Water & Pipe
Pool & External
A practical guide for pool owners to identify leaks vs normal evaporation
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In Australian climates, pools naturally lose water to evaporation. On warm dry days, you might lose 3-4mm. In humid conditions, only 1-2mm. Over a month, this adds up, but it is not a leak.
The bucket test is simple: fill a bucket with pool water, place it on a step, mark the water lines on the bucket and pool wall, wait 24 hours, then compare. If the pool dropped more than the bucket, you are losing water beyond evaporation.
A crack, hole, or structural failure allows water to escape directly from the basin. It is usually visible if you look carefully.
Pipes carrying water from equipment back to the pool are buried. Corrosion or damage causes escape, often indicated by wet ground around equipment.
Loose or corroded connections where jets, returns, and drains connect can weep or spray water outside the pool.
Seals, gaskets, and connections on pumps, filters, or heaters fail and drip or spray water from the equipment.
Return and suction lines are pressurised separately. If pressure drops, that line has a leak.
Coloured dye is released near suspected cracks or fittings. If dye is drawn toward a spot, water is escaping there.
For pressurised return lines, acoustic equipment detects the sound of escaping water and pinpoints the location along the pipe run.
Small cracks can be patched. Larger structural damage may require resurfacing or relining.
Once located, the affected section is excavated and replaced by a pool repair specialist.
Gaskets, seals, and connections are replaced. These are often simpler, lower-cost fixes.
An 8mm daily loss becomes roughly three metres of water over a year. Refilling monthly is expensive, and chemical balance becomes harder as water escapes.
Small cracks widen. Underground leaks erode soil and weaken structure. What costs hundreds to fix early can cost thousands later.
Summer fill-up can hide a leak because hot days increase evaporation. Track weekly and use the bucket test.
Winter water loss is less likely to be evaporation. If the pool drops noticeably in winter, a leak is more likely. Before spring reopening, inspect for cracks or damage developed over winter and check equipment before turning it back on.
If you're confident you have a leak but cannot determine exactly where it is coming from, professional detection can provide clarity. Using methods like pressure testing and acoustic detection, specialists can accurately locate the source of the issue and give your plumber a clear path for repair.
