Pool leak detection and repair in Port St. Lucie, FL
Pool losing water in Port St. Lucie, FL? Learn how leaks are found and get a free quote from a licensed local pool contractor for detection and repair.
A pool loses some water every day to evaporation, splash out and backwashing. In Florida heat, evaporation alone can be a noticeable amount. A leak is different: the pool loses more than it should, and the water goes somewhere it should not. Finding the leak first and fixing it second is what saves money.
Signs of a leak
- The water level drops steadily, even when the weather is mild
- You are adding water more often than before, or your water bill has jumped
- Wet or soft spots, or unusually green grass, near the pool or the equipment pad
- Cracks in the deck or the pool shell
- Air bubbles in the pump basket or the pump keeps losing its prime
- Tile or coping that is loosening, with gaps opening along the line
The bucket test
This is a simple first check. Fill a bucket with pool water and set it on a pool step so the water inside is at about the same level as the pool outside. Mark both levels. Leave the pump running as normal for a day or two. If the pool drops noticeably more than the bucket, the pool may be leaking, since both lose the same amount to evaporation. It is not a perfect test, but it gives you something to tell a contractor.
How a pro finds the leak
A leak can be in the shell, in a fitting, in the skimmer or in the plumbing that runs through the ground. A good tech tests each section separately.
- Pressure testing. The lines are plugged and pressurized to see which of them will not hold.
- Dye testing. A small amount of dye is released near a suspected crack or fitting to see if water pulls it in.
- Listening gear. Electronic microphones can pick up the sound of water escaping from a pressurized line.
- Visual checks. The light niche, the skimmer throat, the returns and the equipment pad are common failure points.
Common repairs
Depending on where the leak is, a repair may be a new gasket or fitting, a patch in the shell, a replaced section of underground pipe or a repaired skimmer. Repairs that open up the deck to reach buried pipe cost more, so the detection step helps limit how much is opened. Fixing a leak before resurfacing is wise, since a new finish will not stop water going out through a bad line.
Who does the work
Leak detection can be done by a dedicated leak detection company or by a pool contractor. Repair work that changes plumbing or the structure falls under Florida's contractor rules, so ask who is licensed to do the repair.
Licensing and permits
Pool work in Florida must be done by a licensed pool and spa contractor, and you can check any license for free on MyFloridaLicense.com. Permits depend on the job, the city or the county, and your HOA may have a say. More detail is on the pool resurfacing page.
What it costs
Detection is often a flat fee that can be a few hundred dollars, and repair costs depend on where the leak is and how much has to be opened. A fitting is a small job, and a buried line under a deck is a larger one. Ask for the detection report in writing, since it shows what was tested and what was found.
Once the leak is fixed, you may want to consider pool resurfacing or equipment repair while the pool is out of service.
Related services
We refer homeowners in Port St. Lucie, Tradition, St. Lucie West, Stuart, Jensen Beach, Palm City, and nearby neighborhoods.