Professional swimming pool leak detection in Niagara Region Stop guessing where your pool is losing water.
Not all water loss is a leak. We test the liner, plumbing and fittings to find or narrow down the source, before you commit to a repair.
Diagnostics from $350 See diagnostic rates
Repairs are quoted separately.
Explore possible leak points
Small opening. Hard to see.
A pinhole in the vinyl liner can let water escape into the ground below. Electronic liner scanning helps find openings that are difficult to see.
Explore leak sourcesBelow the deck. Out of sight.
A glued joint or underground pipe can lose water where you can't see it. Pressure testing checks whether a plumbing circuit holds pressure.
Explore leak sourcesWhere the liner meets a fitting.
Skimmer faceplates, returns and other fittings pass through the liner. Gaskets and seals around these openings are investigated with dye testing and underwater inspection.
Explore leak sourcesFollow the water beyond the pool.
The equipment and above-ground plumbing can also lose water. A multiport valve's waste line is one possible escape route.
Explore leak sourcesIllustration of possible leak points. Proportions are approximate.
Before you book
Is your pool leaking, or is it evaporation?
Every outdoor pool loses water to evaporation, and it is often mistaken for a leak. Knowing which pattern you are seeing is the first step, and it is free.
Normal evaporation
The level drops steadily, more on warm, dry or windy days, and on cool nights over heated water. A bucket of pool water on your step drops by about the same amount.
It is not a sign of damage. Covering the pool reduces it.
Suspected liner leak
The pool loses noticeably more than the bucket. Liner punctures, faceplate leaks and gasket failures can keep losing water whether or not the pump is running. A pinhole may leave no visible sign at all, especially on a patterned liner.
Wrinkles or a floating liner are often caused by groundwater under the liner, and do not by themselves mean the liner is leaking.
Suspected plumbing leak
The pool loses more than the bucket. Losing more while the pump runs can point to a leak on the pressure side of the plumbing. Some underground plumbing leaks continue with the pump off. Wet areas around the pool or a higher water bill can also be clues.
A leak at the equipment, such as a valve or waste line, can look like the same pattern.
Symptoms point in a direction. They cannot confirm the source. The same pattern can have more than one cause, and some pools have more than one leak. Only testing can tell them apart.
What drives evaporation
- Water temperature
- Warmer water evaporates faster.
- Air temperature
- Cooler air holds less moisture, so warm water gives up more of it.
- Relative humidity
- Dry air takes up more water than humid air.
- Wind speed
- Wind carries moist air away from the surface.
- Pool exposure
- Sun and open, windy yards increase it. Sheltered pools lose less.
- Pool cover usage
- A cover on the water reduces it.
- Weather conditions
- Hot, dry, windy spells raise it. Rain adds water and spoils a measurement.
Screen it yourself
How to perform the bucket test
The bucket loses water only to evaporation. The pool loses water to evaporation and to any leak. Compare the two over 24 hours. It is a useful preliminary screen, although it cannot identify where a leak is.
Step 1
Prepare the pool
Bring the pool to its normal operating water level. Disable automatic water fillers and choose a period without significant rainfall.
Step 2
Position a bucket
Place a bucket containing pool water on a submerged pool step. Make sure it is stable and the rim stays above the surrounding pool water.
Step 3
Mark the water levels
Mark the water level inside the bucket, and the pool water level outside the bucket.
Step 4
Wait 24 hours
Let the pool run under normal conditions. Avoid swimming, adding water, backwashing or anything else that changes the water level.
Step 5
Compare the results
If the water inside the bucket and the pool drop by about the same amount, evaporation is the likely explanation.
If the pool loses noticeably more than the bucket, an actual leak may be present.
Water-loss calculator
Enter your bucket-test measurements to estimate how much water is unexplained by evaporation each day.
Oval uses π ÷ 4 × length × width. It is exact for a true oval and an estimate for rounded-end shapes.
Kidney and freeform pools have no simple formula. If you don't know the area, choose Rectangle with the longest length and widest width; that overestimates.
Over the same 24 hours. Use decimals for fractions of an inch, for example 0.25.
—
Your estimate appears as you enter your measurements.
Estimated unexplained water loss
0 litres per day
0 litres over a week at the same rate
- Surface area estimate
- Pool dropped measured
- Bucket dropped measured
- Difference
How it's worked out: surface area × (pool drop − bucket drop). One square metre of pool dropping one millimetre is one litre. Differences within about 3 mm (⅛ in) are within the accuracy of a pencil mark.
Added to your request form. Review your request
An educational screening tool, not a leak diagnosis. It estimates from your own measurements. Unexplained loss is not proof of a leak: splashing, rain, backwashing or a misplaced bucket can all change a result.
Pool dropped noticeably more than the bucket?
That is when a systematic investigation helps. We test the liner, the plumbing and the fittings to identify or narrow down the source.
Request professional leak detectionCommon sources
Where vinyl swimming pools leak
A leak can be in the liner, in the plumbing under your deck, around a fitting that passes through the liner, or at the equipment. Each needs a different way of testing, which is why we start by working out which part of the system is losing water.
Vinyl liner
- Small punctures and pinholes
- Tears or cuts
- Deteriorating or separated seams
- Damage from cleaning equipment or sharp objects
- Age and chemical exposure
- Damage around steps, corners and transitions
- Tears from liner movement or groundwater floating the liner
Even a very small puncture can lose significant water over time, and is often hard to see on a patterned liner or in poor visibility.
How we investigate Electronic liner scanning, with dye testing around steps and transitions.
Underground plumbing
- Skimmer suction lines
- Return lines
- Main drain suction lines
- Dedicated water feature plumbing
- Step jets and auxiliary circuits
- Cracked or separated fittings and failed glued connections
- Freeze damage
- Aging ABS, PVC or flexible plumbing
- Ground settlement or movement
These pipes are hidden under soil, decks, patios and landscaping. A leak here needs a different approach from a puncture in the liner.
How we investigate Pressure testing each circuit, then acoustic leak location to narrow down where.
Faceplates, gaskets & penetrations
- Skimmer faceplates and gaskets
- Return jet fittings
- Main drain assemblies
- Pool light niches and conduits
- Fiberglass or thermoplastic step gaskets
- Stair jets and bench jets
- Water feature fittings and other wall or floor penetrations
Every opening through the liner is a potential leak. Gaskets deteriorate, fasteners loosen, fittings crack and sealing surfaces fail, even when the liner itself is in excellent condition.
How we investigate Dye testing and underwater inspection at each fitting.
Equipment & above-ground plumbing
- Pumps and shaft seals
- Unions and valves
- Filter assemblies
- Heater connections
- Waste lines and backwash valves
Not every leak is in the pool or underground. Some happen only while the circulation system is running, so operating conditions are part of the investigation.
How we investigate Reviewed in the preliminary assessment, with the system running and stopped.
Specialized equipment
Our leak detection technology
No single test finds every type of leak. Electronic liner scanning, pressure testing, acoustic location and dye testing each answer a different question. Choosing the right ones is how we avoid guesswork and expensive exploratory repairs.
Electronic vinyl liner scanning
Anderson Manufacturing LeakTrac 2000
We introduce a low-voltage electrical signal into the pool water. An intact vinyl liner acts as an electrical insulator, so the signal can only reach the ground through an opening. A probe on a pole lets the technician follow the signal toward a suspected opening, even one far too small to find by eye.
- What it tells us
- Where small openings in a vinyl liner may be, without draining the pool, across large areas of liner and with far less visual guesswork.
- What it doesn't
- It is a liner test. It does not locate underground pipe failures. Metal parts such as light niches and faceplate screws also carry the signal, so leaks right at those fittings are confirmed with other methods.
Underground plumbing pressure testing
We isolate one plumbing line at a time, apply controlled test pressure and watch whether the isolated circuit holds it. We can test skimmer lines, return lines, main drain lines and dedicated circuits.
- What it tells us
- Whether a particular plumbing circuit may be compromised.
- What it doesn't
- Where on that line the leak is. A failed test also doesn't automatically mean a broken pipe: fittings, valves or the test connections themselves can lose pressure. Additional leak location services may be needed to pinpoint the failure.
Acoustic underground leak location
When pressure testing points to a compromised underground line, we put controlled pressure into that isolated line. Escaping air or water can make a sound, and sensitive ground-listening equipment, commonly called a geophone, helps our technicians follow it through soil, concrete and other surfaces.
- What it tells us
- A narrower suspected location before any excavation is considered, to keep disruption to decks, patios and landscaping to a minimum.
- What it doesn't
- Promise a pinpoint. Pipe depth, soil conditions, surrounding noise, plumbing configuration and the leak itself all affect what can be heard. Not every leak can be located conclusively.
Underwater inspection & dye testing
Our technicians release specialized dye right beside a suspected opening and watch whether it is drawn toward a leak. It is particularly useful where the liner meets a component: skimmer faceplates, return fittings, step gaskets, light assemblies, main drain fittings and other penetrations.
- What it tells us
- Whether water is moving through a specific suspected opening.
- How it's used
- As a complementary method, often alongside electronic scanning or pressure testing. Dives need pool water of at least 70°F (21°C).
We don't just look for leaks. We use specialized diagnostic technology and a systematic investigative process to determine where your swimming pool is losing water.
Know which test your pool needs?
You don't have to. Tell us what you've noticed and we'll recommend where to start.
Request professional leak detectionHow an investigation works
Our diagnostic process
Leak detection is a systematic investigation, not a single universal test. Not every investigation needs all five stages: the sequence depends on your pool and the symptoms we find.
- 1
Preliminary assessment
We review the reported water loss, the pool's history, the equipment configuration and any symptoms that point to a particular source.
- 2
Electronic liner scanning
Where appropriate
We scan the vinyl liner for openings with our LeakTrac 2000.
- 3
Plumbing pressure testing
We isolate and test accessible underground plumbing circuits to see whether each one holds pressure.
- 4
Targeted investigation
Depending on findings
Underwater dye testing, diving inspection or acoustic underground leak location.
- 5
Findings & recommendations
We explain the results and recommend next steps. Any repair is handled through a separate estimate or service authorization.
Transparent rates
Leak detection service pricing
These are our published diagnostic rates. They cover finding or narrowing down the source of water loss, not repairing it.
| Diagnostic service | Price |
|---|---|
| Electronic liner scan and pressure testing | $350 minimum |
| Dye testing | Additional $50 |
| Underwater dive inspectionMaximum 30 minutes | Additional $50 |
| Underground plumbing acoustic leak locationDiagnostic only; excavation and repair not included | Starting at $550 |
All advertised prices are for professional leak detection and diagnostic services only. Repairs are not included.
Diagnostic services are intended to identify or narrow down the source of suspected water loss. Additional investigation may be required where multiple leaks, inaccessible plumbing or inconclusive findings are encountered.
Liner repairs, plumbing repairs, fitting replacements, excavation, concrete removal and other corrective work are quoted separately.
Additional labour and materials may apply where plumbing modifications are necessary to facilitate pressure testing. Customer authorization will be obtained before additional work proceeds.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (289) 929-7665.
Before we arrive
Pool preparation requirements
A few conditions let us test properly on the day. If one can't be met, tell us when you book and we'll plan around it.
-
Clean and clear water
Needed for electronic liner scanning and underwater inspection. Algae, debris, cloudy water or poor visibility interfere with testing. Preparing the pool before we arrive is the customer's responsibility.
-
At least 70°F (21°C) for any dive
A Pool Busters operating requirement for every underwater inspection. Below it, a dive may need to be postponed until conditions allow. Other safety or site conditions can also prevent a dive.
-
Enough water in the pool
The pool must hold enough water for the testing we have planned.
-
Accessible equipment and plumbing
Pumps, filters, valves and plumbing connections must be reasonably accessible. Some plumbing configurations need temporary modifications to isolate lines for testing, and some site conditions can prevent a particular test.
What a diagnostic visit can and can't promise
We use specialized equipment and established diagnostic procedures to investigate suspected leaks. Our objective is to identify the source of water loss accurately, but not every leak can be conclusively located in a single appointment. Multiple leaks, concealed plumbing, inaccessible fittings, groundwater conditions and intermittent water loss may require additional investigation. We communicate our findings and any recommended repairs to you.
Questions homeowners ask
Frequently asked questions
Something else? Call (289) 929-7665 or include it in your request.
Can you find a liner leak without draining my pool?
Yes. Our electronic liner scanning equipment is designed to investigate vinyl liner openings while the pool remains filled. Leaks at fittings or in the plumbing are investigated with other tests.
Can you locate a leak underneath a concrete pool deck?
In many cases, pressure testing and acoustic listening equipment can help narrow down a suspected underground plumbing failure before excavation. Depth, soil, noise and the plumbing layout affect how precisely a leak can be located, so not every underground leak can be pinpointed.
Does a failed pressure test mean my pipe is broken?
Not necessarily. Pressure loss can indicate a compromised test circuit, but further investigation may be required to distinguish between pipe damage, failed fittings, valves or testing connections.
Why does my pool lose more water when the pump is running?
Increased water loss during circulation can indicate a pressure-side plumbing leak, although additional testing is required to confirm the cause.
Can a pool leak when the pump is turned off?
Yes. Liner punctures, faceplate leaks, gasket failures and some underground plumbing leaks can continue regardless of pump operation.
Why is my vinyl liner floating or developing wrinkles?
Groundwater can accumulate beneath a vinyl liner, particularly after heavy rainfall or flooding. This can cause the liner to float, shift or develop wrinkles. A floating liner does not necessarily mean the liner itself is leaking.
Can a skimmer faceplate cause water loss?
Yes. Deteriorated gaskets, cracked components, loose fasteners and failed sealing surfaces can permit water to escape around the skimmer opening.
Can I have leak detection performed in the fall?
Yes, depending on pool conditions and the diagnostic services required. Underwater diving requires a minimum water temperature of 70°F (21°C).
Will you repair the leak during the diagnostic appointment?
Leak detection and repair are separate services. Any required repairs will be discussed and quoted separately.
Can a defective backwash valve cause water loss?
Yes. Certain multiport valve failures can allow water to escape through the waste line during normal filtration.
Fonthill · serving Niagara Region
Request professional leak detection
Tell us what you've noticed. The details below help our office assess your pool and decide where an investigation should start.
- We review your request and contact you about next steps.
- We agree the testing that suits your pool and the symptoms.
- We investigate and explain the findings. Repairs, if needed, are quoted separately.
Before the visit: clean, clear water for scanning and dives, and at least 70°F (21°C) for any dive. See all requirements
Call (289) 929-7665Serving Fonthill, Welland, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and communities across Niagara Region.