, but rule out the simple stuff first before digging deep.

 

[Ryan Brooks]

I had a similar issue last month and it turned out to be a loose fitting at my pump. Tightened it up and the problem stopped. Definitely do the bucket test first though, it’ll tell you if it’s just evaporation or a real leak. Hopefully, it’s something simple like mine was.

 

[Jason Bennett]

I’d also take a close look at your backwash or waste line if you have a sand or DE filter. Sometimes the multiport valve doesn’t seal properly, and water trickles out without being obvious right away.

Another spot people often miss is the autofill system, if you have one, a stuck float can cause constant topping up and make it look like you’re losing more water than you actually are. If you can, turn off the autofill for a few days and see how the water level behaves. That should help you narrow things down before calling in a leak detection company.

 

[Lily Allen]

This happens a lot! I’ve had the same issue, and it turned out to be a loose fitting at the pump. Tightened it up, and the problem stopped! Try the bucket test, it's super simple to check if it’s just evaporation or a real leak.

 

[Grace Hall]

I’d start with the bucket test tonight. If the pool drops more than the bucket, it’s a leak. Then I’d check the pump area and fittings often it’s just a loose connection.