Pool Evaporation: Is it Normal or a Leak?
Have you noticed that your pool is losing a lot of water?
How much is normal and how much is reason for concern?
Many pool owners come to us with this question, so let’s take a closer look at what causes water loss, the signs you should be worried about, and what you can do.
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What Causes Pool Water Loss?
Some amount of water loss is normal for a pool. This will happen due to splashing and swimming, especially when kids are playing and water overflows.
Additionally, evaporation accounts for some of the water loss, especially if you have multiple water features. Both of these are natural.
You should be worried when the loss of pool water is due to a leak. A leak can cause water to be lost more quickly than the other two and may also cause further damage as a result.
So how do you know if evaporation is the cause?
How Much Evaporation Should I Expect?
The rate of evaporation from your pool can vary based on a few geographic and environmental factors.
Here’s an instance in which south Louisiana’s high levels of humidity are actually a good thing, because you can safely expect a lower evaporation rate in these conditions. This is because there is already moisture in the air so fewer water molecules are pulled from ground sources.
For this reason, if you notice a significant drop in your pool level, and haven’t had any cannonball contests going on in the pool recently, something may be wrong.
How to Test Evaporation Levels
In order to find out how much of an impact evaporation is having on your pool, you can try this exercise.
It is a simple test that you can perform yourself using only a bucket.
While you are running this test, you will need to refrain from adding any water to your pool, go at least 24 hours without anyone using it, and also turn off any auto-fill devices.
Once you are ready to start, you will need to place the bucket on one of the steps in your pool, making sure that it is immersed at least 5 inches into the water, but not fully submerged.
Then you will need to fill the bucket with water so that the water in the bucket is at the same level as the water in your pool. Mark the water level with a sharpie or piece of duct tape.
After 24 hours, compare the water level in the bucket to the water level in your pool.
If the pool water has gone down more than the bucket water, your pool probably has a leak. If the two levels are the same you can most likely attribute any water loss to evaporation.
Leakage Warning Signs
Okay so besides a declining water level in your pool, what else can you look for to determine a leak?
Here are a few signs:
-Look around your yard for any areas that are continuously wet, despite the lack of sprinklers or rain. If water is gathering in an area it may be the result of leaking from the pool.
–Algae growth is another sign. This is due to the fact that when your pool has a leak, the chemicals you use to treat your water will be lost through the leak and replaced with untreated water allowing bacteria and algae growth.
-You may also notice structural issues with your pool such as cracks, holes or protrusions, all of which are signs of a leak.
-The foundation of your pool may begin to drop and settle if water is trapped underground.
-One big warning sign of a leak is an abnormally expensive water bill. A pool can leak several gallons of water a day, even when your pool is not in use, which will result in a significant increase.
If you suspect that you have a leak, you can find out for sure by calling in a professional to take a look. At Pleasure Pools, we regularly inspect, maintain, and repair pools to keep them in tip-top shape, so find it easy to spot problems.
We will let you know if you have a leak and can take the steps required to get it fixed. Get in touch with us today and we’ll put any pool-related worries you may have to rest so you can enjoy the rest of the summer!
