A pool that needs topping up every few days might just be evaporating — or it might be quietly leaking hundreds of litres into the ground. Here is how to tell, and how leaks are found without draining the whole thing.
The bucket test (free, definitive)
Fill a bucket with pool water and stand it on a pool step so it floats partly submerged. Mark the water level inside the bucket and the pool level outside. Switch the pump off and wait 24–48 hours. Both drop a little from evaporation — but if the pool drops more than the bucket, you have a leak.
Where pool leaks hide
- The pipework to and from the pump and filter (most common)
- The skimmer and its connections
- The main drain
- Light fittings and conduit
- Cracks in the shell or around fittings
Finding it without draining
Pressure-testing the pool plumbing and using leak-detection equipment can isolate the loss while the pool stays full. Only structural repairs may need the water lowered to the affected area.
Why fix it promptly
On a metered supply, a pool leak wastes water and chemicals continuously — and the escaping water can undermine surrounding soil and paving. Early detection is far cheaper than the damage a long leak causes. (Pool pump tripping instead? See pool pump faults.) Book pool leak detection.