So you think you have a leak. Well, I have good news and bad news for you. The good news is, once the leak is found, it's usually easy to repair. The bad news is, locating a leak in an above ground pool is extremely difficult. Most leak detection companies will suggest replacing the entire liner. Fortunately, for Leak Science, above ground pool leak detection is a challenge not ignored.



Compared to inground pools, above-ground pools are significantly easier and less expensive to build. You won’t need to engage a professional to set it up, and you’ll be able to move it around the yard effortlessly. The danger of leaking is one of the major drawbacks of an above-ground pool. Because pool liners are often composed of thin vinyl, they can easily be pierced by sharp items or worn down by repeated contact with pool chemicals.

Related Article: 10 Scary Facts About Pool Leaks 

It is much easier to correct pool leaks if you spot them early on, so learning the warning signs of a leak is crucial. We’ll explain how to locate a leak in an above-ground pool liner and what to do if one occurs.

Think you have a leak? Don’t wait to contact us today! Call us at 480-794-0959 to schedule your above-ground pool leak detection appointment today. We’re here to help, no matter how complicated the leak is.
 

Before you call a professional, here’s what you look for:

Check The Pool's Equipment

The first (and easiest) place to look is the pool’s equipment. Even if you feel the leak is inside the pool, inspect the equipment first. You may be surprised what you find!
 

• Clean the equipment area. Remove any overgrown weeds surrounding the equipment, store the pool toys, and remove any piles of dead bugs. Also, be sure to have any colonies of live bugs removed from the area.
   
• Turn on the pump. Some leaks (that have to do with equipment) will leak more when the pump is on.
   
• Check for standing water around the equipment.
   
• Look closely at the equipment. And we mean, look closely. Have a towel handy in case you find noticeable moisture. Wipe the area dry and wait for wetness to appear. Be sure to look at all components including the hoses, fittings, and lids for drips. Look closely at the area directly underneath the pool’s pump.
   
• Inspect the skimmer and the return. Use a dry towel again to inspect the skimmer box and the return. Take your time as some leaks can be deceiving and require patience to find.

If you have thoroughly checked the areas listed above, it’s time for a little more complicated above-ground pool leak detection.
 

Finding A Leak In The Vinyl Liner

Finding a leak in the vinyl liner of your above ground pool is not an easy task. Sometimes there is a microscopic hole in the bottom of your pool, near your pool’s wall, or who knows. Here’s what you should do from first to last.
 

• Turn off the pump. Wait for the water to be completely still.
   
• Standing outside of the pool, inspect the pool’s bottom all the way around. Most above-ground pools are set on top of the earth, and when there is a leak in the vinyl, the leaked water travels through the earth and leaves noticeable valleys or divots where it was once flat. If you do see this, it’s time to get in the pool (skip to step 4).
   
• If you don’t see anything described in #2, check the outside bottom of your pool. If need be, dig around the wall to uncover the bottom track. Remove any rocks or other debris so you can easily see excessive moisture next to the track. Note that moisture is normal excessive water is not.
   
• Before getting into your pool, clean and vacuum it. You are looking for a small hole, and when there are dirt and debris everywhere, it makes it difficult. Put on some goggles and grab an applicator filled with either leak finder dye or red food coloring, and again, make sure the pool pump is off.
   
• Swim to the bottom and get up close to the bottom of your pool’s walls and floor. Look closely at those valleys and divots you saw earlier or if you see any holes. In the areas you suspect, shoot some of the dye in the area and see if the water draws it into the hole. Be very careful not to disturb the water.

 
If you still haven’t found a hole, it’s time to play manta ray. Very carefully and slowly swim around the bottom of your above-ground pool and search for holes. In an area, you suspect a leak, utilize the dye to confirm the leak is indeed there.
 

What Should You Do If You Discover a Pool Leak? 

If you don’t fix the leak once you’ve found it, your pool will suffer more harm. There are a few different strategies for patching up a leak, depending on the extent of the leak.
 

Tape that is waterproof 

If you have a little leak, you may patch it up using tape. The simplest and cheapest approach is to use waterproof tape. You’ll have to replace the tape from time to time, but it’s extremely easy to do so and it’s very effective for little leaks.
 

Patches made of vinyl 

Another simple technique to repair holes in above-ground pools is to use vinyl patches. All you have to do now is stick these patches on the pool wall, and you’re ready to go. Because they are more resilient and made particularly to patch punctures in pools, they usually survive longer than waterproof tape.
 

Kits for Patching 

Larger holes that are not easily repaired with waterproof tape or vinyl patches require patch kits. Larger pieces of vinyl liner can be molded to fit a specific hole in a repair kit. A weatherproof vinyl adhesive is also included with the kits. Patch kits are more difficult to use than the other two options, but they are required for bigger holes.

We’ll figure out where the water is going by using the most up-to-date pool leak-detecting technology. If you have a leak in your plumbing, we can pressure test it to determine where the leak is coming from. Keep in mind that if a return or suction line cannot be isolated due to the way the system is plumbed, the only alternative is to dig up numerous lines, which can be expensive.
 

Finding a Leak Using the Equipment to Your Advantage 

You already know how difficult it is to locate the cause of a leak in an above-ground vinyl liner pool. You’ll have to weed out prospective sources one by one until you discover the right one. Start with the pool equipment, since it is the easiest to inspect.

But don’t be fooled: there’s more to it than merely peeking and seeing whether water appears everywhere. There is still a legitimate way to accomplish it, which entails the following steps:
 

• Making sure the space is clean and clear of debris, such as overgrown weeds or plants, ant hills, pebbles, garbage, and clutter.
   
• Before turning on the pump, make sure the equipment is totally dry.
   
• Examining the pool equipment in detail, including its components and surrounds, for signs of leakage or dampness.
   
• Because the shaft seals are located under the pump, this is the most likely location for it. Because they are installed directly on the ground, any leaks are difficult to detect. Wipe the area with a cloth or tissue to see whether this is the case. After that, see whether any water or moisture has resurfaced.
   
• Keeping an eye on the skimmer box as well as the return. Any leakage will be seen between the box and the return. Check this region as well, and if you’re not sure if the dampness you detected is due to a leak or not, use a towel or cloth to wipe dry the pool walls in that area first.

This would most likely be a time-consuming job, as leaks may not always occur as soon as your pool equipment is turned on.