Is Your Pool Losing Water? Here's How to Know for Sure

If you're topping off your pool more than usual, you might assume it's just the Arizona heat doing its thing. And honestly - sometimes it is. Evaporation in the desert is no joke. But there's a big difference between normal evaporation and an actual leak, and it's worth knowing which one you're dealing with.

That's where the 24-hour bucket test comes in. It's simple, free, and gives you a real answer without guessing. Fill a bucket about three-quarters full with pool water, set it on a pool step so the water inside sits level with the water outside, and mark both levels. Turn off your equipment, wait 24 hours, and compare. If both dropped the same amount - normal evaporation. If the pool dropped more than the bucket - you've likely got a leak.

Here in Arizona, pools deal with heat stress all summer long. Plumbing fittings, shells, and equipment all expand and contract with temperature swings, and small leaks can go unnoticed for weeks. A slow leak doesn't just waste water - it can erode the ground around your equipment, shift your pool structure, and rack up serious water bills before you ever notice something is wrong.

We've been diagnosing and repairing pool leaks in Litchfield Park since 1979, so we've seen just about every scenario. Whether it's a crack in the shell, a failing fitting, or a plumbing line issue underground, we have the tools and experience to track it down and fix it right. A leak doesn't get better on its own - but it does get worse.

If you run the bucket test and your pool is coming up short, don't sit on it. The sooner a leak gets found, the less damage it does. We're here to help.