Is Your Pool Leaking?

Family in swimming pool

Water Savings Tips to...Keep the Splash in Your Pool

In our dry desert climate, a typical swimming pool can lose as much as 25,000 gallons of water to evaporation in one year. Besides evaporation, water can also be lost from the ‘splash out’ and during the backwash process. It's estimated that up to 30% of all pools may have a leak, wasting even more water.

Many pools have an autofill valve, which automatically refills the water, so leaks can go unnoticed. Leaks can happen in both old and new pools for different reasons. Depending on the type of liner your pool has, there might be holes, tears, or cracks that let water escape without being seen, either under the pool or the decking. More often, leaks are caused by plumbing issues or bad seals around fittings.

How to Tell if You Have a Leak

How do you know if your pool is leaking?

  • Water level drops more than would occur through evaporation. 
  • Wet spots occur around the surrounding landscape.
  • Air bubbles rise to the surface. 
  • Chlorine stabilizer is lost too soon after chemical treatment. 
  • Algae formation occurs too soon after chemical treatment.

How Can You Determine if Your Pool is Leaking or It's Just the Normal Loss Due to Evaporation?

  1. Turn off your automatic pool autofill valve if you have one.

  2. Place a bucket of water on the top step of the pool (use a large rock or brick to weigh it down) and fill it with water to the pool’s water level (using a wax or permanent marker, mark the level of water in the bucket and the water level of the pool on the outside of the bucket). After two or three days, compare water levels. If the water level in the pool is lower than the bucket, there is probably a leak in the pool structure or plumbing system.

  3. To further detect the cause, repeat the test with the bucket. First, measure the water loss after 24 hours with the pump running, then measure the water lost again after 24 hours with the pump off. If more water is lost when the pump is running, the plumbing is probably the cause.

If you love tackling projects yourself, take a look at our Find and Fix Leaks guide for tips on areas to check. If you prefer professional assistance, consider reaching out to a leak detection service or pool repair company. Ask if they use advanced leak detection technology, such as sonar, infrared thermography, or ultrasound. Once the leaks are fixed, imagine all the water you’ll save!

Water Evaporation

Have you ever wondered how much water evaporates from a pool each month? Evaporation depends on weather conditions like sunlight intensity, air temperature, wind and humidity. The temperature of the water also plays a role. Because of that, the water volume, shading, and coloration of the pool interior may affect the amount of water that will evaporate.

The chart below estimates how many inches of water are lost and how many gallons disappear from a pool with a 400-square-foot surface area. These estimates are based on average weather conditions here in the Valley.

Note: this chart doesn’t include any water gained from rainfall.

 Month
 Inches of Water Lost
 Gallons of Water Lost
 January 2.6 653
 February
 3.5
 860
 March
 5.4
 1,346
 April
 8.1
 2,015
 May
 9.9
 2,456
 June
 10.8
 2,690
 July
 10.4
 2,586
 August
 9
 2,242
 September
 7.5
 1,872
 October
 5.9
 1,461
 November
 3.6
 895
 December
 2.4
 588
 Totals
 79 in. or 6.5 ft
 19,664

 

Water Saving Tips

Besides fixing leaks, here are some other ways to save water:

  1. Use a Pool Cover: A cover can reduce evaporation, increase safety, and keep summer monsoon dirt out of your pool, which will reduce your backwash frequency.

  2. Consider New Chemical Covers: These create a micro-thin layer on the water’s surface to help reduce evaporation.

  3. Don’t Overfill: Avoid filling your pool too much to prevent water loss from splashing.

  4. Check Pool Fill Valves: A fill valve can get stuck and overfill your pool.

  5. Maintain Chemicals: Proper chemical balance can help you avoid draining the pool often. Most pools don’t need to be drained, so ask a professional before you do. You can also save water by not draining your pool using some of the latest technology, including portable water restoration systems. Search for local companies under “Pool Water Recyclers.” 

  6. Reuse Pool Water: If you need to drain your pool, do not add new chemicals for up to 72 hours, then use the backwash on salt-tolerant landscape plants (oleanders, Bermuda grass, natal plum).  

  7. Backwash Filters Only When Needed: Backwashing more frequently wastes water.

  8. Monitor Backwash: You only need to backwash until the water runs clear.

  9. Choose Repair Companies Wisely: If possible, use pool companies that can do repairs without draining the pool if needed.

  10. Turn Off Water Features: Switch off waterfalls, slides, or other features when you’re not using them.

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