Pool Losing Water in Tucson: Leak or Evaporation?

Every Tucson pool owner has topped off the pool in July and wondered if something's wrong. Sometimes it's just the desert. Sometimes it's a leak.

Why evaporation is high here

Evaporation goes up with heat, sun, wind and dry air, and metro Tucson has plenty of all four in summer. Water features, spillovers and a warm spa make it worse. How much water you lose depends on your pool, so don't compare your pool to a number you read online. Compare it to a bucket of its own water instead.

Signs that point to a leak

• A bucket test shows the pool dropping noticeably faster than the bucket
• The level drops just as much in cool months as in summer
• Wet or sinking spots in the yard or near the equipment
• The level stops dropping at a particular point, like the bottom of the skimmer or the light
• Algae coming back after you add fresh, unbalanced water again and again
• Cracks in the plaster or loose tile

Quick checks before calling

1. Look at the equipment pad for drips with the pump running.
2. Check that the backwash line isn't running water out.
3. Check whether the autofill is stuck.
4. Record the level with the pump on for a day, then off for a day.

Next step

If the evidence points to a leak, a leak detection specialist can usually find it with the pool full.