It’s never fun when you realize that your above-ground swimming pool is losing water. Here in Orlando, there aren’t many to help you with this issue. In most cases, you’re on your own.
Over the last 38 years of being in the pool business, I have had a lot of people call me to ask about their pool leaking. In this time, I’ve learned that there is a clear first step.
FIRST, MAKE SURE YOUR POOL ACTUALLY HAS A LEAK
If I had a dollar for every time someone thought they had a leak in their above-ground pool but actually didn’t, then I’d have a lot more money than years ago when I used to say “If I had a dime for every…..”.
It’s very common for people to think their pool is leaking when it isn’t. Hopefully, this is the case for you. Here are common ways pools lose water without a leak.
A Evaporation
In Orlando, I have seen pools lose up to 1/4 inch of water per day from evaporation. This may not seem like much, but over a week, that’s almost two inches of water loss.
Loss from evaporation is highest in the drier months, so in Central Florida, expect to lose more water in the fall and spring. Also, it doesn’t rain consistently in the fall and spring as it does in the summer, so that can add to your thinking that there is a leak.
B Heavy bather load
Lots of swimmers (especially kids) can remove more water from the pool than some think. Splashing and exiting the pool will remove some water. And that can add up. A swimmer can pull out as much as four gallons of water when exiting the pool. Although, most won’t pull that much.
C Garden hose left in pool
When adding water to the pool, you use a garden hose which is connected to your water source.
When the pool is filled up, some will turn off the water spigot AND leave the hose in the pool. With the spigot turned off, sometimes the water will siphon out through the hose in the opposite direction and you won’t notice.
This sounds like it can’t happen, but it does. More often than you think.
MARK THE WATER LEVEL, CHECK EVERY 24 HOURS
To make sure that you have a leak, mark the water level in the pool well every 24 hours. Take into account any rain and don’t add any water.
Record the water loss.
DEFINITELY HAVE A LEAK? DO THE SIMPLE THINGS FIRST
1 Now that you know you have a leak, before calling anyone, look closely around the pump, filter, and lines going to the pool. Look for moisture.
NOTE: The plastic flex hoses that attach the pump and filter to the skimmer and return don’t last forever and can get pinhole leaks in them.
2 Look under the skimmer box and at the wall under the return fitting for moisture.
NOTE: An above-ground pool has only two openings in the liner – the skimmer and the return fitting. This is a very common area for leaks.
3 Look closely around the outside of the pool next to the wall. Move anything out of your way to see if the ground is unusually wet next to the bottom of the wall.
4 With the pump off and the water very still, look into the pool at the bottom for any new divots or cavities. This is where leaking water can cause ruts or crevasses in the pool’s bottom.
NEXT STEP – TURN OFF THE PUMP AND LET THE WATER LEVEL DROP DOWN
It’s important to rule out a leak at the pool’s equipment (pump/filter, etc.) or skimmer/return by allowing the leaking water level to drop lower than the skimmer and return openings in the pool.
NOTE: If the water level drops well below the skimmer and return openings (and you don’t have a main drain), then your leak is in the liner somewhere.
FINDING A LEAK IN THE LINER IS DIFFICULT
If you have successfully ruled out the leak being in the equipment or the skimmer/return fitting, then it’s most likely in the liner somewhere.
Finding a hole in an above-ground pool liner can be very hard. If attempting yourself, you will need at least dye, an applicator (syringe, ear dropper, etc), a water mask, a weight belt, and a lot of patience.
WHO TO CALL FOR AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL LEAK IN ORLANDO?
For this, I have some bad but accurate news. You’re most likely not going to find a pool person in Orlando to look for a leak in an above-ground pool. If you are in the country some in Lake, Polk, or Volusia counties, you may find a pool guy out there that’s willing to attempt it, but don’t hold your breath (unless you’re looking for a leak underwater)
You will be able to get a leak detection company to look for it, but it’s going to be expensive. Maybe more than it’s worth.
In most cases, you will have to find the leak on your own. The good news is that once you find it, the hole is often easy to patch using an underwater patch kit.
IF THE POOL OR LINER WAS JUST INSTALLED, IT MAY BE A SEAM SEPARATION
Above-ground pool liners are made from vinyl pieces that are fused together. These seams connect the floor vinyl pieces with the side pieces. Sometimes, these fused seams will fail and open up.
This almost always happens within a day or two of the liner getting installed.
A “seam separation” is a manufacturer’s defect, so you will get a new liner for free, but that’s it. You’ll have to pay to have the liner put in and pay for the new water and any startup chemicals you just lost though.
IF THE LINER IS FOUR YEARS OLD OR OLDER AND LEAKING, CONSIDER REPLACING IT
Here in Orlando, the average life of a quality above-ground pool liner is 5 – 8 years. As they get older, the vinyl material becomes brittle. And as it gets brittle, the liner will start getting little holes or cracks in it.
At that point, it’s best to just replace the entire liner as it will continue to get more and more little holes in it.
I REPLACE ABOVE-GROUND POOL LINERS
If you have discovered that you will be needing a new liner for your pool, then contact me if you don’t want to do it yourself. Sometimes in the summer, I’m too busy with full pool installs to do liner changeouts, but in the colder months, I’m always available. Here’s a liner change price sheet.