BUCKET TEST FOR POOL LEAKS
IS YOUR POOL LOSING WATER?
Pools naturally lose some water every day due to evaporation, sunlight, wind, and humidity. However, if you notice that your water level is dropping faster than usual, you may have a leak. Common leak points include the pool’s surface, plumbing lines, seals, or anywhere two different materials meet.
The bucket test is a quick and reliable way to determine whether your water loss is normal or caused by a leak.
HOW TO PERFORM THE BUCKET TEST
- Turn pool equipment off so it does not come on for 24 hours.
- Set pool water level.
Fill your pool to its normal operating level (halfway up the skimmer opening)
🔴 Important: If your pool has an auto-fill device, turn it off before starting.
- Prepare the bucket.
Use a clean 5-gallon bucket and fill it with pool water to about 3 inches from the top of the bucket.
- Set the bucket on the top step (or a sun shelf).
The bucket should be submerged about 4–6 inches.
- Mark the water levels.
Use tape or a waterproof marker to mark:
- The water level inside the bucket
- The pool water level on the outside the bucket
- Secure the pool.
Be sure that no people or animals enter the pool during the test. Splashes or added weight can skew results.
- Wait 24 hours.
Allow the pool to sit undisturbed for a full 24 hours.
⚠️Note: If it rains it will NOT negate the test. Remember you are looking for a difference in the water loss between the bucket and the pool. If it rains, water will increase proportionally in the bucket as it does the pool. Example: If it rains ½ inch, the bucket and pool will both rise ½ inch. After 24 hours they should both be above the marks ½ inch. If after 24 hours the ½” remained in the bucket above the mark and the pool water level now is AT the mark on the outside of the bucket, that ½ inch difference is a leak.
- Check results.
Compare the two marks:
- If the outside pool level drops more than inside the bucket → Your pool likely has a leak.
- If both levels drop evenly → The water loss is due to normal evaporation.
- Continue test.
If there is no difference in the water loss between the bucket and the pool:
- Turn the system back on and let the pool run its normal cycle for the next 24 hours.
- After 24 hours, when the pool equipment is off, check the marks in and outside of the bucket.
- If the water in the pool is further off the mark, then the water in the bucket, you have a leak.
NOTE: Doing this will help determine if there is a leak in the spa or plumbing that can only be detected when the pool is running.
WHY THE BUCKET TEST MATTERS
Even a small leak can waste hundreds of gallons of water per week, raise your water bills, and cause costly damage to your pool and property. In Florida, pool leaks are especially important to catch early due to soil and sinkhole risks.
Here’s why you shouldn’t ignore the warning signs:
- Higher water bills – Leaks can add up to thousands in wasted water annually.
- Structural damage – Pool decks and surrounding areas may crack or shift.
- Wasted chemicals – Chemicals are lost along with the water, making your pool unsafe.
- Environmental concerns – Excess water waste impacts the local water supply.
- Potential sinkholes – Florida’s soil makes it critical to address underground leaks quickly.
WHAT TO DO IF THE BUCKET TEST SHOWS A LEAK
If your bucket test suggests a leak, don’t wait. Call Leak Wizard at (813) 968-3232 or schedule online for professional residential and commercial pool leak detection & repair, pool crack repair, underground plumbing repairs, and clogged pool line repairs.
We proudly serve Central & Florida’s West Coast — including Orlando, Clearwater, Sarasota, Lakeland, and Tampa — helping homeowners and businesses protect their pools and avoid costly damage.