5 Things to Know About Finding a Pool Leak

Do the bucket test first Fill a bucket with pool water, place it on the top step, and mark the water level inside and outside. Wait 24 hours. If the pool water drops more than the bucket water, you have a leak. If they match, it is just evaporation.

Most leaks are in the liner or plumbing Liner leaks happen at seams, lights, or skimmers. Plumbing leaks usually occur at the pump or filter. A patch kit from the pool store works for liner tears smaller than a few inches.

Skip stop-leak liquids They gum up your filter and rarely fix the problem. For bigger liner tears or plumbing issues, call a pro with a pressure tester or dye.

Check the skimmer if water stops dropping there If the water level stops at the skimmer, the leak is likely there. A new gasket is a cheap, easy fix.

Know the difference between slow and fast leaks A slow leak is annoying but not an emergency. A fast leak means a cracked pipe, and that requires a plumber.