Did you know that swimming pools often experience water loss during the fall and winter? It's true. Your pool still needs proper care and maintenance during the fall and winter months.
An uncovered pool will lose water in the winter to evaporation in the same way it does during the summer. But the water loss is only about a quarter-inch on average during a 24-hour period when the pool is not in use. An uncovered or covered pool can have problems in the plumbing lines or pump.
It is quite common for a pool to lose water over the winter. There are several reasons why a pool could lose hundreds of gallons of water gradually over the colder seasons. If the pool water continues to gradually decrease, the first and most common reason may be a small hole or tear in the pool liner.
Pools lose water gradually, so water-loss can often be left undetected until it escalates into a serious problem. It's natural for pools to lose water due to evaporation, varying in speed depending on the humidity, temperature, wind conditions, use of pool heater, or the rate of use of the pool.
An easy way to determine if you have a pool leak or evaporation issues is to do a bucket test. Simply fill a 5 gallon bucket about 3 inches from the top of the bucket and place it next to the pool. With electrical tape or another easily removable tape mark the water line on the pool and the bucket.
You can do the “bucket test” on your pool to measure evaporation. Place a bucket of water beside the pool and mark both the water in the bucket and the pool water level. Wait 24 hours then check the loss of both. If the pool loses more water than the bucket, then you have a leak.
Standing outside of the pool, inspect the pool's bottom all the way around. Most above ground pools are set on top of the earth, and when there is a leak in the vinyl, the leaked water travels through the earth and leaves noticeable valleys or divots where it was once flat.
Pool Collapse – An above ground pool collapse is often caused by the results of ice damage, but it can also happen when there is too much snow accumulated on top of the pool and the frame cannot handle the weight.
How often should I have to fill my pool? This will vary depending upon several factors including: weather, if the pool is covered or not, bather load, and if it is heated or not. With pools that are covered, a good rule of thumb is that they should not have to be refilled more often than once every 2 weeks.
Above ground pools use Air Pillows to keep the ice sheet from freezing completely solid across the pool.
Mild climate pools often freeze across the surface overnight. However, if the ice sheet becomes thicker than ¼” to ½”, it will put pressure on your pool tile and skimmers as the ice expands. Most pool tile is frost-free, but you should keep the water under the perimeter pool tile band to be safe.
Most pools experience between 3mm - 7mm of water loss each day, depending on where you live.
During the cooler months of the year, it's common for pools to experience water loss. If your pool's water level is looking low, this may be why. Water evaporation occurs year-round, no matter what season it is. However, it can be intensified by the elements in colder seasons, like fall and winter.
Typically, pools lose water for one of two reasons: Evaporation or a leak. Evaporation naturally occurs in any body of water, but it may increase under certain conditions, such as hot, humid weather. Leaks, however, indicate a bigger problem that a professional may need to address.
2018. A high-quality above ground pool from Valley Pool & Spa should last between 10 and 20 years depending on how well you care for it. However, your pool liner will not last as long as your pool. Contact a pool expert at our store to see if you need a new liner before you decide to replace your entire pool.
Generally, pool water needs to be replaced once every five to seven years. This should be done during mild weather so that your pool surface is not at risk from strong sunlight and heat. Your pool maintenance company can recommend when it is time to drain your pool.
Fortunately, above-ground swimming pools are significantly more safe than in-ground swimming pools. With this, there is a minimized risk of young children falling into the pool and finding themselves in a dangerous situation.
Add a couple drops of red food coloring. When the water quiets, place a drop or two of colored water into the pool. Start near the steps and work your way around the pool. Water follows the path of least resistance, so if there's a leak, you will see the colored water leaving the pool as it flows out of the leak.
Feel around the pool liner until you find a spot that's softer or squishes to the touch, which can indicate a leak. Put a few drops of coloring into the pool near the suspected spot. Coloring should mix with the water and let owners see how it flows. If it flows directly into the liner walls, you have found your leak.
If your pool lost water overnight and it is more than the quarter-inch due to evaporation, you probably have a leak. Evaporation accounts for a minor amount of water lost each day. Losing a half-inch or more overnight indicates a problem.
When humidity is low in the winter, the air and water try to balance out the differences. This means that even when the weather is cold, moisture is drawn out of your pool into the less humid air. Low humidity equals high evaporation that takes water out of your pool.