Most pool leaks are not in the underground plumbing, although it's every pool owner's worst fear, a large backhoe coming in and ripping up the pool deck. It does happen occasionally, that a leak occurs at a pipe connector under the pool deck, or beneath the skimmer, but repair rarely involves a backhoe.
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.
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.
In-ground gunite pools can develop cracks where the plastic skimmer meets the pool's concrete wall. The likelihood of this happening depends on how the skimmers were installed. The first method is the most leak-proof. It involves placing the skimmers into the steel frame that comprises the pool wall.
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.
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.
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.
Pool Is Losing 1 Inch of Water Per Day
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.
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.
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.
The Optimum water level is between 1/3 - 2/3's of the way up your Skimmer box . Any lower then 1/3 above the bottom of your skimmer is too low and needs topping up immediately . Normally pools will see ¼ – ½ inch loss of water per day due to evaporation. This is roughly 2 – 4 inches per week.
For homeowners, the best recommendation is to drain and refill your swimming pool every two to three years. A number of factors will influence how often you should change the pool water.
Leak Detection Price for Inground Pools
Expect to pay $100 to $500 for pool leak detection services. Professionals might include minor patch jobs in the detection price.
The average pool water evaporation rate is about a quarter of an inch of water per day or more than two inches in a week, which on a 33′ x 18′ swimming pool (an average pool size) is more than 2500 liters or approximately 600 gallons a week; this may vary depending on your climate and the factors listed above.
The average swimming pool takes 18,000-20,000 gallons of water to fill. This will cost you an average of $80.00-$100.00 on your water bill (Austin). Pools do not need to be refilled very often.
If you're filling your pool with well water, make sure that your well has the capacity to do so. You'll also want to ensure that your well equipment is up to speed; test the well water before adding it to your pool. It can contain excess minerals that might make balancing your pool water difficult.
When the weather is consistently around 70 degrees during the day, it may be time to open the pool. Leaving your winter cover on during those hotter days lets daylight through the cover. Exposing the water to the sunlight will cause algae to start to form under the winter cover.
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.
For evaporation, anywhere between 2 millimeters to 2 inches per week is about what you should expect in terms of pool water loss.
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.
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.