07/07/2026
Refilling your pool more often than usual? That's often the first sign of a leak, not just summer heat.
A normal pool loses about a quarter to half an inch of water a day to evaporation. If yours drops more than two inches in a week, something's wrong. The quickest way to know for sure is the bucket test: set a water-filled bucket on your second step, mark the level inside and out, and check back in 24 hours. If the pool level falls faster than the bucket, you likely have a leak.
Water loss usually traces back to a few sources. Equipment and plumbing issues like worn O-rings, loose valves, or underground pipes are common. Structural wear—cracks in concrete shells or tears in vinyl liners—can also let water escape. So can the seals around skimmers, return jets, and lights, where plastic meets concrete or vinyl.
Watch for the warning signs, too: soggy or unusually green patches in the yard, cracks in the pool deck, loose or falling tiles, and stubborn algae that keeps returning as constant refilling dilutes your chemicals.
Acting fast protects your investment. Escaping water erodes the soil around your pool, leading to sunken decks and cracked shells, and a low water level can burn out your pump motor entirely.
Suspect more than evaporation? The team at Patriot Pools can diagnose and repair the issue before a small leak becomes a major repair. Schedule your leak inspection here:
https://patriotpoolservice.com/what-to-do-if-your-pool-is-losing-water/
It is completely normal to top off your pool during the hot summer months. But if you find yourself running the garden hose more often than usual, you might
