FAQ
Bucket Test Instructions
– Turn the pump off and let the water get still.
– Use a pencil or a small piece of tape to mark the water level at the skimmer or on a nearby tile.
– If you have solar panels, wait until they finish draining back into the pool before marking the level.
– If you have a spa or fountain that normally drains into the pool when the pump shuts off, close the valves so they don’t affect the test.
Prepare your test bucket
– Use a 2‑gallon or larger bucket.
– Make a mark less than ¾ inch from the top on the inside of the bucket. (Important: Don’t fill the bucket halfway—this causes inaccurate results.)
If your pool is heated, use a metal bucket so the bucket water matches the pool temperature better.
– Fill the bucket with pool water up to your mark. (This is very important, the water in the bucket needs to be the same temperature as the pool.)
– Place the bucket on the top step or sun shelf of the pool.
– If it tries to float, use bricks or something sturdy underneath to keep it in place.
– Leave everything alone for 24 hours.
– After 24 hours, compare the water level in the bucket against the water level in the pool starting at your mark.
– If the pool and bucket dropped by about the same amount (within 1/16 inch), the pool is likely not leaking.
– If the pool dropped more than the bucket: The pool is likely leaking.
Frequently asked questions
In Florida, most pools lose ⅛” to ¼” of water per day under typical conditions.
The pool’s location and how exposed it is to the sun and wind also affect evaporation. Pools that get a lot of direct sun and wind—such as south‑facing pools without a screen enclosure—will always evaporate more than pools that are sheltered.
Heating your pool can greatly increase evaporation—sometimes even doubling it. Added water features such as waterfalls, bubblers, floor jet systems, etc., will increase evaporation.
During seasonal transitions—especially spring, fall, and post‑frontal winter weather—evaporation can increase to ¼” to ½” per day.
Pools lose water through evaporation, intentional water replacement (backwashing, splash‑out, or dilution), or leakage. The first two are expected operational losses, while leakage represents an abnormal condition requiring correction.
Note: A ¼‑inch daily drop in a 15×30 pool equals roughly 70 gallons a day—over 2,100 gallons in just one month.