Why Water Loss in Your Pool is Normal
06/07/2022 | Categories: Pool Maintenance, Pool Maintenance Tips
One of the most common questions we get asked at Sunshine Fun Pools is, “Does my pool have a leak?” Pool owners, especially first-time pool owners, are often surprised by the amount of water loss that’s considered normal. Because there are many causes of water loss in pools, it’s important to be able to decipher between what’s considered normal and what’s an actual issue.
Read on to learn more about some of the most common reasons why your pool is losing water and how to address the issue.
Expected Evaporation
The most common and unavoidable way that a pool loses water is through normal evaporation. During the hot, dry, summer months a pool can lose as much as ⅛ to ¼ of an inch per day. There are several factors that contribute to the variation including the pool’s surface area, humidity, wind, and temperature.
Simple Pool Use
Another unavoidable cause of water loss is simple pool use. Splashing and jumping will result in water loss, as will the constant wave action of playing in your pool. Many pools have gravity overflow drains that allow excess rainwater to drain off. Wave action against the overflow can result in some pool water being drained away. As a builder, we try to minimize this by putting the overflow in the skimmer but you may also have a drain set high on the water line just under the coping.
Water Features
Water features can be soothing and beautiful to look at, but they also aerate the water. This cooling evaporative effect can accelerate water loss. Running water features for shorter time periods can help with water loss.
Infinity edge pools are notorious for high water loss through evaporation. The long infinity edge spill over thins the water as it flows into the catch basin. Since the main pool stays at a constant level, water loss is seen only in the smaller catch basin. For example, if a pool evaporates ¼ inch and the catch basin only has 25 percent of the surface area of the main pool, then this could visually appear to be 1 inch of loss as you view the catch basin.
How Do You Properly Measure Water Loss?
There is a relatively simple calculation to measure loss in gallons. You will need to know the exact surface area of your pool for the calculation, which should be reflected in your sales agreement. Carefully mark a spot on your water line tile and then measure how much water you lose over a certain time. We know that a square foot of surface has 144 square inches. One inch of loss would be equal to 144 cubic inches. One gallon contains 231 cubic inches.
For example, if the pool has a 400sf surface area and loses 1 inch of water per week, we would multiply the 400 by 144 to get 57,600 square inches. Times 1 inch of loss equals 57,600 cubic inches divided by 231, giving us 249 gallons of water loss in this example.
If you do suspect excessive water loss, a bucket test is an easy way to gauge evaporation. There are many YouTube videos explaining the details, however, you are basically placing a bucket on one of the pool steps and carefully filling the bucket to the same level as the pool. You will turn off all pool equipment and let the pool sit idle for 24 hours. The bucket and pool will evaporate at the same level. If the pool falls more than the water in the bucket, you could have a leak.
What To Do About a Leak?
Contact your pool company if you suspect a leak, and they should be able to provide the name of a leak detection company. Leak detection is a highly specialized skill that incorporates a variety of methods and tools to identify and locate the leak. Pools have hundreds of feet of piping, and locating the precise location of the leak is very important to proper repair.
You can expect your leak detection services to cost anywhere between $400 and $800. If the pool does indeed have a leak and is within warranty, most pool companies will reimburse the pool owner and perform the repair.
Water loss in pools is normal and unavoidable, but it’s important to know when further action needs to be taken to prevent further damage. For more information about pool service or leak detection, contact Sunshine Fun Pools at 979-690-3343.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
As the leading pool builder in Brazos Valley, Sunshine Fun Pools builds more than 100 pools each year while maintaining a 98 percent customer satisfaction rating. Founded in 2005, Sunshine Fun Pools specializes in custom pool design and quality construction, pool remodeling and pool maintenance services.
Call Sunshine Fun Pools today if you are looking for a professional, qualified customer pool builder in Bryan-College Station, Conroe, Navasota, Katy, Fulshear, The Woodlands, Franklin or Montgomery Country. For more Bryan College Station pool design tips, subscribe to their blog and YouTube Channel or ‘Like’ them on Facebook. You can also read their customer reviews to learn more about the exceptional services they provide.
Ready to get started on your own backyard oasis? Contact the Bryan College Station pool experts at Sunshine Fun Pools today!
