Every pool loses a little water to evaporation. That's normal. But there's a real difference between a hot Texas summer drying out your pool and an actual leak costing you money every single day. Here's how to tell which one you're dealing with.
Signs Worth Paying Attention To
You're filling it up more than once a week
In a DFW summer you'll lose some water to evaporation, but if you're constantly running the hose just to keep the level up, something's off. A quarter inch a day is about normal. More than that and it's worth looking into.
Your water bill jumped for no clear reason
A lot of homeowners first notice a leak on their utility bill before they see anything wrong with the pool. If your bill spiked and you can't explain it, your pool is worth checking.
Algae keeps coming back
This one surprises people. When a pool is leaking, you're constantly replacing water, which dilutes your chemicals. Diluted chemicals can't keep up with algae. If you're treating your pool right and still fighting algae, a leak could be why.
Cracks in the shell or deck
Visible cracks in the plaster or the surrounding concrete aren't always just cosmetic. They can indicate the ground underneath has shifted, often from water eroding the soil over time.
Wet or soft ground near the equipment
If the soil around your pump and filter pad stays soggy when it hasn't rained, there's a good chance water is escaping from a plumbing connection underground.
Your pump is acting strange
Losing prime, making new noises, or struggling to maintain pressure can all point to a leak on the suction side pulling air into the system.
The Bucket Test
This is the easiest way to figure out if you have a real leak or just evaporation. Here's how it works:
- Fill a 5-gallon bucket with pool water
- Set it on a pool step so it's partially in the water
- Mark the water level inside the bucket and on the pool wall
- Turn the pump off and wait 24 hours
- Check both levels and compare
If both dropped about the same amount, that's evaporation. If the pool dropped noticeably more than the bucket, you've got a leak. Give us a call at (469) 496-6425 and we can walk you through it.
Don't Wait Too Long
Pool leaks in North Texas tend to get worse faster than people expect. The clay soil under most DFW pools soaks up escaping water and starts to shift. That puts pressure on the shell and plumbing. What starts as a small leak can turn into cracked decking or worse if it goes unaddressed for a season. Catching it early is almost always the cheaper option.
Think your pool might be leaking?
Call Excelsior Pool Services. Free estimates, serving Flower Mound and all of DFW.
(469) 496-6425