5 Signs Your Pool Has a Leak (And What to Do About It)

Cape Town pool owners regularly mistake leaks for evaporation. The difference can cost thousands of rands in lost water, damaged structures and expensive emergency repairs. Here is how to tell the difference, and what to do if you suspect a leak.

1. Your pool loses more than 5mm of water per day

In Cape Town summer, evaporation alone can account for 3 to 5mm of water loss per day. If you are losing more than that, especially in cooler months, something else is going on.

The easiest home check is the bucket test. Fill a bucket two-thirds full of pool water and place it on a pool step so it sits in the same conditions as the pool. Mark the water level inside the bucket and the water level on the pool wall. Check both after 24 hours. If the pool level has dropped significantly more than the bucket level, you have a leak.

2. You notice damp patches around the pool

Soggy soil, damp paving stones or unexplained green grass near the pool are classic signs of an underground pipe leak. Water has to go somewhere, and when it escapes through a cracked return line or skimmer pipe, it often surfaces in the surrounding garden.

3. Air bubbles in the pump or return jets

When a suction-side pipe is leaking, air gets pulled in along with the water. You will see continuous small bubbles coming out of the return jets, or notice air collecting in the pump strainer basket.

4. Cracks in the pool shell or tile line

Visible cracks in the pool surface, especially around the waterline tiles, in the corners of steps, or at the bottom of the shell, are major warning signs. Even hairline cracks can leak surprising amounts of water, and they tend to grow over time.

Pools in the Western Cape are particularly vulnerable to shell cracking because the ground shifts seasonally between wet winters and dry summers. The thermal expansion stress of our climate puts real pressure on older pool structures.

5. Your chemical bill has suddenly spiked

When you lose water, you also lose chlorine, salt and stabiliser. If your pool is suddenly demanding far more chemicals than usual to stay balanced, the water loss is probably the culprit, not your water chemistry.

What to do if you suspect a leak

Do not just top up and ignore it. A small leak today is a structural problem tomorrow.

1. Do the bucket test to confirm the leak
2. Check around the pool for damp patches or unusual plant growth
3. Inspect the equipment area for puddles or dripping fittings
4. Call a professional with leak detection equipment

We have diagnosed pool leaks that three other companies failed to find. The right equipment plus 15+ years of experience makes all the difference.

At Pools For Life, our leak detection capability is one of the things we are best known for. We use specialist electronic equipment, pressure testing and dye testing to pinpoint exactly where the leak is coming from. No guesswork. Once we find it, we fix it properly so it does not come back.