A pool that's losing water isn't always leaking — evaporation, splash-out, and backwashing all remove water on a normal day. But when the drop is faster than the weather can explain, leak detection tells you whether there's a real problem and, if so, where it is. Our detection work in Cooper City is built around ruling out the simple explanations first, then methodically narrowing down the source.
What a pool leak actually is
A pool leak is any place where water escapes the system faster than it should. That can be through a crack in the plaster, a separated fitting at a skimmer or return, a broken underground line, a leaky light niche, or a worn seal at the equipment pad. Some leaks are obvious — a wet spot on the deck or air in the pump basket. Others are hidden underground or behind tile and take a careful process to find.
Common signs you may need leak detection
- The water level drops more than about a quarter inch a day, even when no one is swimming
- Your auto-fill runs constantly or your water bill climbs without explanation
- The ground around the pool, equipment, or deck stays wet or soft
- Air bubbles appear in the pump basket or return jets
- Cracks show up in the plaster, tile, or surrounding deck
Why South Florida pools lose water
Cooper City pools deal with intense sun and heat that drive fast evaporation, especially from late spring through early fall. Heavy summer rain can refill a pool overnight and hide a slow leak for weeks. Sandy soil and a high water table mean underground leaks don't always leave an obvious wet patch on the surface. Pools beside screen enclosures and dense landscaping also have fittings and lines that shift over time as the ground settles.
How we find a leak
We start by ruling out evaporation, often with a simple bucket test that compares water loss in a container on the pool steps to loss in the pool itself. If the pool drops noticeably more than the bucket, a leak is likely. From there we work through the system methodically:
- Visual inspection of the shell, tile, skimmers, returns, lights, and equipment pad for cracks, gaps, or wet spots
- Pressure testing of plumbing lines to find breaks underground that aren't visible from the surface
- Dye testing around suspected cracks and fittings to confirm exactly where water is being drawn out
- Listening equipment on pressurized lines to pinpoint underground breaks by sound
Not every method is needed on every pool. We choose the ones that fit what you're seeing and the type of pool you have.
What happens after we find it
Once we've located the source, we explain what's causing it and what repair usually involves, in plain terms. You get a straightforward estimate before any work begins. Some leaks are simple fixes — a resealed fitting or a patched crack. Others, like a broken underground line, take more involved repair. Either way, you'll know what's going on before you commit to anything.
When to call us
If your pool is losing more than a quarter inch of water a day with no obvious cause, or you're seeing any of the signs above, it's worth having it checked. The sooner a leak is found, the less chance it has to erode the soil under your deck, stress your equipment, or run up your water bill. Reach out and we'll schedule a visit that fits your day.