No matter what season you are in, your pool can lose inches of water per week. Natural causes such as wind, heat and humidity can contribute to pool water loss. This is a big problem, because if the water level drops too low, it can cause the pool pump to suck in air and dry out, which can damage it. All pools leak water and it's easy to conclude that you must have a leak.
But in reality, the most likely reason your pool loses water is due to evaporation. A swimming pool can lose much more water through evaporation than you imagine, especially at certain times of the year and when certain conditions exist. Did you know that the main way swimming pools lose water is through evaporation? According to the Department of Energy, 70% of water is lost in swimming pools and is due to evaporation. Evaporation occurs every time you expose wind or air to the pool surface.
Water molecules rise to the surface, form in vapor, and eventually release into the air. A sure way to determine if your pool is leaking water through evaporation or a leak is to perform a water bucket test. Fill your pool to its normal level. With a bucket, fill it up to 1 inch from the top with pool water.
Place the bucket in the pool about five inches. You can place it on the first or second step of your pool. Mark the water level inside the bucket and the water level outside the bucket with a marker or piece of tape. After 24 hours, compare the two water levels.
If the water level outside the tub dropped more than the water level inside the tub, you are likely to have a leak in the pool. Losing water through evaporation is normal. One way to prevent evaporation from the pool is to use a solar pool cover. Not only does it prevent water from leaking out of the pool, but it also traps the heat you have obtained from the sun or the pool heater.
In summer, many people notice that the water level drops as temperatures rise. This can be disconcerting for many homeowners, but it's often because water evaporates while staying in the sun all day. The average pool loses about 2 inches of water each week. Investing in a pool cover and using it when you don't plan to spend time in pool water can be beneficial.
Evaporation can also occur as a result of ambient heat, such as the hot sun outside that cooks the surface of the pool. A frozen pool can cause a lot of problems, so it's best to take steps to prevent that from happening. You might not actually find a leak, or even if you do, for many leaks, you'll just need to bite the bullet and call a pool repair professional. When you backwash a pool, the water does not return to the pool, but is ejected to the drainage system or patio, so the water level will drop to some extent.
The positive side is that swimming pools near trees, fences or structures are protected from natural elements that cause evaporation. And your pool can even come off the ground if water leaks out of the pool and saturates the surrounding soil. Next, mark the pool water level on the outside of the tub and the water in the tub on the inside. As summer begins to give way to fall and nighttime temperatures begin to drop, pool companies are starting to see an increase in phone calls and emails from customers who think their pool may be leaking.
You may not need a pool water heater during the summer months, although your spa is usually around 102 degrees Fahrenheit. New Pool Construction Custom Spas Pool Remodeling Water Features Fire Features Outdoor Kitchens Patio Covers Pool Maintenance Pool Equipment. You won't notice this substance while swimming, but as soon as you get out of the pool and the water settles, the barrier reforms. With a detection kit, you need the water to be as still as possible, so turn off the pool pump, close the skimmer valves, drain the pool, etc.
and then leave it for a while. However, unlike backwashing, the process of vacuuming up to the debris takes much longer, so there will be a large drop in the pool water level. Basically, you put a bucket on a step in the pool (or something to lift it up if you don't have steps) so that about half of it is out of the water. .
.