Free self-check
Is my pool leaking, or is it just evaporation?
Evaporation varies with weather, water temperature and exposure. A 24-hour bucket test compares your pool with water nearby to help you decide whether further testing is worthwhile. It cannot locate a leak.
How to do the bucket test
Fill a bucket
Use a 5-gallon bucket. Fill it with pool water to about 3 inches from the top.
Set it on the pool step
Place it on the first or second step so it sits in the pool water and stays at the same temperature.
Mark both water levels
Mark the water level inside the bucket, and mark the pool level on the outside of the bucket (tape works well).
Run the pump as normal and wait 24 hours
Turn off the auto-fill if you have one. Do not swim or add water during the test.
Compare the two drops
Measure how far each level fell, then enter both numbers below.
Check your result
Enter how many inches each level dropped over 24 hours. Fractions like 0.25 work. The rough water-loss estimate assumes a 450-square-foot pool and the same daily loss for 30 days; your pool and actual loss may differ.
This points to a leak.
Your pool dropped more than the bucket in a day. This suggests water loss beyond evaporation, but measurement error or test conditions can affect the result. For a 450-square-foot pool, that difference would be roughly gallons over 30 days if it continued. A professional test can investigate.
Possibly a small leak.
Your pool dropped more than the bucket. That may be affected by measurement error. Repeat the test once more, ideally on a calm day, and if the pool drops more again, call us.
No clear extra loss measured in this test.
This test did not measure a clear excess drop in the pool. If you still see signs of a leak below, it is worth a professional check, since some leaks only show with the pump on or off.
Enter a number from 0 to 24 for each drop, in inches; for example, 0.5 for half an inch.
Symptom checklist
Check everything you have noticed. You do not need the bucket test to use this.
Bucket test questions
- Why does the bucket go on the step instead of the deck?
- Sitting in the pool helps keep the bucket water at a similar temperature. This makes the evaporation comparison more useful, although exposure, splashing and measurement error can affect the result.
- Should I run the test with the pump on or off?
- Start with your normal pump schedule and note when the pump runs. If you have noticed a difference with the pump on or off, tell your technician. That observation can help guide testing, but does not identify a particular pipe or leak by itself. Ask us before changing your equipment schedule for another test.
- It rained during my test. Is it still valid?
- Rain, overflow and splashing can make the comparison unreliable. Repeat the test on a dry day with no swimming or added water.
Losing water? Let’s find out where.
Call us or request a quote. We will ask a few questions about what you are seeing and get you on the schedule.
Serving San Diego, South OC and Southwest Riverside since 2021 · Satisfaction guaranteed