The 24-Hour Bucket Test: Is Your Pool Losing Water to Evaporation or a Leak?

Losing water in your pool? Before you panic or call a pro, try this simple 24-hour bucket test. It takes 5 minutes to set up and tells you if the loss is normal evaporation (wind, sun, humidity) or a real leak. Here's how to do it right.

What You’ll Need:

• A standard 5-gallon plastic bucket.

• A piece of waterproof tape or a Sharpie.

The Steps:

1. Bring the Pool to Level: Fill your pool to its normal operating height (usually mid-skimmer).

2. Fill the Bucket: Place the bucket on the first or second step of the pool (this ensures the water in the bucket stays at the same temperature as the pool). Fill the bucket with pool water until the level inside the bucket matches the pool water level outside the bucket.

3. Mark the Levels: Use your tape to mark the water level inside the bucket and the pool water level outside the bucket.

4. Wait 24 Hours: Turn off your pump and any auto-fills. Ensure no one swims during this period.

5. Compare the Marks: After 24 hours, measure the distance between your starting marks and the new water levels.

The Results:

• Both levels dropped the same amount: Good news! This is natural evaporation. Wind, humidity, and the Niagara sun are just doing their job.

• The pool level dropped more than the bucket: You likely have a leak. Because the bucket is sealed, it only loses water to the air. If the pool is losing more, that water is escaping through a hole, a fitting, or a pipe. Now if you plug all your plumbing and it stops than you have a plumbing leak.

Next Steps:

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