Do-It-Yourself Bucket Test in Austin & the Texas Hill Country

Why a bucket test works

Evaporation hits the pool and a bucket of pool water sitting in it at the same rate. If the pool drops more than the bucket, the difference is a leak.

How to do it

Set a bucket on the first or second step and fill it with pool water to match the pool's level. Mark the water level inside the bucket and on the outside of the bucket at the pool's level. Turn off the autofill. Leave the pump on its normal schedule for 24 hours, then compare the two drops. Repeat for another 24 hours with the pump off to see whether the leak is on the pressure side or the suction side.

A tidier option

A small weighted test cylinder, sometimes sold as a mini bucket test, sits steadily on the step and makes the comparison easier to read than a full bucket. It's an inexpensive tool worth having.

When to call

If your pool loses half an inch or more beyond the bucket in a day, or if you've received a high-usage or underground leak notice, call us right away. The sooner a leak is pinpointed, the less water and damage it costs you.