Leak Detection
A pool losing water isn't always leaking — but if you're losing more than 1/4" per day in still weather, something is wrong, and ignoring it costs you more than just the water. Leaks behind the plaster, in suction-side plumbing, or under the deck cause structural damage to your pool and yard the longer they're left. We use electronic leak detection, dye testing, and pressure testing to find the leak in hours, not weeks — and tell you honestly whether to repair or live with it.
What's Included
- Bucket test — confirms whether it's actually a leak vs evaporation
- Dye testing on suspected entry points (skimmer, returns, light niche, drain)
- Pressure testing of all underground plumbing (suction + return)
- Electronic leak detection (geophone) for underground line leaks
- Hydrostatic test of main drain + suction lines
- Light-niche conduit inspection
- Equipment-pad leak isolation (pump, heater, filter, valves)
- Written leak report with location + recommended repair scope
The Hidden Pains Pool Owners Face
If any of these describe your situation, you’re not alone — and you\'re not stuck.
Water bill jumped and you can't figure out why
A 1/2" daily loss on a 20,000-gallon pool is roughly 200 gallons a day. Over a month that's a noticeable bump on your water bill, plus thousands of gallons of treated water washed into your yard.
Wet spots in the lawn near the equipment pad
Suction or return-line leak under the deck. If unaddressed, the soil washes out and the deck cracks or sinks. Repair window is small — early detection is cheap, late repair is concrete work.
Pool drops to a specific level and stops
Almost always a skimmer leak or a return-line leak at the height where the water stopped. Easy to find with the right gear; impossible to find with a homeowner's eyes.
Heater is leaking water onto the equipment pad
Heat exchanger or header crack. Continuing to run it makes the damage worse. We can isolate the leak to the heater specifically and quote repair-vs-replace from there.
Light niche or main drain suspected
These are the hardest leaks to find without proper equipment. Without electronic detection, the next step is usually divers or invasive demolition — both expensive and often unnecessary.
Why Choose This Service
Leak located within 2–4 hours instead of guessing for weeks
Avoids unnecessary demolition / coping replacement
Stops daily water loss + chemical loss
Stops structural damage to deck + surrounding soil
Clear repair quote — repair, replace, or live with it
Our Process
How we deliver exceptional results, every time.
Bucket test
First we confirm it's actually a leak and not evaporation. Even on hot days, a healthy pool loses 1/4" or less per day to evaporation. Anything more is a leak.
Visual + dye test
Skimmer, returns, lights, tile line, drain. Dye reveals entry points the eye can't see.
Pressure test underground lines
Suction and return lines isolated and pressure-tested. A line that won't hold pressure is a buried leak.
Electronic detection if needed
Geophone listens for the sound of pressurized water escaping the line, walked along the line until we get a peak signal. That's where the leak is — within 6–12 inches.
Written report + repair quote
You get a leak report with photos, location, and a flat repair quote. Repair scope ranges from a simple fitting swap to a full deck cut, depending on what we find.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much water loss is normal?
Up to 1/4" per day in summer is normal evaporation in Sacramento. 1/2" or more per day, or any noticeable loss in cool weather, indicates a leak.
Will my pool drain itself dry?
Most leaks self-arrest at the level of the leak. Skimmer leaks stop when water drops below the skimmer. Return-line leaks stop at the return port. Main drain or shell cracks are the rare cases that can drain a pool.
How accurate is electronic detection?
Within 6–12 inches of the actual leak point, on most underground line leaks. That's the difference between cutting one square of deck vs cutting up your entire deck guessing.
Do you fix the leak too, or just find it?
Both. Fitting / valve / equipment leaks we usually fix the same day. Underground line repairs (deck cut, pipe splice, deck patch) are typically scheduled separately because of the deck work involved.
What if you can't find the leak?
Rare. If we can't locate the leak within the standard service, we credit your service-call fee toward whatever the next diagnostic step is. We don't bill you twice for the same problem.
