You should suspect a pool leak if you notice extreme changes in your pool’s water level, algae growth, cracking and moving tiles, and wet spots around your pool. Higher water bills, algae growth, equipment corrosion, and air or dirt in your plumbing are also signs of pool leaks.
Pool leaks can be tricky to repair because they can happen anywhere in your pool.
The most common pool leak is in the pool skimmer. Other common pool leak areas are the pool structure, pump, liners, filters, and plumbing.
In this article, find the symptoms of pool leaks and familiarize yourself with which areas are prone to leaks.
What Are the Signs that My Pool is leaking?
Book a pool service inspection immediately if you notice these common symptoms of a pool leak.
1. Water Loss
Extreme drops in water levels are a determining symptom of a pool leak. However, it would help if you ruled out evaporation as high temperatures, wind, and humidity can also cause a rapid evaporation rate.
2. Shifting Landscape Around the Pool
If you notice wet or mushy spots around the pool, your pool may have a plumbing leak. Underground water movement leads to erosion, causing the landscape to shift.
3. Cracking and Moving Tiles
The presence of excess water underground causes tiles to move and crack as the pool sinks into the softened ground.
4. Equipment Corrosion
Standing water around pipes and pumps causes equipment to rust and corrode. This is why routine visual inspection of equipment is needed.
5. Higher Water Bills
You may not notice the changing water levels if your pool has automatic fill devices. You may need to suspect water leaks if your water bills rise suddenly or if your autofill device is constantly running.
6. Algae Growth
Since pool leaks cause drops in water levels, you may be tempted to keep on adding untreated water to the pool.
However, untreated water meddles with the pool’s chemical balance, causing water discoloration and algae growth.
Instead of adding water to the pool, you need to fix the root of the problem: the pool leak.
7. Air or Dirt in the Plumbing
Air or dirt can get caught in a pipe leak. You’ll hear unusual gurgling sounds or dirt entering the pool.
To learn more about knowing if your pool line is leaking, you can check out this blog post here.
What Are the Causes of Pool Leaks?
There are several possible causes for pool leaks. These issues can be classified into five categories:
- Structural damage: Physical cracks and damage to the pool construction material:
- Underground plumbing: Damage to underground plumbing caused by corrosion or soil erosion.
- Mechanical issues: Leaks caused by faulty equipment, such as the pool skimmer, pump, or filter.
- Broken pipes: Damage to the main drain, return pipes, skimmer pipe, and equalizer lines are common causes of pool leaks.
- Damaged or loose fittings: Unsecure or damaged pipe joints commonly cause pool leaks.
What Areas Have the Most Pool Leaks?
1. Pool Skimmer
The most common pool leak area is the pool skimmer.
The skimmer is key in keeping your pool surface clear of debris, such as branches, insects, leaves, pollen, and bugs.
The most common way of installing skimmers is by “pegging” or drilling holes in the concrete wall. However, this installation method usually results in a cold joint between the concrete and gunite, forming cracks in the pool.
You can read this blog post here to learn more about where pool skimmer usually leaks.
2. Pool Pump
The pool pump is responsible for drawing water through the skimmer and the drains. It also allows chemicals to circulate evenly throughout the pool.
If the pump malfunctions, it can cause chemical imbalance and damage to the pool filter. These issues can lead to a pool leak when ignored.
3. Pool Liners
Pool liners cover the floor and wall of the pool, serving as the protective shell that retains water.
Improper pool liner maintenance causes pool leaks that decrease its usual lifespan of 8 to 20 years.
4. Pool Filters
The pool pump pushes water to reach the filter, which catches dirt and debris to keep the water crystal clear. Regular cleaning is needed to prevent pool filter leaks and damage.
5. Structural Leak
Structural leaks are damages to pool construction material. Erosion and landscape movement can cause the concrete pool structure to stretch and crack.
Water entering cracks in the pool structure can cause soil erosion underneath and around the pool structure. This leads to extreme damage that’s expensive to repair.
6. Underground Plumbing
Underground plumbing damage is one of the most complicated and expensive pool leaks. Since underground pipes are hidden, it usually takes a long time for homeowners to detect the issue.
When detected later, it can cause water bills to soar and damage your pool’s tiles or structure.
Please include attribution to https://sarasotapoolleakdetection.com with this graphic.
Finding Pool Leaks
Locating pool leaks is complicated, and it usually requires professional assistance. Dye testing can help pool owners to confirm suspected leak locations.
Take a look at this video to get an idea of effective dye testing methods:
Now, it’s time to apply what you’ve learned in the previous section.
While your pool equipment is turned off, apply the dye test around the most common pool leak areas, including pool skimmers, liners, filters, and structural cracks.
Pool Problems in Sarasota, Florida?
Pool leaks are complicated to detect. To prevent further damage to your pool, you will need the help of expert pool contractors and inspectors.
If you suspect damage to your pool, call (561)-570-1269 now, and we will schedule a pool repair and renovation company in your area to reach out to you. They will schedule a time convenient for you to stop by and give you a bid on the repairs.
Or you can fill out this form, and we will have the best pool renovation company in your area contact you!
In case you can not view this video here, please click the link below to view Where Is the Most Common Pool Leak? on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayuUJHMKN1Y