Where the leak is traced
- Shell: cracks, joints and loose tiles
- Skimmers, main drains and return jets
- Underwater lights and their fittings
- Suction and return pipes
- Pump, filter and valves in the pump room
- Repair once the leak is found
How to tell if your pool is leaking
- The bucket test: fill a bucket with pool water, set it on the first step and mark the level inside and outside. If after 24 hours the pool has dropped noticeably more than the bucket, there's a leak.
- You're topping up the pool more than once a week.
- There are damp patches in the garden or the pump room.
- Cracks appear in the pool surround or tiles come loose.
In Ibiza, a leak gets expensive
In summer a pool can lose a few centimetres a week to evaporation alone, and that's normal. If it's losing much more, every top-up costs money, especially in countryside houses supplied by water truck.
A constant leak can also soak the ground under the pool and lead to structural problems. The sooner it's found, the cheaper the repair.
FAQ
Does the pool need draining to find a leak?
No. Most tests are done with the pool full. The level is only lowered if something below it has to be repaired.
How much does a leak repair cost?
It depends where it is. A seal or a light is cheap; a buried pipe costs more. The price guide has indicative ranges.
Is it covered by home insurance?
Some policies cover leak detection and repair. It's worth checking yours before the visit.