Question 1

What is considered average water loss? How can I tell if it is from evaporation or a leak?

Accepted Answer

All pools will lose water to splash out, backwashing, and evaporation. Water loss from these factors is normal and will vary from pool to pool depending on usage and the time of year. 
 
Evaporation is influenced by air temperature, water temperature, humidity, water movement, and wind. Expect your pool to evaporate more under the following circumstances: low relative humidity levels, faster wind speeds, uncovered pool surface, warmer pool water temperature combined with cooler air temperature, and additional features that have water cascading back into the pool (waterfall, spillover spa, etc.). We notice higher evaporation rates in the spring and the fall because of the reasons listed above. 
 
Not sure if your pool is leaking? Try the following.
-Check your pool’s water chemistry results and compare your salt, calcium hardness, and cyanuric acid levels over some time. A constant decrease in these levels may indicate the presence of a leak. 
-Do a Bucket Test to confirm if your pool is leaking or determine how much water your pool is losing to evaporation. 
-If there is water under the liner or in a sump well, try to extract and compare it to the pool water chemistry. Similar water chemistry, especially salt content, is a significant indicator of a leak.

Question 2

Why should we hire Pool Buoy?

Accepted Answer

Pool Buoy Leak Detection is solely devoted to swimming pool leak detection and underwater repairs, with thousands of leaks located and fixed since 2007. We utilize state-of-the-art equipment like water loss computers, pipe inspection cameras, tracer gases, thermal imaging, and sonic listening devices to ensure we locate your leak accurately and efficiently.

As certified PADI divers, we are fully equipped to perform underwater repairs and inspections on the same visit as the leak detection and in cold water situations. This saves you time and money from waiting for another service call, and provides you with a more comprehensive leak assessment. Another benefit of our same-day scuba inspections is that specific leaks can only be confirmed underwater, and we can provide you with underwater video footage to expedite and validate certain warranty claims. 
We are certified pool operators with two decades of experience in pool maintenance, repairs, renovations, and construction. We are constantly furthering our education and maintaining necessary certifications like Certified Pool Operator, Stain Specialist, Advanced Water Chemistry, and PADI Open Water Diver. We have also taken courses from Orenda Academy, Pentair, and Hayward University in proactive pool care, water chemistry, automation, salt water chlorination, lighting, hydraulics, and heating systems. While we do not perform other pool services anymore, we would be happy to answer any of your pool-related questions!

Some of our industry achievements include beta testing a leak reporting application for a leak detection equipment manufacturer, presenting at the 2020 Atlantic City Pool Show leak detection methods seminar, a guest appearance on a popular pool industry podcast, and our membership in the International Alliance of Pool Leak Professionals.

Question 3

Does someone need to be home during the leak detection appointment?

Accepted Answer

No, your presence is not mandatory. If no one is available upon completion of the leak detection, we will report our findings to you in the most convenient way possible.

Question 4

How long does a pool leak detection appointment take?

Accepted Answer

Most standard residential pools take between 1 and 3 hours for a complete leak detection. More time may be required for pools with additional features, multiple leaks, or complex plumbing leaks.

Question 5

What forms of payment do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept eTransfer, cheque, and credit card.

Question 6

Do you offer other pool services? Do you locate other leaks (home, irrigation, ponds, etc.)?"

Accepted Answer

No, we are strictly a pool leak detection and underwater repair company.

Question 7

Do you do leak detections on standalone hot tubs?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, we do not. We recommend that customers call a hot tub repair technician in this situation.

Question 8

I know where my leak is. Can you only test that area?

Accepted Answer

We always recommend testing the entire pool to ensure there aren’t multiple leaks and peace of mind. We always assume there is more than one leak and do not stop after finding the first issue. In our experience, we have seen many pools where the observed symptoms and original hypothesis did not match our test results.
 
While we offer partial leak detection services, the rest of the pool that is not tested is not covered under our warranty, and subsequent visits to test other parts of the pool are charged the full, partial rate. Remember, paying less to test less could cost you more in the end.

Question 9

Does the pool need to be drained for the leak detection appointment?

Accepted Answer

No. We require the pool to be filled up to the middle of the skimmer to locate the leak(s) when the pool is actively leaking. We are equipped with scuba diving equipment and use repair materials that work underwater.

Question 10

Why do I need to fill up the pool to the middle of the skimmer for the leak detection appointment?

Accepted Answer

The pool must be filled to the middle of the skimmer so that our electronic equipment can detect active structural leakage when we are on site. If the water level is too low, our electronic equipment may not be effective in finding your leak(s).

Question 11

Can I shut my pump off and let the water level go down until it stops leaking?

Accepted Answer

No. This is not always an indication of where the leak is. You can also cause unwanted damage to your pool and compromise the pool’s water quality making it difficult to find the leak(s). It is best to keep topping up the pool until we arrive.

Question 12

Where does the water go when the pool is leaking? Can this cause a sinkhole issue?

Accepted Answer

The water drains immediately underground and is usually unseen. Occasionally, this water can appear in other places depending on the pool's elevation, drainage, and location and severity of the leak(s). Also, it is uncommon for pool leaks to cause sinkhole issues. Regardless, we recommend addressing the problem immediately to avoid unnecessary damage to the pool and other areas.

Question 13

Does sand or dirt in the pool mean there’s a leak?

Accepted Answer

Not always. This can happen for non-leak-related reasons like filtration issues. Try backwashing or cleaning the filters to see if that helps. If you have a sand filter and backwashing does not resolve this, try turning the dial to “recirculate” to bypass the filter media. If you are losing water in addition to seeing dirt or sand in your pool, give us a call!

Question 14

Does the air coming out of the return jets indicate an underground plumbing issue?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. This means that air is being introduced into the system at some point and coming through the return jets. In some cases, this can be due to low water level, pump lid o-rings, pump drain plugs, and valves or fittings on the suction side of the pump. Inspect these areas and replace components if needed. 
We will pinpoint or rule out an underground plumbing issue with our specialized equipment.

Question 15

Does having difficulty maintaining pump prime indicate an underground plumbing issue?

Accepted Answer

This can occur for several reasons like filtration issues, blockages, air leaks, and collapsed plumbing. Try backwashing or cleaning the filters first. If you have a sand filter and backwashing does not resolve this, try turning the dial to “recirculate” to bypass the filter media. If you have a cartridge filter, try operating the pool without the cartridges to see if they are the culprit. 
We will pinpoint or rule out an underground plumbing issue in this situation as well. Please note, we do not clear blockages.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS