If the water went down a similar amount in the pool as well as the bucket, then you lost water due to evaporation. If it went down more in the skimmer and not much at all in the bucket then you have a pool leaking.
Look closely at the filter, pump, heater, and pipe valves, which is where leaks often tend to occur. If you have a vinyl pool liner, look for tears or separations around the fittings, lights, steps, and corners.
On average, swimming pools lose about a quarter of an inch of water each day, yet variations in wind intensity, humidity and sunlight can drastically change water loss rates. Some of the strongest and most intense wind in the country can be found in mountainous regions.
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.
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.
Pool Losing Water After Heavy Rain
Due to a heavy rainstorm, water loss is more common with vinyl liner pools that can be damaged, come loose, or float to the top. With other types of inground pools, it is vital to get the water level down. If not drained, the water balance will change, causing cloudy water and more.
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.
With proper maintenance and installation, a vinyl pool liner can last 10 or more years. But they are prone to separation and rips, and that can spell trouble for water bills. A small tear in your pool's vinyl lining can result in an inch or more of water loss in 24 hours.
Another reason for a pool to lose water over the winter is due to the harsh elements. Ice, snow, and water can accumulate on top of the pool cover. When too much weight forces the pool cover into the surface of the pool, water may rise up and over the pool sides. This is called displacement.
All pools will lose water throughout the summer for a number of reasons including: Normal Pool Use – normal splashing and playing will account for some amount of water loss as water washes over the edges of your pool. Evaporation – Natural processes cause water to leave your pool daily.
Most pools experience between 3mm - 7mm of water loss each day, depending on where you live.
But did you know there's an easy way to reuse the water that's already in the pool? All you have to do is recycle it! Meet reverse osmosis — the best way to purify your swimming pool water. It works by pushing the existing water through semipermeable membranes that hold off any impurities, particles, and buildup.
Quick answer: You can expect to lose between 2 mm to 2 inches of water in your pool per week due to evaporation, depending on the various factors we'll get into in this article.
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.
Lower Your Water Temperature
As the temperatures drop, the warm water evaporates even faster. In warm water, molecules turn into mist, which evaporates quickly. This process accelerates when the temperature of the pool water is higher than the air's temperature. Cold water is more resistant to evaporation.
Heated pools do result in more evaporation, so more make-up water is required to refill heated pools than unheated pools. Whether using solar heating, heat pumps, or gas heaters, heated pools do require more water.
The most pragmatic advice if you suspect your pool has a leak is to reach out to pool service professionals to fix the leak. Also, with regular service and pool maintenance, you may be able to identify potential leaks or other problems long before they cause damage.
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.
No matter which season you are in, your pool can lose inches of water a week. Natural causes such as wind, heat and humidity can contribute to pool water loss. This is a big deal, because if your water level gets too low it may cause your pool pump to suck air and run dry, which can damage it.
Losing more than ½” of pool water per day indicates you likely have a leak in your pool's structure or your pool pump system. You should call your pool service for a thorough leak inspection. You might not be able to keep up with refilling your pool at this point.
Use swimming pool covers to reduce evaporation!
They can dramatically slow down evaporation, particularly on hot days and cold nights. Studies confirm that covering a pool can reduce evaporation by up to 95%! That's big water savings! A swimming pool cover traps the vapors and the heat from escaping.
Basically, it sends a stream of bubbling water to the surface of the pool, creating a mini fountain effect in the tanning ledge, or any other shallow area where it's installed. You can also install bubblers that have standard or color-changing lights built in.
Evaporation occurs whenever you expose wind or air to the surface of your pool. So in short, this applies to every pool, all the time. Water molecules rise to the surface, form into a vapor and eventually get released into the air.