While swimming is a terrific way to unwind and enjoy time with friends and family, it can be annoying if you find the water level lowering too rapidly. While evaporation causes some water loss, if your pool is losing more than half an inch every day, there could be a problem. The good news is most causes of pool water loss can be found and corrected without too much effort.

From leaks to equipment breakdowns, various elements could be involved. Knowing these typical problems will enable you to identify the causes and find solutions before the problem gets more severe. The primary causes of water loss in pools will be discussed in this article, along with possible remedies.

The Most Common Cause of Water Loss: Evaporation

Heat, wind, and humidity levels cause water to evaporate—that is, to convert into vapor and flee into the air. Although this is a normal occurrence that influences every pool, some elements aggravate it. Strong winds, low humidity, and high temperatures can hasten evaporation, so appearing as though your pool is losing more water than usual.

A basic bucket test will help you determine whether evaporation is the source. Load pool water into a bucket and set it on a pool step. Note the water level outside of the bucket and the pool. Compare the values 24 hours later. If both have dropped to the same degree, evaporation is most likely the source.

Covering the pool while it’s not in use will assist in keeping the water from evaporating too quickly. To further lessen the effect of the wind on the water surface, you can also erect hedges or fences. Another way to cut water loss is running pool equipment at night when the temperatures are lower.

Finding and Repairing Pool Leaks

Suppose your pool is losing more water than evaporation would justify; a leak could be the source. Leaks could find their way into machinery, piping, or the pool shell. Constantly low water levels, damp areas around the pool, air bubbles in the pump, or pool structural fractures indicate a leak.

Turn off all pool equipment and watch the water level over a day to look for a leak. If it falls noticeably, you most certainly have a leak. Another dye test is to add a tiny food coloring dot close to a suspected leak and see whether the dye pulls into a crack.

Where a leak is located determines how best to fix it. While breaches in subterranean lines might need professional assistance, little cracks in the pool surface can be fixed with pool sealer. Frequent maintenance and inspections help to avoid minor leaks from becoming more expensive issues.

Plumbing and Equipment Issues That Cause Water Loss

Your pool keeps water clean and flowing correctly with a system of pipes, filters, pumps, and valves. Should any one of these elements fail, water loss can result.

One often occurring problem is a leaking filter or pump. If water is in the pump or filter region, there could be a broken seal or a loose connection. Sometimes, the fix is just checking and tightening connections. A defective backwash valve is another often occurring problem since it might let water suddenly drain from the pool.

If you believe water is being lost from your pool via the plumbing, a pressure test could help identify the precise leak source. Hiring a professional makes sense if you’re not sure how to achieve this. By looking for leaks and repairing worn-out components, you may assist in keeping your pool equipment in good operating order, therefore preventing water loss.

Splashing and Water Displacement from Pool Use

Water can be splashed out from fun activities such as swimming, game playing, and pool jumping. This can mount up over time, particularly in cases of frequent pool use. Although some water loss from splashing is inevitable, too much water may be displaced with too great a loss.

Establishing rules for pool operations helps to lower splashing-related water losses. Avoiding too aggressive rough play close to the pool edges, for instance, helps retain more water inside. After days of heavy use, you can also keep an eye on the water level to see whether splashing is a main loss factor.

Make sure the automatic water leveler in your pool is set if it exists. Sometimes, these systems disguise a leak or make it difficult to tell how much water is truly being lost by adding water when it is not needed.

Pool Draining and Backwashing Too Often

Backwashing is a required component of maintenance whether or not you have a sand or DE filter. Still, doing it too frequently can result in unneeded water loss. Although it cleans the filter, backwashing can waste hundreds of gallons of water if done more often than required.

Backwash only when the pressure gauge on your filter shows it is required to reduce water loss. Usually, this occurs when the pressure exceeds the usual operational level by 8 to 10 psi. If you find yourself backwashing more frequently than usual, look for too much algae or trash in the pool to perhaps be clogging the filter faster than usual.

If chemical imbalances or maintenance require regular draining of your pool, think about using partial water replenishment rather than emptying the whole pool. This method maintains the pool safe and clean while helping to save water.

Cracks and Structural Damage to the Pool

Pools can eventually show surface cracks, particularly in cases of faulty installation, temperature fluctuations, or structural movement of soil. Little cracks can let water seep out, clearly causing loss.

Examining the pool shell will enable one to find cracks before they become more significant issues. Look for obvious flaws in the floor, walls, or pool steps. Another way to do the dye test is to add colored dye next to a suspected crack and see whether the color pulls into the crack.

Pool patch kits may usually fix minor cracks; major structural damage may call for expert repair. See a pool professional to find out the degree of the problem and the best course of action if you believe subterranean structural problems are causing water loss from your pool.

Conclusion

Although it can be aggravating to lose water from your pool, knowing the reason will save money and effort. Whether it’s evaporation, leakage, equipment problems, or splashing, knowing the causes of water loss will enable you to respond appropriately and correct it.

Maintaining a steady water level depends much on routine pool maintenance, inspections, and basic preventative actions such as pool cover use and leak search. Should the problem continue despite your best efforts, consulting a professional will help to guarantee that your pool maintains excellent condition. Keeping conscious and proactive can help you to enjoy your pool without continual stress about water loss.