How to Detect Leaks in Above Ground Pool Liners

It takes patience to detect leaks in above ground pool liners.

An above ground pool is a source of entertainment during the summer, but it's not without its drawbacks. One of the biggest concerns pool owners have is discovering a leak in the pool. Once you have established the fact that there is indeed a leak, the biggest challenge isn't fixing the leak. The biggest challenge is detecting where the water is coming from. Finding a hole or tear in an above ground pool liner is a task that takes time and patience.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Dye mixture

Instructions

1. Rule out all other leak sources. Before you begin the process of examining the vinyl liner for the leak, double check the pool hoses and look for wet spots around the filter. There is no sense in searching for a leak in the liner if the problem is actually a loose connection.

2. Check the outside of the pool for the presence of water. As you walk around the pool, feel the ground or look for evidence of pooling water. This could give you an idea as to the location of the leak in the above ground pool.

3. Measure the water levels daily. The average rate of evaporation runs between 1/4 and 1/2 an inch. This number varies depending on air/water temperature, humidity and weather conditions. If your pool water level is decreasing by more than 1/2 inch a day, more than likely you have a leak. You can get an indication of the size of the leak by the amount of evaporation. If the pool is losing more than 1 inch per day, the leak is pretty significant.

4. Allow the water to drain. One way to find a leak in a liner is to let the water continue to drain out until it stops leaking. Once the water stops draining, you know the level at which the vinyl is torn. At this point, you can go in the pool and slowly examine the pool liner just above the current water level to find the cause of the leak.

5. Spray a diluted dye mixture into the pool. If you don't want to allow the water level to drop, you can use a diluted dye mixture to spray in the water near the liner. You'll be able to pinpoint the hole or tear as the colored water gravitates towards the leak. This method takes a lot of time and patience. You must stand perfectly still in the pool to allow the water to naturally travel to the leak.

Tips & Warnings

• If your above ground pool has a main drain, try running the filter using the skimmer only. If you notice a decrease in leaking pool water by running the filter with the skimmer only, your leaking problem may be in the main drain.

References

• Northeast Spa and Pool Association: Facts About Pool Water Usage

Resources

• About Above Ground Pools: First Step to Finding a Pool Leak