Swimming Pool Leak Bucket Test
Evaporation is dependent on a variety of environmental and pool related conditions, (wind, water temp, dew point, barometric pressure and other to a lesser extent). Because of this the evaporation rate can vary greatly from day to day and even pool to pool.
Before becoming too concerned about a leak you can do a simple test to determine if water loss in your swimming pool is due to a leak or is just evaporation. This simple test is called the bucket test.
Basically, the bucket test exposes water in a bucket to the same conditions as those affecting your swimming pool. By comparing the water loss in each, it is possible to determine if the pool is leaking or if supposed leaks are just the result of water being lost to the air.
Bucket Test Procedure:
- Bring the pool water to its normal level
- Fill an empty bucket with pool water to about one inch from the top of bucket. (By filling the bucket close to the top you are ensuring that air movement over the surface of the bucket will be similar to that of the pool.)
- Place the bucket on the first or second step of the pool. To keep it from floating away it may be necessary to place a few bricks or rocks into the bucket. (By placing the bucket in the pool water you are ensuring that the water temperature of each will be similar).
- Mark the water level inside the bucket.
- Mark the water level of the pool on the outside of the bucket, on the pool wall or skimmer face plate.
- Operate the pool for 24 hours as it had been operated when a leak was first suspected.
- After 24 hours compare the two levels. If the pool water (outside mark) goes down more than the inside water level there is probably a leak.
