How to verify if you have a leak in your pool or spa? “24-Hour Test method”
Are you worried about a possible leak in your pool but unsure how to confirm it?
Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!
In this article, I’ll guide you through a few simple tests to help you figure out if your pool is losing water.
Finding and addressing a leak quickly is crucial to prevent damage to your pool, equipment, and avoid wasting water and chemicals, which can also save you money on your water bills.
Ready to get started? Here are some tips on how to determine if your pool or spa has a leak and where to look for it.
First, keep an eye on the water level in your pool or spa and measure any drop in water daily.
If you have an attached spa or catch basin, or if you have multiple bodies of water, make sure to mark and measure the water loss in each one.
Before marking the water level, it is crucial to ensure that there is no water movement in the pool or spa. To do this, turn off the equipment and allow the water to settle for 5 minutes.
Then, use tape or a marker to indicate the water level. You can place the tape in the skimmer box area or inside the skimmer box, or anywhere that is convenient and easily visible for you.
To properly assess your pool for potential leaks, it is important to conduct two sets of measurements for minimun of 24hrs: one with the pump off and another with the pump on.
When performing the pump-off test, ensure that there are no timers set on your pump system and that it remains inactive throughout the test.
For a more accurate evaluation, consider using rubber or threaded plugs to seal off all your lines, including suction and return lines.
This will help identify any leaks in either the pool’s structure or the lines themselves.
Keep in mind that there could be multiple leaks, so thorough inspection is necessary.
For example, you might have a pressure leak on one of your pipelines and a hole in your vinyl liner or pool light. That means that you might observe a larger amount of water loss with the pump running and you still can see a water loss when the pipes are plugged.
After you plug the lines and keep the equipment off, record your measurements for 24rs.
If there is a very small amount of water loss, I would recommend you to test it for another 24 hrs period.
Also try to avoid testing when weather is too hot in order to avoid evaporation loss.
If you have to test it in very hot conditions then I would recommend to perform the test when the sun settles down until rises again so you can eliminate any evaporation time.
The next test requires removing the plugs and running your pool equipment for another 24 hrs.
If you are losing water only when the equipment is running then it is more likely the leak is located in the pipelines.
Record your measurements and provide the results to a pool leak expert.
So basically these tests will help you to determine if you have to look for a leak diver or an underground leak detector.
I mention this because not all leak detectors, dive or can pinpoint the exact location of an underground leak.
So make sure that you ask your potential leak detector if he or she can provide both services.
These tests will verify if you are dealing with a leak but will not tell you where the leak is located.
In order to find the exact location of a leak underground or in the body of the pool or spa requires tools, skills and knowledge that only a pool leak expert can provide to you.
Check out our video on how we locate any underground leak here.
After you gather your measurements and verify that your pool is losing water more than the normal rate, call a professional pool leak detection service.
They can use specialized equipment to pinpoint the exact location of the leak and stop any further damage.
And if you are in New York, New Jersey Connecticut, or Pennsylvania then Pool Leak Detection LLC will be your best choice!
If you want to learn more about leaks or the best products for your pool or spa, like “How to properly dye test” or “How to choose the right vacuum robot” for your pool, check out our website or youtube channel and I promise you to find valuable information for your pool or spa challenge.
Oury mission is to keep your pool, its users and your pocket as safe as possible.
Stay Safe and Take Care!
