The Ole Bucket test

(this is also used to check evaporation of pool)

1. Bring the pool water to its normal level

2. Fill an empty bucket with pool water to about one inch from the top of bucket. (By filling the bucket close to the top you are ensuring that air movement over the surface of the bucket will similar to that of the pool.)

3. Place the bucket on the first or second step of the pool. To keep it from floating away it may be necessary to place a few bricks or rocks into the bucket. (By placing the bucket in the pool water you are ensuring that the water temperature of each will be similar).

4. Mark the water level inside the bucket.

5. Mark the water level of the pool on the outside of the bucket, on the pool wall, or skimmer face plate.

6. Operate the pool for 24 hours as it had been operated when a leak was first suspected.

7. After 24 hours, compare the two levels. If the pool water (outside mark) goes down more than the inside water level, there is probably a leak.  If they are equal, it is evaporation.

* JOE'S 24 HOUR LEAK TEST *

1 - Over-fill pool, mark the water line on the skimmer faceplate

2 - Turn ON the pump for exactly 12 hours, then mark the skimmer faceplate

3 - Leave the pump OFF for exactly 12 hours, mark the skimmer faceplate

4 - Measure the distance from the top line to the middle line and also measure from the middle line to the bottom line. Document the measurements. (use a tape measure)

5 - The top line to the middle line is when your pump was on, the middle line to bottom line was when the pump was off.

6 - If you loose more water when the pump is running, it may be a broken return line or you may be loosing water out your backwash line. / If you loose water while the pump is off, it may be a broken suction (main drain or skimmer line) / If the water loss is the same when the pump is on or off, it will be a leak in the actual pool. (liner, light, faceplates, steps).

Many liner tears are near the corner pockets, ladder area, step area or the first two feet of the slope.

Although these tests are prone to false results because of varying environmental conditions during the tests, the information they provide can at least establish suspect locations to begin your leak search. Giving this information to a leak professional will help them to efficiently solve your pool leak problem.

We hope these tips helped you in determining where your leak is located....