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Causes of water leaks in swimming pools and how to detect them

Water leaks in swimming pools: Possible factors for the pool to lose water and their respective solutions.

Water leaks in swimming pools

En Ok Pool Reform we present the Main Causes of Water Leaks in Swimming Pools and How to Detect Them.


My pool loses water: water leaks in structural pools

When is the time to repair pool cracks?

  • The ideal time to repair cracks in the pool is in winter (you can contact us without any obligation).
  • Basically, repairing the pool will involve emptying the pool. From another perspective, we also provide you with the page to learn how to empty the pool.
  • So, we will also have to contact a technician and invest time.
  • Apart from everything, If the pool renovation is carried out in summer, the high temperatures can make some of the renovation processes difficult.

Solution How to fix structural pool leak

Definitive structural pool leak solution: reinforced pool liner

Pool liner: guarantees the tightness of your pool. For all these reasons, we encourage you to consult our page about our reinforced sheet for swimming pools.

Reasons to repair water leaks in a pool with a pool liner

  • Firstly, with our pool liner system, we can guarantee the tightness of your pool 100%.
  • Furthermore, it is a modern system.
  • There are multiple varieties and reinforced liner designs for swimming pools.
  • On the other hand, the installation is very quick.
  • It adapts perfectly to any type of pool regardless of its shape or the material it is made of.
  • Healthy and safe system.
  • In this way, you can avoid many risk factors for water leaks in swimming pools.
  • And last but not least, we provide you with a 15-year warranty.
  • What are you waiting for? Find out without any obligation!

My pool loses water: water leaks due to hydraulic system

In this case, we will treat the lost pool water due to a pool water leak due to the hydraulic system, that is, the PVC pipe network.

On the other hand, it doesn't hurt to consult our page dedicated to knowing how pool filtration works.

What is a water loss through a filtration circuit?

  • A loss of water through a filtration circuit is a loss of water due to the filtration circuit (pool water filtering and recirculation system): Number and type of cleaning cycles.
  • So, it is a water leak in the pool located between the filtration and pumping circuit, filling and emptying the pool.
  • Are most common leaks (they represent around 80%).
  • To repair them it is necessary to carry out pressure tests, section by section.
  • It is a job that must be carried out by a specialized technician.

Generic problems due to pool water loss through pipes

Normally, Generic problems due to pool water loss through pipes usually occur for the following reasons:

  • First most common case, pool water loss at the junction of the skimmer and the pipe.
  • Or, lost pool water in the skimmer pipe where it settles with the ground
  • Third, the pool loses water due to a crack in the skimmer itself.
  • Or, perhaps, pool water lost at the connection of the skimmer pipe with the technical room

Detection of leaks in swimming pools through pipes

Next, we tell you the steps and procedures in a very simple and effective way to detect leaks in pools through pipes (which you can do yourself at home).

Step 1: Detection of leaks in pools through pipes: prepare the pool for the detection of the possible leak

  • First step in detecting leaks in pools through pipes: we must have the water level of the pool in the middle of the skimmer (small pool window).
  • Secondly, we will stop the pool pump and disconnect the differential.
  • We will also close the skimmer, bottom and sweeper ball valves (put the handles perpendicular to the pipes).
  • And then we will put the selector valve in the closed position.

STEP 2 Detection of leaks in swimming pools through pipes: water level control

  • Find a way to write down and know the water level of the pool, either through, for example: a mark, by hooking a piece of tape or by counting tiles...
  • In this way, throughout the necessary days depending on the case of water loss from the pool and always at the same time we will check the water level.

STEP 3 Detection of leaks in swimming pools through pipes: determination of the pool water level

Subtract until the water level remains stable over 24 hours, That is to say, let's not notice that this time the water has dropped, we will have to assess where the level has remained stagnant.

Pool loses water due to skimmer

If the water level is right at the mouth of the skimmer

  • First possibility in pool leaks through pipes, the pool water level has stagnated right at the mouth of the skimmer.
  • In this case, we will fill the skimmer with a hose and the result in principle will be that it never fills.
  • In conclusion, We will have detected that the pool leak is due to the loss of water in the pool from the skimmer pipe being broken..

How to repair pool leak due to skimmer

To repair a pool leak due to a skimmer, we recommend that you contact us without any obligation., because a pool renovation must be carried out and in this case you must have knowledge and experience.

Generic procedure to repair pool leak due to skimmer

  1. First, make a hole behind the pool skimmer to uncover it.
  2. Depending on the slab and the mesh that the upper concrete belt has, it will better support the coping stone and the exposed belt.
  3. Fill the skimmer and start the filtration if you do not see the water leak, sometimes the leak occurs when the pipe increases the pressure due to the suction or delivery.
  4. If you detect the leak, you must check if the skimmer can be saved or you must replace it and make a new connection.
  5. For accessories that need to be joined with glue, leave the area clean before gluing.
  6. Leave the times indicated by the PVC glue you are using.
  7. Check that it no longer leaks and leave it for about 24 hours to confirm that it is no longer leaking in that area.
  8. Once confirmed then cover the area.

Video tutorial how to repair leak in pool by skimmer

Below is a video tutorial that will teach you how to repair a leak in a pool due to a skimmer by repairing the pool pipes.

Although, as we have said before, in this case if you have this problem of water leaks in pool skimmer, we recommend that you contact us without any obligation.

how to repair pool leak due to skimmer

Pool loses water due to aspiration

If the water level is right at the suction nozzle of the sweeper:

  • On the other hand, if the water level remains in the suction nozzle of the sweeper: plug the nozzle and fill above to check.
  • In this case, We will have detected that the pool leak is caused by the loss of water in the pool coming from de the sweeper pipe which will be broken.

Pool leaks water from impellers

 If the water level does not match any nozzle

However, if the water level does not match any nozzle, we must proceed to:

  1. Open only the bottom ball valve and set the selector valve to the filtration position.
  2. Start the engine.
  3.  If you see the water level go down, the problem The pool leak occurs due to the loss of water in the pool coming from of the delivery pipe.

Pool loses water due to pool light

If the water level is right at the height of the lights

  • If the water level is right at the height of the lights, the reading is easy, we have a problem in some joint of the lights.

How to fix pool leak in focus

  • Firstly, empty the pool below the spotlights.
  • Secondly, check each of the light bulb joints (usually it is a matter of the stuffing box joint that includes the light niches). As you should already know, the spotlight niche is the housing where the spotlight is housed.
  • Specifically, you will find 4 gland gaskets (two in the housing where the niche sits and 2 in the niche itself).
  • Check and inspect each gasket completely and replace it if there is the slightest suspicion.
  • Next, we place the niche inside the casing and fill the pool at the level of the skimmers.
  • Then, we will have to wait a few days to authenticate the result.

Video tutorial How to locate a water leak in a pool source

In this video tutorial, you will see how to locate a water leak in a pool source in a professional and specialized way.

In addition, pool leak detection is carried out by testing pool tightness without emptying the water.

And with all this, we present you a solution on how to locate a water leak in a pool source with and without emptying, As always, you can contact us without obligation.

How to locate a water leak in a pool light

How to know if there are water leaks in swimming pools

How to know if there are water leaks in swimming pools

Homemade indicators to know if my pool is losing water due to a leak

1st warning that there may be a pool water leak

  • If the water bill has increased.

2nd indicator to check if there is a pool water leak

  • Sign in the pool: Mark the water level with a piece of tape or similar and check 24 hours later if the water level has dropped more than 0,5cm (if it has dropped 0,5cm or more, there may be a leak).

3rd home method to know if there is a pool water leak: bucket test

water bucket for water leaks in swimming pools
Home method to find out if there is a pool water leak: bucket test

Procedures to know if there is a pool water leak with the bucket test

Cube test: Place a small bucket of water on the pool stairs, matching it to the water level and placing a weight on it to make it stable.

  1. Fill a 20 liter water bucket with water from the pool.
  2. Place the bucket on the first or second step of the pool (preferably on the second, without immersion).
  3. You must then turn off the bomb and then make a mark on the inside of the bucket to mark the internal water level and one on the outside of the bucket to mark the water level of the pool.
  4. Subsequently, we resume normal operation of the pump (all this ensuring that the automatic filling of the pool is turned off during the test9.
  5. After 24 hours, check that the water level inside the bucket and outside has decreased proportionally, otherwise it will be synonymous with a leak.

How to detect a pool leak

detect pool leak

One of the important points when we have doubts about whether our pool is leaking water or not is to check whether or not there really is a water leak.

Types of tests to find a leak in a pool

  • Leakage tests with infrared camera.
  • Detection with pressure gas.
  • Leakage tests with ultrasonic detector.
  • Pressure tests with a pump.
  • Checking tightness in pipes.
  • Conducting tests with a diver through an endoscopic camera.

How to detect water loss in a pool without products

How to detect water loss in a pool

Pool leak detection turning off the filtration system

Possible readings of water loss in the pool by turning off the filtration

  1. If the water goes down and stops in the skimmer, it means that the leak is either there or in the filtration system.
  2. On the other hand, we can check if the water descends and stops at the bulb, the leak is surely in the projector.
  3. Another way would be if the water descends and stops below the bulb, the leak is surely at the bottom of the pool or in the lining of the pool.
  4. If the pool continues to leak when the pump is running, the leak will be in the recovery system.

Video tutorial how to detect water loss in a pool

Next, the video that we provide you is in case you have previously noticed Lost pool water.

As we said, in this video you will be able to see the steps to detect pool leaks.

In addition, no liquid or tool is used to more quickly detect water leaks in swimming pools.

In any case, as additional information, it is true that there are pool products on the market for this purpose.

how to detect water loss in a pool

How to detect a pool leak with ink

How to detect a pool leak with ink
How to detect a pool leak with ink

What is the dye test for pool leak detection?

The dye test for leak detection in swimming pools is a product that can be purchased and gives us a guide to know where the leak is, since if there is a hole in the glass or walls of the pool, the dye will mark it.

Thus, it is still a syringe loaded with ink that is not soluble in water that allows possible pool water leaks to be detected using the ink in areas suspected of structural leaks.

In this way, we can rule out or confirm water leaks in the glass or ABS inserts.

Pool leak detection analysis ink

Pool leak detection analysis ink characteristics

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Video tutorial How to detect a pool leak with ink

In this video we show you how to use the special ink for pool leaks, which helped us find a small leak that we had in the tubes of our pool purifier.

How to use special ink for pool leaks

Repair pool leak with Ok Pool Reform

Advice on repairing pool leaks

Last, If we are not clear where the leak is coming from, It is best to contact a professional specialist , and here we are to help you!

En Ok Pool Reform We have the tools to carry out a series of tests as required and we already have 22 years of experience in the pool sector.


How to detect a pool leak

How to detect a pool leak

Advanced technology Ok Pool Reform to locate leak in pool

1st method Pool leak detector: Thermal camera

thermal chamber leak pool
Pool thermal camera
  • It is a Reliable and accurate tool for locating water leaks in pool pipes, walls and concrete floor.A totally new system capable of locating filtration points, saving time and money.
  • It has become the essential tool capable of generating graphic documentation of water leaks in swimming pools quickly and accurately.

2nd method Pool leak detector: Geophone

pool geophone
Pool Geophone
  • Electroacoustic water leak detection equipment.
  • The geophone pool leak detector is placed on the surface to be investigated and precisely locates the sound waves produced by the damaged pipe.
  • Provide certifications once the leak is repaired. Take the measurement and print it on a computer.
  • Confirm that a leak exists before beginning testing.
  • Confirm that leaks have been fixed upon completion of the repair, saving time and money.

3rd method Pool leak detector: Pipe inspection cameras

Pool pipe inspection cameras
Pool pipe inspection cameras
  • Pipe inspection cameras allow us to enter the pipe to assess the pool leak.

4th method Pool leak detector: detect leaks in pool glasses

dye detector for water leaks in swimming pools
Pool leak detector dye
  • Pool leak detector: leak detector in pool vessels such as fissures, cracks, special fluorescent dyes.
  • This method of locating the pool leak is based on a special dye for this function.
  • Pool leak dye is very thick and remains suspended in the water.
  • And, in the event that there is a leak in a delivery nozzle, in a focus, crack, or in another place, the dye is absorbed immediately to be able to see in a very visual way that there is a pool leak.

How to locate a leak in a removable pool

How to locate a leak in a removable pool

How to locate and repair a leak in a removable pool

Removable pool loses water

Why do water leaks occur in removable pools?

  • The canvas or liner is one of the main pieces of a removable pool.
  • This is the part that contains the water, so its care and maintenance so that it is always in good condition will guarantee the proper functioning of the pool and the purifier, in the cases of medium and large-sized pools.
  • In any case, in order not to damage the removable pool during its regular cleaning, we suggest you consult the entry about pool cleaning in its specific section on removable pools.

Better to line with pool liner for better leak resistance removable pool

  • The material with which the tarp is made is usually PVC plastic, a flexible and highly resistant material at the same time, since during use it is exposed to friction, pressure and tension. 
  • The thickness of the tarp also determines its resistance with a simple rule, The greater the thickness, the greater the resistance.

Additionally, you can consult details about our removable pool liner. And, if you want us to advise you or make a quote for a liner for a removable pool, Contact us without any type of commitment.

How to find a leak in an inflatable pool

Methods to locate a leak in a removable pool

  • Dive into the pool and look for the leak by feeling the canvas or with diving goggles
  • Look outside the pool for puddles.
  • Check the tubes that connect to the purifier
  • Let the pool empty itself and see if at any point it stops emptying.
  • If your pool has an access ladder, make sure the legs have not damaged the base.

Locate a leak in a removable pool with the bucket test

Procedures to know if there is a pool water leak with the bucket test

  1. Cube test: Place a small bucket of water on the pool stairs, matching it to the water level and placing a weight on it to make it stable.
  2. Next, make a mark on the inside of the bucket to mark the internal water level and one on the outside of the bucket to mark the water level of the pool.
  3. After 24 hours, check that the water level inside the bucket and outside has decreased proportionally, otherwise it will be synonymous with a leak.

How to locate leak holes in removable pool

Removable pool loses water through the purifier tube