Pool Leak Test
Quick equipment check
Bucket test
Fill a bucket with pool water and place it on a pool step. Mark the water level inside the bucket and the pool level outside it. Leave the autofill off. After about 24 hours, measure both drops.
Weather affects evaporation. A bucket test compares the pool against evaporation under similar conditions.
What to inspect next
Pool leak troubleshooting
Unexpected water loss can come from evaporation, equipment leaks, plumbing, skimmers, returns, lights, drains, cracks, or liner damage. The useful question is not just “is it leaking?” but “what evidence changes when the circulation system changes?”
Common clues
Water loss increases with the pump on: inspect visible equipment first; pressure-side plumbing is one possibility.
Water loss increases with the pump off: suction-side or static plumbing/fitting problems may deserve investigation.
Water stops dropping at one elevation: inspect fittings, skimmers, lights, cracks, and penetrations near that waterline.
Visible wet equipment: repair or isolate that leak before assuming there is a second hidden leak.
Pool leak test FAQ
How much pool water loss is normal?
Evaporation varies substantially with heat, humidity, wind, water temperature, exposure, and pool use. Compare your pool with a bucket test rather than relying on one universal number.
How does the bucket test find a pool leak?
The bucket and pool experience similar weather. If the pool level falls materially farther than the water inside the bucket, water is leaving the pool beyond ordinary evaporation.
Can this tell me exactly where a leak is?
No. It is a screening and troubleshooting tool. Locating concealed plumbing and structural leaks can require pressure testing, acoustic equipment, dye testing, or other professional methods.
Need a professional?
We're building a network of pool leak specialists. Lead matching is coming next. For now, save your test result and give it to your leak-detection professional—it gives them a better starting point.