Cleaning the swimming pool is the basic thing to keep the pool fresh, healthy, and safe for all swimmers. However, no matter how you monitor your pool every day, chances of experiencing a leak to some point are inevitable regardless of the size of your pool. 

Exerting a full effort is not enough to maintain a good pool condition. It will need some repairs or preventive maintenance in the future. 

How Do You Know If Your Pool Is Leaking?

Most pool owners feel frustrated when they experience a pool leak because it costs them expensive repairs. Fortunately, here are the common signs that you need to know when your pool is leaking.

• Changes in water level
• Wet spots in your yard
• Unusual high water bill
• Cracks or tears in your pool surface or pool deck
• Loose or crack of pool tiles
• Growth of algae
• Standing water under pool equipment
• Corroding pipes

Here are the common issues of pool leaks that you should give importance to protect your pool from leakage.

Pump Systems

The swimming pool’s required water level is two-thirds of the distance to the top of the skimmer assembly. This water measurement supports the intake system of the skimmer basket to circulate the water to the filter, the motor cooling, and the heating unit of the pool. 

Moreover, if the pool leaks, it allows the water level to drop down from the pool line, and it will cause damage to the entire pump system. So, the line will take in the air instead of water. If the water level continuously reduces, you expect the system will overheat or shut down the pump systems.

To avoid this problem, you should check your pump system. Any cracked or loosened hose found in your swimming pool can cause a leak in the pump room.

Chemical Balance

Having a pool leak will eventually lead to an imbalance of your pool’s pH levels, including acid and alkaline levels. 

These chemicals in the water are necessary for hygiene, such as chlorine added to the water to keep the pool clean and alkaline to avoid acids in chlorine and other substance that causes harm to swimmers.

If you experience lower levels of these chemicals, it will distress the balance. When the pool leaks, the chlorine will leak out, and your pool becomes dirty and prone to algae growth. 

In addition to this, chlorine will also affect the plants, and the leaking water will drench the ground.

Structural Damage

A small crack in your pool’s surface may serve as a sign of a problem that can cause structural damage, such as water spilling into the ground, and your pool will collapse itself. Any cracks found in your pool should be repaired right away to avoid water loss and other damage issues. 

However, these structure leaks can happen anywhere in your pool, either in a concrete or fiberglass pool. 

It is a prevalent issue to have leaks in any part of the pool, but most importantly, do not ignore the cracks, as they may grow larger or even spread the leak wider, resulting in severe problems to your swimming pool and costly repair.

Skimmer Assembly

A skimmer is a filter that captures debris that traps in the pool. If you want your skimmer to feed water continuously without problem, make sure it is functioning properly. 

If you notice some leaks and imbalance of water level, check your pool for any repairs and replacement of filters before turning on the pump. Always check and reconnect the skimmer if necessary, and this will stop your skimmer from causing a pool leak in the future.

Plumbing

Every pool has a drainage system that is part of the suction line of the water like a skimmer. A tear in underground plumbing lines can lead to severe problems with the pool pump. If you encounter wet ground and water on the deck, this indicates a plumbing leak and needs to be repaired. 

Furthermore, always ensure that the plumbing line is free from any cracks or tears to prevent pool leakage and entering of dirt into the pool.

Suppose you might experience severe damages or a leak. In that case, you can seek assistance from a pool or leak detection company for immediate action to help restore your pool to its normal condition.

Where Do Most Pool Leaks Occur?

The most common pool leaks do not occur in the plumbing section. The pool leaks that happen all the time occur at the pipe connector. It can be found under the pool deck or below the skimmer. Once it happens, a quick repair must be done, which involves heavy equipment such as a backhoe.

Remember that leaks can lead to sinkholes. It means allowing the leak into the foundation might lead to dangerous and deadly sinkholes. 

How to Prevent Pool Leak?

To protect your swimming pool from leaking, you must perform daily monitoring of the surface of your pool. Cleaning frequently is also the most important to prevent your pool from any diseases and algae growth. 

Added to this, you must check your pool pump and skimmers as the significant causes of pool leak, especially when it catches small particles, dirt, or debris that can clog your pump and cause malfunctioning of your skimmer in the water feeder.

How to Fix a Pool Leak?

The best way to repair when you experience a pool leak is to pinpoint the cause of the leak by hiring a leak detection expert. Then you will have to replace the broken pipes or fittings right away. 

However, the other way to temporarily fix a pool leak is using a Fix-A-Leak. This emulsion product is suited for hot tubs, spas, or even pools with small leaks.

As a reminder, using a Fix-A-leak doesn’t mean it will work every time. But it can form a semi-permanent solution to fix the leaks when applied correctly. Also, read the instructions carefully before applying this product.