The Bucket Test: How to Tell If Your Pool Is Leaking or Just Evaporating

How the bucket test works

Fill a bucket with pool water and set it on the top step of your pool so the water inside the bucket is level with the pool water outside. Mark the water line inside and outside the bucket. Wait 24 hours.

Reading the results

If the pool water dropped more than the bucket water, you have a leak. If both dropped the same amount, it is evaporation. In Oklahoma summers, normal evaporation is about a quarter inch per day.

Tips for accurate results

Turn off your auto-fill before the test. Do not run the pool pump during the test unless you want to test for a plumbing leak specifically. Run the test on a calm day — wind increases evaporation and can throw off results.

What to do if you confirm a leak

Do not wait. A small leak gets worse over time, especially in Oklahoma where clay soil shifts around the damage. Call ProLeak at (405) 577-8725 and we will find it and fix it in one visit for a $499 flat rate.