Why Is My Pool Losing Water? How to Tell if It’s Evaporation or Something More
One of the most common questions we hear from homeowners is, “Why is my pool losing water?” If you live in Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Indian Wells, or Cathedral City, it’s completely normal for your pool water level to drop throughout the week. Our desert climate, triple-digit temperatures, and low humidity cause water to evaporate much faster than it does in most parts of the country.
But how do you know whether you’re dealing with normal evaporation or something that needs attention?
Knowing the difference can save you money, prevent equipment damage, and help you catch small problems before they become expensive ones.
How Much Water Loss Is Normal?
During the hottest months in the Coachella Valley, it’s common for a pool to lose ¼ to ½ inch of water per day from evaporation alone.
Several factors can increase evaporation, including summer temperatures over 110°, low humidity, windy afternoons, water features running for long periods, and heated pools and spas.
If your water loss falls within that range, your pool may be functioning exactly as it should.
Signs Something Else May Be Going On
If you’re adding water every couple of days or notice the water level dropping much faster than normal, it’s worth taking a closer look.
Some signs that may indicate a problem include losing more than ½ inch of water per day, wet areas around your pool equipment, water dripping from valves, pumps, or plumbing, air bubbles coming through the return jets, an autofill that seems to run constantly, or a sudden increase in your water bill.
Sometimes the issue is as simple as a leaking pump seal, a worn valve, or plumbing around the equipment pad. Other times, the water loss could be coming from somewhere else in the pool system.
Try the Bucket Test First
One of the easiest ways to determine whether you’re dealing with evaporation or excessive water loss is the bucket test.
Fill a bucket with pool water and place it on a pool step so the water inside the bucket is level with the pool water outside. Mark both water levels.
After 24 hours, if both water levels drop about the same amount, evaporation is likely the cause. If the pool water drops noticeably more than the bucket, there may be a leak somewhere in the system. It’s a simple test that can help point you in the right direction.
Equipment Leaks Are More Common Than You Might Think
Over the years, we’ve repaired many water leaks that homeowners assumed were coming from the pool itself. In reality, the problem was often at the equipment pad.
Common equipment leaks include pump seals, filter tanks or drain plugs, heater plumbing, valves, and pipe fittings and unions.
These leaks can waste a surprising amount of water and often worsen over time if left unaddressed.
What If It Isn’t the Equipment?
If your equipment appears dry but your pool continues losing more water than normal, the issue may be elsewhere in the pool structure or underground plumbing.
In those situations, we typically recommend working with a specialized leak detection company. Using electronic equipment and pressure testing, they can pinpoint the exact location of hidden leaks without unnecessary digging or guesswork.
For smaller repairs, many leak detection companies are able to complete the repair themselves during the same visit.
For larger repairs, they’ll typically provide you with a detailed leak detection report showing exactly where the leak is located and what needs to be repaired.
That’s where Pool Care Solutions comes in.
While we don’t perform specialized leak detection, we regularly use professional leak detection reports to develop a repair plan and complete the necessary repairs. Instead of starting the process over, we can use the report to understand the scope of work and provide an estimate for restoring your pool.
Our goal is to make the repair process as smooth and straightforward as possible, so you can get back to enjoying your pool.
Don’t Ignore Excessive Water Loss
Even a small leak can lead to bigger problems over time.
Besides wasting water, excessive water loss can result in higher water bills, increased chemical costs, equipment damage if the water level drops too low, soil erosion around the pool, and costlier repairs if the problem worsens.
Addressing the issue early is almost always less expensive than waiting.
Pool Losing Water? We’re Here to Help.
If your pool seems to be losing more water than it should, we’d be happy to inspect your equipment and determine whether the issue appears to be something we can repair or whether a leak detection specialist is needed.
If you’ve already had a leak detection company inspect your pool and received a leak detection report, we can use that report to develop a repair plan and provide an estimate for completing the necessary repairs.
Pool Care Solutions proudly serves homeowners throughout Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Indian Wells, or Cathedral City with professional pool maintenance, equipment repairs, remodels, drain and refills, and leak repairs based on professional leak detection reports.
Call 760-218-4696 to schedule your free estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal for my pool to lose water every day?
Yes. During the summer in the Coachella Valley, most pools lose between ¼ and ½ inch of water per day due to evaporation. High temperatures, low humidity, wind, and water features can all increase water loss.
How do I know if my pool has a leak?
A simple bucket test is a good place to start. If your pool loses significantly more water than the bucket over a 24-hour period, there may be a leak that should be investigated.
Why is my pool losing water overnight?
Pools continue to lose some water overnight, but much less than during the day because temperatures are cooler and the sun isn’t accelerating evaporation. If you notice significant overnight water loss, it could indicate an equipment leak or another issue that should be checked.
Can pool equipment leak?
Absolutely. Pump seals, filter tanks, heaters, valves, pipe fittings, and plumbing connections can all develop leaks over time. Equipment leaks are often easier and less expensive to repair than underground plumbing leaks.
Does Pool Care Solutions perform leak detection?
Pool Care Solutions does not perform specialized underground leak detection. We inspect pool equipment for visible leaks and repair many equipment-related water leaks as a first line of defense.
If your leak appears to be underground or within the pool structure, we’ll recommend working with a professional leak detection company to obtain a report. If the leak detection company reports a larger repairs, they typically provide a detailed leak detection report identifying the source of the leak. We can then use that report to develop a repair plan and complete the necessary repairs, saving you from having to start the process over.
