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Finding A Leak In An
​Above Ground Pool

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Investigating an Above-Ground Pool for a Leak

When it comes to finding a leak in an above-ground swimming pool, I have both good and bad news. The good news is that once you've discovered the leak, it's typically very simple to fix. The bad news is that discovering the leak is tough (as you presumably suspected). Because identifying a leak in an above-ground structure is so difficult, I don't provide it as a service. I'll turn down a job to identify a leak even if it's the off-season and I'm broke. In many cases, the leak is never discovered above ground, and the only way to fix it is to replace the complete liner. So, now that I've scared you and lowered your expectations, let me show you how to locate a leak.
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First, inspect the pool's equipment.

The simplest method is to inspect the pool's equipment first. When looking for a leak in an above-ground pool, the vinyl liner is the most difficult area to look at. Examine the equipment first to prevent any frustration (even if you suspect the leak is coming from within the pool). First, go over this checklist. The leak may be occurring outside of the pool.

  1. Clean the equipment area Cleaning the pump/filter area first if it is messy or overgrown. Remove all weeds and keep pool toys, exterior items, and rocks/mulch out of the path of the equipment. If an ant pile has developed under the pump, exterminate the ants and clean the area.

  2. Turn on the pump
    When the pump is turned on, some leaks will leak even more. The pump should be turned on because a larger leak is easier to spot.

  3. Examine the surrounding area for signs of dampness.
    The water is leaking. As a result, any traces of dampness are your best indicators of a leak.

  4. Look closely at everything
    Get down on your hands and knees and inspect all of the components, hoses, fittings, and lids for drips. Alert for a sneaky leak: Keep a close eye on the section directly beneath the pool's pump. Pump shaft seals can leak straight down into the earth, and there may be no visible dampness in the ground. Keep a dry towel on hand in case something isn't quite right. Wipe the area dry and keep an eye out for any additional signs of moisture.

  5. Inspect the skimmer and return at the wall
    Leaks are more common in the pool's skimmer box and return. Gravity causes water to flow downward, of course. As a result, return to the skimmer box and look directly underneath it, as this is where the leaking water will move. If you're not sure, dry the pool's wall with the towel again and look for any traces of newly generated moisture. Take your time and don't be in a hurry. Some leaks are misleading, and finding them takes time. If you've exhausted all of these options and still haven't found anything, it's time to get down to business.
Tracking Down A Leak In The Vinyl Liner
This might not be a simple task. Patience is the best advice I can provide in this situation. A leak can occur anywhere in the pool, and no one on earth is capable of finding all of them, so don't be too hard on yourself if you don't detect it right away. From first to last, here's what I do:
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  1. Switch off the pool pump and wait for the water to get entirely motionless; you'll need to be sure to see the pool's bottom as plainly as possible while standing outside of it.

  2. Examine The Pool's Bottom From All Sides.
    Most above ground pools have sand or earth-based bottoms and coving. When a leak in the vinyl occurs, the water normally flows out into the ground beneath the pool. The leaking water goes through the sand/earth bottom in most cases (but not all), causing the earth to wash away, creating minor valleys, divots, or holes in the pool's once-flat bottom. Some of the washed-away portions beneath the pool are visible, indicating the location of the liner leak. It's time to jump in the pool if you see something like this.

  3. Examine the pool's boundaries.
    You didn't notice anything during the preceding stage, did you? Now, while you're still outside the pool, you should inspect the pool's exterior bottom. If the bottom track is hidden, dig around the bottom wall to uncover it. At the bottom of the pool, this is the tracking that the pool wall slides into. Remove any mulch, rocks, or dirt from the area around the track so you can determine whether there is any evidence of excessive dampness. What makes this difficult is that your earth may naturally hold moisture, so finding some wet ground does not necessarily suggest there is a leak in that region. As a symptom of a leak, look for signs of excessive moisture near the pool.

  4. Clean The Pool Before Getting In
    Before diving into the pool to look for a leak, make sure it's clean and vacuumed. Because you're looking for a small hole in the liner, dirt and leaves on the bottom will make it more difficult to locate. Make sure the water quality is good as well. Swimming in a slimy, foggy pool is a dreadful experience. Make sure you have a quality dive mask or goggles, as well as a food colouring or dye applicator. It would also be advantageous if you had a diver's weight belt to keep you anchored in the water. Make sure the pool pump is turned off before entering.

  5. Get up-close and personal
    A hole might appear anywhere in the liner, although most of the time it is along the pool's wall at the bottom. Put on your mask, take a deep breath, and swim down to the bottom to get a close look at the liner. Look for little holes in any of the small valleys or divots you noticed before. If you observe what appears to be a hole, use your applicator to spray some dye over the area and check if the dyed water flows into the hole. If it does, you've discovered a leak.
So you investigated all the suspicious sections of the pool liner at the bottom of the pool and found no holes. The next spot to inspect is around the pool, where the wall meets the pool's bottom in the same systematic, up-close manner. Is there still no sign of a leak? Check the pool wall in the same manner, starting at the bottom and working your way up. The majority of wall leaks are towards the bottom of the wall, so spend most of your time there.

It's time to play manta ray if you haven't found the leak yet. Slowly swim down the bottom, examining every square inch of the pool liner (like a manta ray). Whether you detect something that looks like it could be a hole, spray some dye in the area and check if the dyed water flows into it to confirm the leak.
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You're done with it now. You've been searching the pool's bottom like a sand shark for a good few hours and still look like a prune. That's a bummer! I understand your anguish. Allowing the pool to empty without adding water is the last option. It will usually stop at the source of the leak and make it easier to locate, although this is not always the case. It might be time to obtain a new liner at this point. If your liner is five years old or older, I recommend getting a new one. As liners age and grow brittle, they may begin to leak in multiple places.
                Helpful Resources For Your Swimming Pool
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