Quick answer
Pool leak detection confirms whether your pool is leaking or just evaporating, then finds where the water escapes: the shell, lights, skimmers, fittings or underground lines. In Coral Gables it’s done with the pool full, using dye and pressure testing. Calls are answered 24/7 at +13053150618.
Last updated November 2026
Signs your pool is leaking
South Florida heat causes some daily evaporation. A leak is more likely when the drop is faster than that or keeps a steady pattern.
- Water level drops noticeably more than a quarter inch a day
- Refilling more often than usual
- Wet or soft ground near the pool or equipment
- Cracks in the shell, tile line or deck
- Air bubbles in the returns or the pump losing prime
- Higher water bill since the pool needed topping up
How pool leaks are found
The first step is confirming it’s a leak, not evaporation. Then the shell and the plumbing are tested separately.
Dye testing
Colored dye released near fittings, cracks and lights is drawn toward a leak, showing exactly where water exits a pool.
Pressure testing
Isolating each line and watching for pressure loss shows which pipe is leaking before anything is opened.
Acoustic listening
Sensitive microphones pick up the sound of water escaping a pressurized pipe, even through concrete or soil.
Bucket test
A bucket of pool water set on a step compares normal evaporation with the pool’s actual loss.
Pool leaks in Coral Gables
Pools are common here, and many have been in the ground for years. Common leak points are light niches, skimmers, return fittings, tile lines and the underground lines to the pump.
Because evaporation is high in summer, a slow leak is easy to miss. Measuring the loss with a bucket test is the quickest way to know.
What to do right now
- 1
Do the bucket test
Fill a bucket to match pool level, set it on a step, and compare after 24 hours.
- 2
Note the pattern
Does the level drop more with the pump running or off? It points to the shell or the plumbing.
- 3
Call for detection
Share what you measured. It narrows the search.
Common questions
How much water loss is normal for a pool?
In warm weather a pool can lose around a quarter inch a day to evaporation, more on hot, windy days. Consistently more than that suggests a leak.
Do I need to drain the pool for leak detection?
Usually not. Dye tests and pressure tests are done with the pool full.
Can you find leaks in a spa too?
Yes. Spas and attached spa plumbing are tested the same way.