Evaporation is dependent on a variety of environmental and pool related conditions, (wind, water temp, dew point, barometric pressure, etc). Because of this, the evaporation rate can vary greatly from day to day and even pool to pool. Before becoming too concerned about a leak you can do this simple swimming pool leak test to determine if water loss in your swimming pool is due to a leak or is just evaporation. This simple test is called the bucket test. Basically, the bucket test exposes water in a bucket to the same conditions as those affecting your swimming pool. By comparing the water loss in each, it is possible to determine if the pool is leaking or if supposed leaks are just the result of evaporation.
- Bring the pool water to its normal level
- Fill 5 gallon bucket with pool water to about one inch from the top of bucket. (By filling the bucket close to the top you are ensuring that air movement over the surface of the bucket will similar to that of the pool.)
- Place the bucket on the first or second step of the pool. (By placing the bucket in the pool water you are ensuring that the water temperature of each will be similar).
- Mark the water level inside the bucket.
- Mark the water level of the pool on the outside of the bucket.
- Allow the pool to run like normal.
- After 24 hours, compare the two levels. The inside loss is evaporation. The outside loss is evaporation plus any leaking.
- For even better results, run the bucket test with the pump off for 24 hours and see if that changes the results.
- Contact us if you are leaking more than 1/4″ per day!