How To Do A DIY Bucket Test For Pool Leak DetectionIf you have a swimming pool and think there's a leak somewhere, what should you do? There's a few options, and one of them is to try a DIY approach. That's where the "bucket test" comes in for leak detection. Here's the reality though, even if you do the bucket test and it comes back positive, you'll still want to call a professional leak detection company.
How To Know If Your Pool Is Leaking?The basic indicator that your pool is leaking is if it's losing water. However, this indicator can be a bit confusing because it is normal for pools to lose water. For instance, evaporation is a natural occurrence that will definitely lead to water lose from a pool, especially in the Arizona weather - evaporation is normal to some level. Does evaporation mean there is a leak? Of course not.
So, what you should check is whether the water your pool is losing is more than inch in a day. If the water your pool is losing is more than inch, there could be a leak. For you to test the pool leak on your own, you can perform a DIY bucket test. |
|
|
|
|
What You Need For A Bucket Test
For you to conduct the DIY bucket test, there are things you will need to make the process successful. They include the following:
- A marker - preferably a permanent marker for clarity
- A rock - Make sure the rock is big enough to hold the bucket down so it doesn't float
- A large bucket
The Steps To Perform Your DIY Bucket Test For Leak Detection
There are steps you should follow to ensure the success of the bucket test.
Step 1: The first step is to make sure that you turn off the water.
Step 2: Next, you'll need to use your bucket and the rock. Put the big rock in the bucket and then place it on the first or second step of your swimming pool. The water should be about half way up on the outside of the bucket.
Step 3: The next step is to put water in the bucket. It's important that the level of the water in the bucket is at the same level as the water inside the pool.
Step 4: Once you're sure that the two water levels match, pick the permanent marker and use it to mark the level of water in the interior and exterior sides of the bucket. Allow it to sit for 24-48 hours.
Step 5: After leaving the bucket for around 2 days, go back and examine the levels of water. If you notice that the water in the pool and that in the bucket do not match, something might be happening.
Both buckets will have less water than the original marking because of evaporation. But if there's more than 2 inches of difference between the water OUTSIDE the bucket compared to INSIDE, there could be a leak in the pool. Then, it's time to call the professional pool leak detection company to come do a full service process.
Step 1: The first step is to make sure that you turn off the water.
Step 2: Next, you'll need to use your bucket and the rock. Put the big rock in the bucket and then place it on the first or second step of your swimming pool. The water should be about half way up on the outside of the bucket.
Step 3: The next step is to put water in the bucket. It's important that the level of the water in the bucket is at the same level as the water inside the pool.
Step 4: Once you're sure that the two water levels match, pick the permanent marker and use it to mark the level of water in the interior and exterior sides of the bucket. Allow it to sit for 24-48 hours.
Step 5: After leaving the bucket for around 2 days, go back and examine the levels of water. If you notice that the water in the pool and that in the bucket do not match, something might be happening.
Both buckets will have less water than the original marking because of evaporation. But if there's more than 2 inches of difference between the water OUTSIDE the bucket compared to INSIDE, there could be a leak in the pool. Then, it's time to call the professional pool leak detection company to come do a full service process.
IMPORTANT Notes About Your DIY Test
As you conduct the test, it's crucial to stop using your pool for the 2 days. That includes turning OFF the auto-refill feature in your pool. This will only distort the results and give inaccurate data. The pool needs to sit completely UNTOUCHED for the 2 days of the test so that water changes are correctly measured.
Also, it's best to conduct the test on sunny days. Rainy days are not ideal for the test, as you can probably figure out. If it's raining, it's better to wait until the weather is clear to do the test.
Also, it's best to conduct the test on sunny days. Rainy days are not ideal for the test, as you can probably figure out. If it's raining, it's better to wait until the weather is clear to do the test.
Why You Need To Hire a Professional to Find Pool Leaks
Doing your own DIY testing is a great place to start with residential leak detection. But at some point, you'll want a professional to come in. Not just for the detection, but also to accurately locate the leak so you can get quotes on the repairs. Some repairs can be small and others can be expensive. Having a full leak detection report will be immensely helpful in getting costs from several different repair companies as well as answering any other big questions you have about pools. That's why you work with outstanding companies like Phoenix Leak Detectors!