What to Expect During a Professional Pool Leak Detection Visit

1. Quick Takeaways Before You Book

Before we get into the details, here’s the big picture of what a leak detection visit usually looks like.

• Most visits take about 60–120 minutes, depending on how tricky the leak is.
• The tech will test your plumbing, shell, and equipment in a set order so nothing gets missed.
• You should get a clear explanation of what they found and what repairs are needed (if any).

Once you know that it’s a structured process—not a mystery—it’s a lot easier to feel calm when the truck pulls up.

2. Before the Tech Arrives: How to Get Ready

A few minutes of prep on your end can save time on site and help the tech get better results.

• Make sure the water is at normal operating level (around the middle of the skimmer).
• Clear toys, floats, and covers so the surface, tile line, and fittings are easy to see.
• Unlock gates and make sure the equipment pad is easy to access.
• Have your story ready:
  • Rough idea of how many inches per day you’re losing.
  • Whether loss changes when the pump is on vs. off.
  • Anything you’ve already tried (marking the waterline, watching the autofill, checking equipment, etc.).

Pro tip: If you have an autofill, try turning it off before the visit. Autofills can quietly
hide leaks by constantly topping the pool off.

➜ If you haven’t done any measurements yet, start with:

How to Do the Pool Leak Bucket Test
.

3. Stage 1 – Equipment & Visual Check

Most pros start with a quick walkaround and a look at the equipment. This helps them spot obvious problems
and decide which tests to run first.

• At the equipment pad: wet areas, soft soil that never dries, drips from pump lids, unions,
  filters, heaters, or valves, and a backwash/waste line that’s damp when it shouldn’t be.
• System behavior: loud pumps, air in the system, odd noises when the pump starts or stops.
• Around the pool: visible cracks at skimmers, loose fittings, or suspicious staining near returns and lights.

This quick visual pass doesn’t usually take long, but it gives the tech a roadmap for the rest of the visit.

4. Stage 2 – Pressure Testing the Plumbing

To find hidden underground leaks, leak detection companies use pressure tests on the plumbing lines.

• Each line (skimmer, main drain, returns, cleaner line, etc.) is plugged at the pool.
• The tech uses a pressure rig to pump air and/or water into the line.
• If the pressure drops, that line is losing water somewhere along the run.

Many companies also use electronic listening equipment during pressure tests. The sound of
air and water escaping through a crack is surprisingly loud through their headphones, which lets them mark
the likely leak spot for repair.

Pressure testing can look intense from the outside, but it’s standard practice and one of the best tools for
finding plumbing leaks without digging up the entire yard.

5. Stage 3 & 4 – Dye Testing the Shell, Spa, and Features

Once plumbing has been cleared (or documented), attention usually shifts to the pool shell, spa, and any
extra features.

Checking the pool shell with dye

• Cracks around the skimmer, main drain, returns, lights, and steps.
• Separation between tile and coping or plaster and fittings.
• Structural cracks in plaster or around plastic pieces in the wall.

The tech uses a small squeeze bottle with dye, releasing it near suspect areas. If there’s a leak, the dye
gets pulled directly into the crack or gap, which makes it easy to see.

Testing spas, waterfalls, and other features

• Lines feeding water features are pressure-tested like the main pool plumbing.
• Spillways and raised walls are checked for hairline cracks and failed joints.
• Deck jets and bubblers are inspected for loose fittings and leaks around the base.

Features and attached spas add more plumbing and more possible leak points, so don’t be surprised if this
part takes a little extra time.

6. Time on Site – How Long Does Leak Detection Take?

For most residential pools, you should plan on about 1–2 hours for a full leak detection visit.

• Simple setups: one pool, basic plumbing, no spa or features – usually on the shorter side
  if the leak is easy to track down.
• More complex setups: large pools, attached spas, multiple returns/cleaner lines, and
  waterfalls can take longer.
• Hard-to-find leaks: very small or intermittent leaks may require extra testing or
  re-checking certain lines.

A good company will move efficiently, but they shouldn’t rush. The whole point is to find the leak and give
you answers you can trust.

7. Results, Next Steps, and When to Call

At the end of the visit, the tech should walk you through everything they found in plain English. This is
where you finally get clarity on what’s going on with your pool.

Expect them to cover things like:

• Whether they confirmed a leak or your water loss looks like normal evaporation.
• Which area is leaking (plumbing, shell, equipment, features, or a combination).
• How urgent the repair is and what could happen if you delay it.
• Ballpark pricing or a written quote for the repairs they recommend.

It’s always okay to ask questions. A solid leak company wants you to understand what they found and why
they’re suggesting certain repairs.

When is it worth calling a leak company?

In general, it’s smart to call in a pro if:

• You’re losing more than about 1/4–1/2 inch per day in reasonable weather.
• You see soggy spots, constant damp soil, or unusual settling around the pool.
• You’re constantly adding water or your autofill runs all the time.

Catching leaks early can prevent bigger, more expensive damage to decks, foundations, and landscaping. Once
you’ve been through a professional leak detection visit one time, you’ll know exactly what to expect if you
ever need another one in the future.