Topping off the pool once in a while is normal. But if you find yourself dragging the hose out every few days and watching the water line keep dropping, it is fair to wonder what is going on. A pool losing water in Georgia’s peak summer could be doing something completely harmless, or it could be quietly telling you about a leak that needs attention. Knowing the difference saves you water, money, and a lot of second-guessing.
At Mid State Pools, we have helped Warner Robins and Middle Georgia families sort out this exact question for more than 30 years. Here is how to tell what your pool is really up to.
Evaporation Is Normal, Especially in a Georgia Summer
Before you panic about a leak, know that some water loss is completely expected. Evaporation is simply your pool water turning to vapor and drifting off into the air, and our Middle Georgia climate speeds it right along. Long, hot days, strong afternoon sun, low humidity between storms, and a nice breeze all pull water out of your pool faster than you might think.
During the hottest stretches of July and August, it is normal for a pool to lose somewhere around a quarter inch to a half inch of water a day to evaporation alone. Uncovered pools lose more, and so do pools with fountains, spillovers, or lots of splashing from happy kids. If your water loss falls in that range and your pool is otherwise behaving, evaporation is almost certainly the culprit.
How to Tell Evaporation From a Real Leak
When water loss starts creeping past that normal range, a simple test can tell you a lot. It is called the bucket test, and you can do it in an afternoon.
Fill a bucket with pool water and set it on the first or second step of your pool so it sits partly submerged. Mark the water level inside the bucket and the pool level outside it, then leave everything alone for 24 hours with the pump running as usual. After a day, compare the two. If the pool and the bucket dropped by about the same amount, you are looking at evaporation. If the pool dropped noticeably more than the bucket, water is escaping somewhere it should not be.
A few other signs point toward a genuine leak rather than evaporation. Soggy or unusually green patches in the yard around the pool, cracks in the deck, a pool that keeps losing water even when the pump is off, or your automatic filler running constantly are all worth a closer look. If you are seeing any of those alongside heavy water loss, it is worth having someone check it out.
Where Pool Leaks Usually Hide
If your pool does have a leak, it is helpful to know the usual suspects. Leaks often show up around fittings and returns, at the skimmer, through the equipment pad where the pump and filter live, or in the plumbing lines underground. On vinyl liner pools, a small tear or a worn spot can also be the source, and on older pools, an aging surface can develop cracks over time.
Some of these are simple fixes. Others take specialized equipment to pinpoint without tearing up your deck or yard, which is exactly the kind of work our service team handles. Rather than guessing and hoping, a proper leak detection saves you from chasing the wrong problem. If your bucket test points to a leak, give us a call at 478-953-7300 and we will help you track it down.
Why Catching a Leak Early Matters
It can be tempting to just keep topping off the pool and put off dealing with a slow leak, especially when the water is warm and the family is having fun. But even a small leak adds up. You lose water and the chemicals you paid to add to it, your bills creep higher, and water escaping under the pool or deck can lead to bigger structural problems down the road. Catching a leak while it is small is almost always cheaper and easier than waiting until it becomes obvious.
The same goes for the surface of your pool. If you have an older pool that is starting to show its age, our guide to pool resurfacing in Middle Georgia walks through the warning signs to watch for, since a deteriorating surface and a leak sometimes go hand in hand.
Not Sure What Your Pool Is Telling You? We Can Help
Whether it turns out to be harmless evaporation or a leak worth fixing, you do not have to figure it out alone. Our team knows Middle Georgia pools inside and out, and we are happy to help you get a straight answer.
Come see us at 540 S Houston Lake Rd in Warner Robins, GA 31088, or call 478-953-7300. As a family-owned business serving Warner Robins and the surrounding area since 1988, we would love to help you keep your pool full, healthy, and ready for the rest of the season.
