Pool Leak Detection and Repair
Topping off the pool every few days is a sign, not a habit. Get matched with an independent local pro who can find where the water is going and stop it.
Free matching with independent local pool pros across Florida.
Why leaks are worth finding early
A slow leak costs more than water. Every refill dilutes your chemistry, so balancing gets harder. Water escaping under the deck can wash out soil and lead to settling or cracks. And a leak on the suction side can pull air into the pump and wear it out.
Pool leak detection is a methodical search: rule out evaporation, figure out whether the loss is in the plumbing or the pool shell, then narrow it to one spot. Once found, the leak can be repaired, often without draining the pool.
Is it a leak or evaporation? Try the bucket test
This is the standard first step, and it gives the pro useful information before they arrive.
Fill a bucket with pool water
Set it on the first or second pool step so the water inside is at about the same level as the pool water outside.
Mark both levels
Mark the water line inside the bucket, and mark the pool water level on the outside of the bucket or on the tile.
Run the pool normally for a day
Keep your usual pump schedule and do not add water. Avoid testing through a rainstorm.
Compare the drop
If the pool dropped noticeably more than the bucket, you likely have a leak. Repeat with the pump off to help show whether the leak is in the plumbing.
Where pool leaks usually hide
Leaks tend to show up where two materials meet or where water moves under pressure.
Underground plumbing
Cracked suction or return lines, often worse when the pump runs. See pool plumbing repair.
Skimmer throat
The joint between the plastic skimmer and the concrete shell is a very common leak point.
Light niche
The conduit and seal behind the pool light can let water escape. See pool light repair.
Returns and main drain
Fittings in the wall and floor can loosen or crack over time.
Shell cracks and tile line
Structural cracks or gaps behind loose tile. See tile replacement.
Equipment pad
Pump seals, filter tanks, valves and unions. These drips are visible, so check here first.
How pros usually find a leak
Methods vary by pro, but a typical search includes:
- Visual inspection of the equipment, deck, tile line and fittings.
- Dye testing near suspected spots to see where water is being drawn out.
- Pressure testing of each plumbing line to find which one will not hold.
- Electronic listening equipment to pinpoint leaks in buried pipe.
Ask the pro which methods they use and whether the leak repair is quoted separately from the detection.
Other signs to mention in your request
- The auto-fill seems to run all the time
- Wet, soggy or sunken spots in the yard or near the equipment
- Cracks in the deck or pool surface, or tiles coming loose
- Air bubbles coming from the return jets
- Algae returning quickly after treatment, because fresh water keeps diluting chlorine
- A water bill that keeps climbing
Include the bucket test result, how many inches the pool loses per day or week, and whether the loss changes with the pump on or off.
What affects the cost of leak detection and repair
Every leak is different, so we do not publish prices. The biggest factors are the size of the pool, the number of plumbing lines, the tools the search needs, how easy the leak is to reach, and what the repair involves once it is found. A fitting repaired underwater is a very different job from digging up a deck to replace buried pipe. Before work begins, confirm that the pro you hire holds the Florida license your job requires.
Pool leak questions
How do I find pool leak detection near me?
Send a request with your city and what you have noticed, such as how fast the level drops and whether it drops more with the pump running. Dominion Pool Pros passes it to an independent local pro who does leak detection in your area.
How much does pool leak detection cost?
It depends on the pool and the search. Pool size, the number of lines to pressure test, whether a diver or special equipment is needed, and access to the equipment pad all matter. Finding the leak and repairing it are often quoted separately. Ask the pro to explain both.
How much water loss is normal for a Florida pool?
Some loss to evaporation is normal and is higher on hot, sunny, windy days. The problem is that evaporation is hard to judge by eye, which is why the bucket test is useful. It compares the pool against a bucket exposed to the same weather.
Can a pool leak be fixed without draining the pool?
Many can. Leaks at fittings, light niches, skimmers and small cracks are often repaired underwater with specialty putty or by working on the plumbing from outside the pool. Larger structural repairs sometimes need the water lowered. The pro will explain after the leak is found.
Does a leak mean I need to resurface?
Not usually. Most leaks are in plumbing, fittings or equipment. A leak through a cracked or failing surface may be part of a larger repair, in which case a pro may discuss pool resurfacing.
Related repairs
- Pool Plumbing and Valve RepairConnect with a local pro for cracked pipes, stuck or leaking valves, air in the lines and weak return flow.
- Pool Light Repair and LED UpgradesGet matched with a local pro for pool lights that flicker, fill with water or quit, and for switching older bulbs to LED fixtures.
- Pool ResurfacingConnect with a local pro to replace rough, stained or cracking plaster with a new plaster, quartz or pebble finish.
- Pool Tile ReplacementConnect with a local pro to replace loose, cracked or dated waterline tile, often alongside resurfacing or coping work.
Request leak detection in these Florida areas
Requests are matched with independent pros in six Florida metro areas. Availability depends on local pro coverage.
Losing water?
Share your bucket test result and your city. We will pass your request to an independent local pro who does leak detection.
Dominion Pool Pros is a free referral service. We connect Florida homeowners with independent local pool professionals and do not perform any pool or spa work ourselves.