5 Steps to Diagnose a Pool Leak

Assume it’s a plumbing leak first Pool shells rarely crack and leak on their own. Plumbing connections and old pipes fail far more often.

Confirm you have a leak with the bucket test Fill a bucket with pool water and set it on the first step. Mark the water level inside and outside the bucket, then run the pump normally for 24 hours. If the water outside drops more than inside, you have a leak.

Pressure test the plumbing lines Rent or buy a pressure test kit that screws onto your pump or skimmer lines. Pressurize the system to 30-40 PSI and watch the gauge—if it drops, there is a leak in that line.

Isolate the leak by plugging sections Plug returns or skimmer lines to narrow down which section is leaking. This helps you pinpoint where to dig.

Fix the pipe or call a pro The fix usually means digging up the pipe, cutting out the bad section, and coupling in a new piece. For shell leaks, use a few drops of pool dye (not red—it stains) to find the crack, then patch it or call a professional with leak detection gear.