The last thing anyone wants to encounter is a leak in their in-ground concrete swimming pool. The loss of even a small amount of water can be costly over the course of a year. Once you have performed the bucket test, as discussed in a previous article, and know that your pool has a leak, there is a simple method to determine where the leak is coming from. Here we will discuss a simple method of determining if a visually identified, potential leak, is in fact a leak. The method is a swimming pool dye test.

The most common areas for leaks to develop over time is around the skimmer face plate, pool fittings, and the spillway for the spa.

First you’ll want to purchase a pool dye test kit. It is essentially a syringe of special dye. Before performing the dye test, turn off all pool equipment so that the water is not being disturbed by the pool returns. Start by simply submerging the syringe in the water starting at the most obvious place, the skimmer perimeter. If the grout that is around the skimmer face plate has been compromised, when dye is introduced near it, it will quickly exit through the leak. That means you wouldn’t see the dye come out of the syringe or you would only see small amount of dye then it would be pulled into the place where the leak is. Next, move onto the pool fittings and continue the same process. If your pool has a spa with a spillway, you’ll also want to dye test where the spillway meets the plaster. There is a grout joint there. After time, they can develop small leaks.

Once you’ve determined where the loss of water is coming from, you can call a pool service company to perform the necessary repairs.