The weather is warming, and you may decide to use your pool in the spring. Some people use their spa tubs and pools during the warmer days of the winter months. It is time for spa and swimming pool maintenance as you prepare for the warmer Central Florida seasons. Take time to check for leaks before you open your pool or spa this spring.

Uncovered

You should keep your pool and spa covered when they are not in use. This will limit evaporation and keep your pool clean. The average backyard pool contains 18,000 to 20,000 gallons of water. Excessive rain can collect on top of the cover pushing it into the water. This will cause the cover to become displaced. Try to eliminate any water that collected on the cover before rolling it off the pool.

If your water level is several inches below the recommended waterline, you may have a leak. You may decide to conduct the bucket test before turning on the pool motor. A good time to check for changes in the water level while the water is still.

You also need to check the pH balance and apply chemicals as needed. Shock the pool after the bucket test since the pool motor should be on while you apply the chemicals. You need to wait eight hours before using the pool with most products. Regular pool maintenance includes checking the pH balance and shocking the pool. 

Finding a Leak

If the bucket test indicates a substantial water loss, you need to begin checking for leaks. Check for tears in the liner of vinyl pools. Tears are often a problem with this material.

All fittings in gunite and fiberglass pools should be checked. This is also standard pool maintenance. They must fit well and be tight. Check the skimmer area for problems. If the skimmer assembly came loose over the winter, you are likely to have a leak in that area. The water level should be about one-third of the distance below the top of the skimmer assembly.

Check the grounds around the pool for wet spots where the plumbing lines might be under the decking. You could have a small leak in the return or intake lines. A small leak is easy to repair.

The main area to check is the pump room. If you have water on the floor in that area, you can easily pinpoint the leak. Check all fittings, especially the intake line carrying water to the filter. All lines should be tightly fitted.

Turn on the motor and look for water dripping from the entire pump assembly. This will indicate the location of a leak.

To help get your pool or spa ready for the season call Aquaman Leak Detection. We are located in Brevard County and service all of Florida.  We will help locate and repair leaks. Our response time is fast, and we can often fix the leak in one visit.