How to Find a Leak in an Above Ground Swimming Pool

Finding a swimming pool leak can be tricky.

Above ground pools can be entertaining for the kids and their friends, but sometimes all the excitement can lead to a small tear in the pool liner that causes the pool water level to drop a lot or drop slightly, depending on the size of the tear. You must find the leak before you can determine what you need to do to fix the leak and stop the loss of water and ground saturation.

Things You'll Need

• Food coloring
• Eye dropper
• Goggles
• Marker or crayon

Instructions

1. Check all plumbing for the pool to make sure that the leak is not coming from a loose fitting or a seal. If it is not coming from the plumbing, check the liner.

2. Walk around the exterior of the pool with bare feet to find the area where the ground is wet, which will be the place to start looking inside the pool for a liner leak.

3. Wear a pair of goggles. Go under water and look for tiny bubbles. If you see an area with bubbling, feel the liner to see if there is a tear. You can see some tears easily, whereas some are camouflaged by the liner pattern. If you cannot determine if the leak is in the area where the bubbles are coming from, proceed to step 4.

4. Place some food coloring in an eyedropper. Place one finger over the opening of the eyedropper to keep the coloring inside until you are underwater by the place you suspect of having a leak.

5. Place the eyedropper within an inch from the bubbles. Remove your finger from the opening, allowing a small amount of dye to leak out. If you have found the leak, the dye will flow to the tear and be sucked out of the pool. Continue this process until you find the leak, taking breaths when needed. Mark the spot with an underwater marker or a crayon so you don't lose it.

References

• Pool Repair Guide: Above Ground Pool Leak