Pool Leak Detection — North Palm Beach, FL

Pool Keeps Needing Water

A pool that needs water once in a while is not automatically leaking. A pool that needs water on a steady rhythm
should be measured. Mark the waterline on the tile or skimmer face, take a photo, and check it again about
24 hours later.

That gives you a real number instead of a feeling. Half an inch during windy weather is a different situation
than a repeated inch or more per day.

• Write down the inches lost in about 24 hours.
• Note whether the pump was running normally, off, or on a changed schedule.
• Record rain, heater use, splash-out, backwashing, or overflow events.
• Turn off autofill during testing if you can do so safely.

Evaporation vs. Leak Behavior in North Palm Beach

North Palm Beach pools can lose water from wind, sun, heaters, water features, and coastal exposure. That is why
the bucket test matters. It compares pool loss to a bucket of water sitting through the same weather.

If the pool and bucket drop about the same amount, evaporation is more likely. If the pool drops more than the
bucket, the pool is losing water beyond normal evaporation.

Water Loss That Changes When the Pump Runs

If the pool loses more water while the pump is running, the leak may be tied to pressure-side plumbing,
return lines, equipment fittings, heater plumbing, a cleaner line, or a water feature. Those leaks may look quiet
when the system is off and become obvious during pump runtime.

If the pool keeps dropping with the pump off, look more closely at the shell, skimmer throat, light niche,
tile line, return fittings, steps, or cracks near the waterline.

• Compare one test window with the pump running and another with the pump off if safe.
• Check the equipment pad while the system is under pressure.
• Watch for wet soil between the pad and pool returns.
• Note whether a heater, cleaner line, spa spillover, or water feature was running.

Related: Pool leaks when pump is running

Wet Equipment Pad or Plumbing Area

A damp pad is one of the easiest leak clues to overlook. Small drips around unions, valves, filter drains,
pump lids, heaters, chlorinators, and return-side fittings can add up over a full pump cycle.

Look while the pump is running and again shortly after it shuts off. Some leaks only show under pressure. Others
appear as the system relaxes.

Skimmer, Light, Return, or Tile-Line Clues

If the pool drops and then stops at the same height, that level is important. North Palm Beach pools with older
skimmers, light niches, tile-line wear, or return fittings may show the leak right at the waterline band.

Save a photo before refilling if it is safe to observe. The stop level can narrow the search faster than almost
any other homeowner clue.

• Skimmer-level stop may point toward the skimmer throat or faceplate area.
• Light-level stop may point toward the light niche or conduit.
• Return-level stop may point toward a fitting or nearby plumbing.
• Tile-line stop may point toward grout, shell movement, or a waterline crack.

Bubbles, Air, or Losing Prime

Bubbles at the returns, a pump basket that will not stay full, gurgling, or repeated prime loss usually points
toward air entering the suction side. That may be a pump lid o-ring, low water level, skimmer issue, drain plug,
union, valve, or suction-side plumbing concern.

Air symptoms do not always mean the pool is losing water, but when air symptoms appear alongside confirmed water
loss, the pattern deserves a closer look.

Related: Suction-side leak symptoms