Fill
Set a bucket of pool water on a pool step so it matches the water temperature. Weigh it down if needed.
Pool leak vs. evaporation
Is my pool leaking? The Bucket Test knows.
Thanks to South Florida's temperature, humidity and wind, it's not unusual to see a little water loss every day. So how do you tell normal evaporation from a real leak? A bucket, a marker, and 24 hours — free, and surprisingly certain.
Do this tonight
The bucket test in four moves
Mark
Mark the water line inside the bucket and the pool's line outside it (or on the tile).
Wait 24h
Run the pump as normal. Don't top off. Evaporation lowers the bucket and the pool equally.
Compare
Pool dropped more than the bucket? Water is escaping somewhere — you likely have a leak.
Pool lost more than the bucket? That's our department.
Bucket test FAQ
Common questions
How much water loss is normal in South Florida?
Between temperature, humidity and wind, small daily losses are normal — often up to about a quarter inch. Losing more, or topping off more than once a week, points to a leak.
The bucket test says I have a leak. Now what?
Contact Aloha for a free quote, or call (561) 310-2696. Our 98-point inspection pinpoints it — and 9 of 10 leaks are fixed same-day, epoxy included.
Pump on or off during the test?
Run it normally for the first 24 hours. For extra certainty, repeat with the pump off: a bigger drop with the pump on suggests a pressure-side plumbing leak; a steady drop either way suggests a structural leak. Either way, we'll confirm it before any repair.
Free quote
Test says leak? We'll take it from here.
Honest phone advice is always free — and 9 of 10 leaks are history the day we visit.