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.
The differential that occurs between the pool water temperature and the air temperature on late summer nights causes water to evaporate at an accelerated rate. In some cases you might see a water level difference of 1-3 inches overnight. Depending on the size of your pool, that can be over 500 gallons of water loss!
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.
Rule of thumb is if you are losing more than one-quarter of an inch a day in a humid environment or one-half an inch a day in a dry environment- you should check if your pool is leaking.
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.
Pool Is Losing Water When the Pump Is Off
If you've turned off your pump system for a day and the pool level is dropping more than 1/4–1/2” per day, you might have a pool leak. The leak is likely somewhere in the structure of the pool or on the suction side of the pool pumping system.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Most pools experience between 3mm - 7mm of water loss each day, depending on where you live.
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.
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.
Over time your swimming pool water will grow in total dissolved solids. Total dissolved solids are all the organic and inorganic substances in your pool water that remain locked in suspension in the water. Some of these can be filtered with coagulant chemicals, but many cannot and over time they build up.
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate is naturally alkaline, with a pH of 8. When you add baking soda to your pool water, you will raise both the pH and the alkalinity, improving stability and clarity. Many commercial pool products for raising alkalinity utilize baking soda as their main active ingredient.
Every pool must turn over at least once a day, so most pool pumps should run approximately 8 hours a day. But here's the thing: you don't have to run your pool pump consecutively. You can choose to run it for three hours in the morning before you leave for work and another 5 hours in the evening.
How Quickly Does It Evaporate? For evaporation, anywhere between 2 millimeters to 2 inches per week is about what you should expect in terms of pool water loss.
During the fall and winter months we also see a massive decrease in humidity and extreme cold fronts that can produce heavy winds. All these factors play a role in evaporation rate of loss. The best DIY way to determine if your pool is in fact leaking is to conduct a bucket test.
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.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO MINIMIZE WATER LOSS
The number-one way to combat evaporation is with a pool cover. It's estimated that a pool cover will reduce evaporation by 95 percent. Solar covers can heat your pool in the off-season, too. A pool cover reduces the pool's chemical consumption and reduces your cleaning time.