It’s prime pool season across the U.S. – so if you're a pool owner, you’re probably using it a lot right now!

The last thing you want to deal with us a sudden leak in the pool, which means lots of wasted water and expensive water bills. And if you have a big enough leak, you could damage your pool’s motor and other parts of the system.

Read on to learn about the signs that you have a pool leak, how to detect it, and how to get it repaired.

Signs you have a leak in your pool

Suspect a leak? Like other types of leaks, they can be sneaky, particularly if your pool has an automatic fill device. But there are several obvious signs your pool is leaking.

1. Your pool is losing water at a faster rate than it’s evaporating. Pools’ evaporation rates can fluctuate, but in general you can expect to lose about 20 millimeters of water per day. This can vary based on factors like wind, air, and water temperature, humidity, and the size of your pool. To determine your pool’s evaporation rate, fill up a medium-sized bucket of pool water, determine the water level, and mark the area. After a day, measure how much water is still in the bucket.

Once you know the evaporation rate, you’ll be able to more easily tell if your water level is dropping more quickly, indicating a leak. Our sister brand, America’s Swimming Pool Company, explains how you can use the bucket test to determine whether your pool’s water level is dropping due to evaporation or to a leak. Once you've ruled out evaporation, you can take steps to get the leak repaired.

2. You notice cracks in your pool’s plaster, or falling tile. If there’s excess water on the ground surrounding the pool, this can cause that area to become unsettled and cause cracks and moving tile. You might see cracks in the pool’s bond beam as the pool settles deeper into the ground.

3. There are wet spots in your yard. If you see moist spots around your pool, that’s often a sign that you have a leak.

4. You see standing water around the pool pump or pipes. Excess water, or noticeable corrosion on the pool’s plumbing equipment, indicates a leak.

5. Your water bills have suddenly skyrocketed. This could indicate a leak elsewhere in your house, of course. (Here are six ways to find hidden water leaks.) But if you have a pool, and there are no signs of any leaks elsewhere in your house, that could very well be the culprit.

How can I determine if I have a pool leak?

We recommend ASP’s bucket test as a good place to start. Or, mark the pool’s water level at the skimmer with a piece of tape. Check again 24 hours later.

How to fix a pool leak

This is something you’ll want to call in the pros for! You can contact your local America’s Swimming Pool Company for pool leak repair services. They’ll also show you how to prevent swimming pool leaks in the future. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing also provides pool leak detection services. Contact us today online or by calling 1-877-BEN-1776.