Evaporation or a leak?
Heat, wind, low humidity and sun all speed up evaporation, and an Austin or San Antonio pool can easily drop a few inches over a hot, windy week without a single leak. Water features, waterfalls and spas running all day add to it.
A leak shows up as water loss beyond what the weather explains: the level keeps dropping overnight, the autofill seems to run constantly, or the water bill jumps.
How to do the bucket test
The bucket test compares the pool to a bucket of the same water sitting in the same weather. Run it for 24 hours, ideally on a calm day with no rain in the forecast.
- Fill a 5-gallon bucket to about 3 inches from the top with pool water.
- Set it on the first or second pool step so it sits in the pool water at the same temperature.
- Mark the water level inside the bucket and the pool level on the outside of the bucket.
- Run the pump on its normal schedule and turn off any autofill.
- After 24 hours, compare the two drops. If the pool dropped more than the bucket, you likely have a leak.
- Repeat with the pump off. If the pool loses more with the pump running, the leak is often on the pressure side of the plumbing.
Call right away if
Some signs mean you should skip the test and call: the pool is losing a half inch or more a day beyond evaporation, there are soggy spots or new sinkholes in the yard or deck, cracks are opening in the shell or deck, or your water utility has sent an underground-leak or high-usage notice.
What happens next
A leak specialist pressure-tests the plumbing lines, listens for leaks underground with acoustic equipment and dye-tests fittings, lights, skimmers and the shell. Every job gets a written report showing where the leak is and what it will take to fix.
Questions
How much water loss is normal for a pool in Texas?
It depends on heat, wind and humidity, but a quarter inch a day in summer is common. The bucket test separates evaporation from a leak because the bucket sees the same weather.
Can I keep swimming if my pool is leaking?
Usually yes, but don't wait. Water escaping under the shell or deck can wash out soil and lead to cracks and settling.
Will my water utility tell me about an underground leak?
Many utilities send high-usage notices. If you get one and the pool is on an autofill, the pool plumbing is a likely suspect.