Pool Leak Detection in Los Angeles

Pool leak detection in Los Angeles starts with an honest look at evaporation, because hot, dry, windy weather pulls a lot of water out of a perfectly healthy pool. The EPA estimates an uncovered 500-square-foot pool can lose 12,000 to 31,000 gallons a year to evaporation alone, depending on climate. (Source: U.S. EPA WaterSense)

Our job is to tell you whether your loss is more than that and, if it is, where the water is going. Leaks at the equipment pad and in above-ground plumbing we fix. If the leak is underground or in the pool shell, we show you exactly where it is and what it needs.

What's Included in Pool Leak Detection

• Water loss measurement. Marked levels over set periods with the pump on and off, which helps narrow down which part of the system is leaking.
• Bucket test. A side-by-side comparison of pool loss and bucket loss.
• Equipment pad inspection. Pump, filter, heater, valves and every visible union checked for drips and air leaks.
• Dye testing. Dye released at skimmers, returns, lights and cracks to see where water is pulled out.
• Line checks. Plumbing lines isolated and pressure tested when the evidence points underground.
• Written findings. What we found, what we fixed and what any remaining repair involves.

Signs Your Pool Has a Leak

The EPA's rule of thumb: a pool losing more than 2 inches of water a week, or 3 inches in hot, dry areas, likely has a leak. (Source: U.S. EPA WaterSense) Other clues:

• An autofill that runs constantly, or a water bill that jumps
• Faster loss with the pump running, or only with it off
• Wet soil, soft spots or new green patches near the pool or equipment
• Air bubbles at the returns or a pump that keeps losing prime
• Salt or chemistry readings that keep dropping as fresh water dilutes them

Where Pool Leaks Usually Hide

• Equipment pad. Pump shaft seals, lid O-rings, filter tank clamps, valves and unions. We repair these, often through our pool pump repair and pool filter repair services.
• Skimmer. The joint where the skimmer body meets the pool wall shifts and cracks over time.
• Fittings and lights. Return fittings, the light niche and the conduit behind it.
• Shell and tile line. Structural cracks and failed grout at the waterline.
• Underground plumbing. Suction and return lines running between the pool and the equipment.

Our Leak Detection Process

1. Get the historyHow much water you add, and whether that changed after a repair or a quake.
2. Run the bucket testA marked bucket of pool water sits on a step for 24 hours. If the pool drops more than the bucket, the pool may have a leak. (Source: U.S. EPA WaterSense)
3. Compare pump on and offThe loss rate in each mode points us toward the suction side, the return side or the shell.
4. Inspect the equipment padEvery seal, union and valve, where leaks are easiest to find and fix.
5. Dye test the likely spotsSkimmers, returns, lights, steps and visible cracks, in still water.
6. Isolate the linesIf the evidence points underground, lines are plugged and tested one at a time.
7. Report and repairEquipment and above-ground plumbing leaks are fixed through our pool equipment repair work. Underground or shell leaks get an exact location and a plain description of the repair.

Leak Detection Methods Compared

If the answer is evaporation, a cover is the fix. The EPA says solid covers can cut evaporation by more than 90% when in use, yet only about 15% of pool owners have and regularly use one. (Source: U.S. EPA WaterSense)

What Affects the Cost of Pool Leak Detection

• Pool size and whether there is an attached spa
• How many plumbing lines run to the equipment
• How many methods it takes to pinpoint the leak
• Water clarity, since cloudy water must be cleared for dye work
• Parts, if the leak is at the pump, filter or valves

Call (877) 720-8124 for a free quote on pool leak detection in Los Angeles. It helps to know roughly how much water you add each week.

Pool Leak Detection in Los Angeles: Local Factors