It is a fact that anyone who owns a pool knows that there is a decrease in water due to high temperatures or too much splashing.  But, when the problem persists over brief periods of time, there may be an indication of leakage.  Leakage can bring many problems such an increase in your water bill, and land saturation.

Within the detection of leaks in swimming pools, there is a binary classification depending on whether they occur at some point of the filtration system and hydraulic circuit.  Another is an anomaly related to some of the element’s external sources such as spotlights, skimmer, sinks, impulse mouths, and in the worst case, there is deterioration and leakage of the pool.

Where is the Water Leaking and How Can I Resolve the Problem?

First, identify where the water is leaking.  It’s not an easy way to do it, but one of the most popular detections is by measuring the water level.  Use an adhesive tape and mark where the water level is; after 24 hours, verify if the level decreased.  If there is, at least, a quarter of an inch less than the day before, you can confirm that there is a loss of water more severe than splashing or high temperature.

According to the experts, water leakage can develop via skimmers, pipe valves, return jets, main drains, and lighting fixtures.

The best solution is to call on a leak-detection company that can find the source of the leak and repair your oasis.  You don’t want to take any chances, calling a leak-detection company can help you to avoid more significant problems and economic expenses.

Avoid Water Leakage – Calcium Build-Up

Maintenance is another way to prevent water loss. Here is the scoop:

• Pool plaster contains calcium. If the water’s mineral is low, it will draw the calcium out from the plaster.  Eventually, you will need a professional to power-sand the pool interior.

• When calcium levels are high, mineral deposits start to grow in and around your oasis, creating scale buildup. These crystal buildups can create grey, white or brown spots throughout your pool.

• It may require an acid wash or a complete re-plaster if you don’t take care of the problem in its early stage.

• You will need to empty the swimming pool to repair the leakage; that is, power-sand, acid wash or re-plaster, and, thousands of gallons of water gone to waste.

Remember that regularly monitoring your swimming pool’s pH, alkaline, and calcium hardness levels will help to prevent leakage problems.  If you catch the calcium buildup early on, you may be able to address it by simply brushing it away and by correcting your water balance.

Splish!  Splash!  Waste of Water

We love splashing, cannonballs, water fights, and diving.  Unfortunately, those activities lead to water leaving your pool. Most adults can resist temptations like boisterous water play or using a diving board (if you have one).

To prevent or reduce the loss of water from happening, create and enforce new pool rules.   So, it is essential to take an opportunity and explain to the children why they should understand the rules and be more cooperative by following them.  Another way to avoid random splashes is to have games like Marco Polo or provide inflatable pool toys.

Sand or De-Filter – When to Clean?

Sand and DE (diatomaceous earth) filters require regular care to avoid accumulation of debris and other clogging particles.  Unfortunately, the only way to clean sand or DE filter is backwashing.

Backwashing is a cleaning process where the flow of the pool water reverses through the filter.  It pushes away the debris and dirt from the screen.  The contaminated water goes through the pipe connected to the filter, and out of the pool.  The process takes a few minutes, but it consumes 200 to 300 gallons of water.  That’s not all, most sand and DE filters require cleaning three to five times per year.

However, this does not represent neglect, on the contrary.  The best way to know when to do a backwash is by checking the gauge.  What you need to do is to check the pressure on the indicator of the filter.  If it reads 8 to 10 psi over the normal pressure, then proceed to do a backwash.  If you do this regularly, you are helping to avoid expending water on a still-relatively clean filter.

Cartridge Filters Save Water

If you’re still receiving high water bills, you may consider changing the DE or Sand filter to a cartridge filter.

Cartridge filters save thousands of gallons of water.  They do not require a backwash cleaning procedure.  All you need is a garden hose.  Remove the cartridge from the filter tank, give it a quick wash with a garden hose and place them back.   You only need to clean them on an average of every six months instead of up to 5 times a year.

Keep an eye on water loss from your pool. Evaporation is typically the chief factor for why water levels drop, but taking the necessary steps ensures more water stays in your oasis.  Remember, it’s essential to make your pool water-efficient to help conserve and preserve the precious liquid of life.