Pool water evaporation is a natural process. The amount of evaporation in an outdoor pool or spa is based on the weather. During the dry weather normally experienced in the Florida winter, your pool or hot tub may lose about a quarter-inch of water each day.

Humidity plays a role in evaporation. Florida summers are hot and humid, so your outdoor pool probably won't show a quarter-inch loss each day. An uncovered outdoor pool, spa, fountain or other water feature may even overfill on a rainy day. Evaporation in a pool or spa that is indoors is probably more consistent since the humidity level in the room is usually the same throughout the year.

You probably need to add a little water to the pool once a week. Keep track of how often and how much you fill the pool to its recommended water level during a month.

There are several ways to check if evaporation or a leak is responsible for a lower water level in your pool.

#1. Monitor The Water Level When the Pump and Spa Jets are Off

Fountains and other water features in the pool must be turned off. Your pool may be filled to a tile line. Use the skimmer as a reference point, marking the still water line with a piece of tape. A loss of more than one-quarter inch from evaporation over a 24-hour period is an indication of a leak.

#2. Check the Skimmer and Intake Line

If air is going into the skimmer or intake, you may have a leak. The normal inch of water loss over a four-day period from pool water evaporation should not affect the intake line.

If the jets in a spa tub are partially above the surface, you may have a leak. Jets are designed to work underwater at different levels in the spa.

#3. Conduct the Bucket Test

 This is an easy 24-hour test with the pump off. Place a five-gallon bucket filled with water on a step so that the rim is well above the pool's water line.

Mark the water level inside the bucket and on the outside. The inside mark will show your regular pool water evaporation. If the outside line is more than a quarter inch, start looking for leaks.

The bucket test should be conducted during a dry day and night for an outside pool or spa. The pool should be unused for a 24 hour period since water loss also results from splashing.

Finding a small leak can be simple. Check fittings and light niches to make sure they are tight. The skimmer assembly should be tight against the pool surface. Check for loose tiles and cracks in grouting.

Contact Aquaman Leak Detection for more detailed inspections of your pool and spa if you experience unusual water loss. Plugging and repairing leaks immediately saves water and energy costs.

Aquaman Leak Detection serves all of Central & South Florida as well as Southern California and Houston Texas with expert service using the latest high-tech equipment to find and repair leaks.