How to Tell If Your Pool Has a Leak: 10 Warning Signs Every Pool Owner Should Know

July 24, 2026

A sparkling swimming pool is one of the best parts of owning a home—until you notice the water level dropping faster than usual. While some water loss is normal due to evaporation, a hidden leak can waste thousands of gallons of water, increase your utility bills, damage your property, and lead to costly repairs if left untreated.



At Hound Dog Leak Detection, we've helped countless homeowners identify and repair pool leaks before they become major problems. Here are 10 warning signs that your pool may have a leak.

1. Your Pool Water Level Keeps Dropping

One of the most obvious signs is needing to refill your pool more often than usual.

Most pools lose about 1/4 to 1/2 inch of water per day from evaporation, depending on weather conditions. If you're consistently losing more than that, especially during mild weather, there's a good chance a leak is the culprit.


Tip: Try the bucket test to determine whether you're losing water from evaporation or a leak.


2. Your Water Bill Suddenly Increases

A hidden pool leak can waste hundreds—or even thousands—of gallons of water every month.

If your monthly water bill has increased without changes in household usage, your pool could be silently leaking.


3. You Notice Wet or Soggy Areas Around the Pool

Water escaping underground doesn't simply disappear.

Look for:

  • Constantly damp soil
  • Muddy patches
  • Grass that's greener than surrounding areas
  • Water pooling around the pool deck


These can all indicate water leaking beneath the surface.


4. Cracks Are Appearing in the Pool or Deck

Leaks can wash away soil beneath the pool, causing the ground to shift.

Over time, this may result in:

  • Cracks in the pool shell
  • Deck separation
  • Uneven concrete
  • Settling around the pool


Structural movement should never be ignored.


5. Air Is Coming Through Your Pool Returns

If you notice bubbles blowing into the pool from the return jets, it could indicate air entering the plumbing system through a leak.


This often points to a suction-side plumbing leak that should be professionally inspected.


6. Your Pool Equipment Is Losing Prime

Your pool pump should maintain a steady flow of water.

Signs of a plumbing leak include:

  • Pump losing prime
  • Difficulty starting
  • Air visible in the pump basket
  • Reduced water circulation


These symptoms often indicate that air is entering the system somewhere underground or near the equipment pad.


7. You See Cracks or Loose Tiles

Leaks commonly develop around:

  • Tile lines
  • Expansion joints
  • Skimmers
  • Pool lights
  • Return fittings


If you notice loose tiles or visible cracks, water may be escaping through these areas.


8. You're Constantly Adding Chemicals

A leaking pool doesn't just lose water—it also loses chemicals.

If you're using more chlorine, pH adjusters, or other balancing chemicals than normal, a leak may be diluting your pool's chemistry.


Frequent chemical adjustments can become expensive over time.


9. Algae Keeps Coming Back

Poor water circulation caused by plumbing leaks can make it difficult to maintain balanced water chemistry.

If algae returns shortly after treatment despite proper maintenance, a hidden leak may be contributing to the problem.


10. The Leak Gets Worse Over Time

Small leaks rarely stay small.

What begins as a slow drip can gradually expand into a significant plumbing or structural issue, leading to:

  • Soil erosion
  • Foundation damage
  • Deck movement
  • Expensive repairs

The sooner a leak is detected, the less damage it typically causes.

How to Perform the Bucket Test

The bucket test is an easy way to determine whether your pool is leaking or simply experiencing normal evaporation.


Here's how:

  1. Fill a bucket with pool water until it's about three-quarters full.
  2. Place the bucket on the pool step so the water inside the bucket is level with the pool water outside.
  3. Mark both water levels.
  4. Wait 24 hours without using the pool.
  5. Compare the two water levels.

If the pool water has dropped significantly more than the water inside the bucket, you likely have a leak.

Why Professional Leak Detection Matters

Pool leaks aren't always visible.

Many occur:

  • Underground plumbing lines
  • Behind pool walls
  • Around fittings
  • Beneath concrete decking

Professional leak detection specialists use advanced equipment such as:

  • Electronic leak detection
  • Pressure testing
  • Acoustic listening devices
  • Underwater dye testing

These methods accurately locate leaks while minimizing unnecessary digging or demolition.

Don't Wait Until a Small Leak Becomes a Big Problem

Ignoring a pool leak can lead to:

  • Higher water bills
  • Increased chemical costs
  • Equipment damage
  • Structural repairs
  • Landscape erosion



If you've noticed one or more of these warning signs, it's worth having your pool professionally inspected before the problem worsens.

Signs Your Pool Equipment Has a Hidden Leak: Pumps, Filters, Valves, and Plumbing Issues

October 27, 2026
When a swimming pool starts losing water, many homeowners immediately look for a crack in the pool shell. But the source may be somewhere else entirely. Pumps , filters, valves, fittings, and underground plumbing can all develop leaks. Some only lose water while the circulation system is running, and in Las Vegas , small amounts of water around an equipment pad can evaporate before an obvious puddle ever forms.  That makes changes in equipment behavior especially important to notice.

Pool Leaks in Older Pools: Common Problems and What Homeowners Should Watch For

October 20, 2026
Older pools can remain enjoyable and functional for decades, but age can introduce problems that are not always obvious from the surface. Plumbing connections can weaken. Seals can deteriorate. Equipment can develop small leaks. Cracks may form around structural penetrations, and older repairs can begin to fail. In Las Vegas , where heat, evaporation, and constant circulation already place stress on pool systems, those age-related issues can make leak detection more complicated.  Knowing what to watch for can help homeowners recognize when normal aging has turned into actual water loss.

Why Your Pool Water Level Keeps Dropping After Adding More Water

October 16, 2026
If you keep adding water to your pool only to watch the level drop again, it is easy to blame evaporation. In Las Vegas, evaporation can be significant , especially during hot, dry, windy weather. But when the water level repeatedly falls faster than expected, there may be another cause. A leak can occur in the pool shell, plumbing, equipment, or attached spa. The key is recognizing when normal water loss has crossed into something that deserves professional testing.

Signs Your Pool Equipment Has a Hidden Leak: Pumps, Filters, Valves, and Plumbing Issues

October 7, 2026
Not every pool leak starts in the pool shell . Some of the hardest leaks to spot begin around the equipment pad, inside plumbing lines, or at components that only leak while the system is running. In Las Vegas, where water can evaporate quickly, a small equipment leak may disappear before it ever forms an obvious puddle.  That makes it important to pay attention to changes in water level, pump performance, pressure, and equipment behavior.

Pool Leak Prevention Tips: How Regular Maintenance Can Protect Your Investment

September 29, 2026
A swimming pool is a major investment , and small maintenance problems can become expensive when they go unnoticed. In Las Vegas and throughout Southern Nevada, heat, evaporation, aging equipment, plumbing stress, and constant circulation all put pressure on pool systems. Regular maintenance cannot prevent every leak, but it can make it easier to catch warning signs before water loss becomes severe.  Paying attention to water level, equipment condition, plumbing, and surface changes can help protect both the pool and the property around it.

Why DIY Pool Leak Fixes Often Fail and When to Call a Leak Detection Specialist

September 22, 2026
A dropping pool water level can tempt homeowners to try a quick fix. Adding sealant, tightening a fitting, replacing a gasket, or patching a visible crack may seem like an easy way to solve the problem. Sometimes a simple repair does work. The difficulty is that the visible symptom is not always the true source of the leak. Pool systems contain plumbing lines, fittings, skimmers, drains, lights, equipment, and structural components that can all lose water in different ways. That is why DIY repairs often fail when the source has not been identified first.

Can a Small Pool Leak Damage Your Pool Structure or Equipment?

September 21, 2026
A small pool leak may not seem urgent. If the water level drops slowly, it can be tempting to simply add more water and assume the problem can wait.  Unfortunately, even a relatively small leak can create larger problems when it continues over time. Water escaping from a pool shell, plumbing line, fitting, skimmer, or equipment connection does not simply disappear. It can move into the surrounding soil, interfere with water chemistry, and affect how pool equipment operates. In Las Vegas, where homeowners already expect some water loss from evaporation, distinguishing normal evaporation from an actual leak is especially important.

Swimming Pool Leak Detection in Las Vegas: Why Local Experience Matters

September 8, 2026
Pool water loss in Las Vegas can be difficult to interpret. High temperatures, low humidity, wind, heavy pool use, and normal evaporation can all cause the water level to drop. At the same time, an actual leak can quietly waste significant amounts of water if it is not identified.  That is why local experience matters. A leak detection specialist who understands Southern Nevada conditions is better positioned to separate normal environmental water loss from patterns that deserve further testing.

How to Check for a Pool Leak Before Calling a Professional

September 1, 2026
Pool water levels naturally rise and fall, especially in Las Vegas. Heat, wind, low humidity, splashing, and normal evaporation can all cause water loss. However, if you find yourself repeatedly adding water to the pool, notice an unexplained increase in your water bill, or receive a continuous-flow notification from your water provider , a leak may be worth investigating.  Before calling a professional, homeowners can perform several simple checks that may help determine whether the water loss appears normal or whether professional pool leak detection is the next step.

How the Leakalyzer Helps Hound Dog Leak Detection Find Pool Leaks Faster

August 25, 2026
When a swimming pool is losing water, the first question is not always “Where is the leak?” Before searching plumbing lines, fittings, lights, skimmers, or the pool shell, it is important to determine whether the pool is actually losing water at an abnormal rate.  Hound Dog Leak Detection uses the Leakalyzer® Rapid Water Loss Sensor as part of its diagnostic process throughout Las Vegas and Southern Nevada. The device provides precise, real-time information about water loss, helping technicians confirm whether a leak exists and develop a more focused plan for locating and addressing it.