6 Tips to Keep More Water in Your Swimming Pool

Do you ever feel like your pool is losing water? Here is a trick to know for sure:

First, check your water bills for the past year, looking at the actual water consumption rather than the dollar amount. Has there been a sudden or gradual increase? If yes, you may be losing water from your pool.
Second, if you have a fill valve, turn it off and keep everyone out of the pool for 24 hours.

1. Place a strip of tape on the side of the pool with the bottom edge just touching the water.
2. Check back in 24 hours to see if the water line has gone down. If more than a quarter inch, you are losing water.

Water loss can be caused by several factors, including leaks and water evaporation. Here are six tips to help reduce your water loss:

1. Leaks. If your test showed a marked reduction in water level, have a pool leak detection and pool repair specialist checks for leaks. Leaks can occur from:
   a. Cracks or loose tiles in the pool surface or decking, allowing water to leak into the ground underneath.
   b. Plumbing issues that can be around the pump or even pipes in the ground or behind the walls of the pool.
   c. Leaking joiners, valves, skimmers, main drains, return jets or light fixtures.

2. Draining pool water. Do not do it unless you absolutely have to do so. If you have maintained your pool and closed it properly at the end of the previous swimming season, there is absolutely no need to replace the water, which only needs to be replaced every three to five years. So, the only reason to drain the pool water is due to severely poor water quality or for pool repairs or renovations.

3. Chemical pool maintenance. Besides affecting water quality, poor pool maintenance can create other issues, causing a need to drain the water, such as calcium imbalance. Too much calcium leaves deposits and stains on the plaster surface. Too little erodes the plaster.

4. Pool Cover. This can drastically reduce water loss from evaporation from summer sunlight and weather conditions. Evaporation actually can cause a loss of one inch of water per week.

5. Equipment. Reduce water loss using your equipment:
   a. Cleaning filters usually require backwashing that can use from 200-300 gallons of water each time. Cut back on water loss by:
   i. Monitor the backwash and turn it off as soon as the water runs clear.
   ii. Use skimmer socks or in-line leaf traps to lessen the need to clean the filter.
   iii. Convert to a cartridge filter that is easily removed and washed with a garden hose.
   iv. Monitor the fill valve, which can stick in the ‘on’ position.
   v. Turn off all water features when not using the pool.

6. Water level. Lower the water line to keep more of the splashing water in the pool. Never overfill, since even minimal play will splash water out. Please note: if you are losing water, don't add more to the pool yourself as that will change the chemical composition of the pool water. Instead, have your pool service do it for you.
   Thinking ahead can save lots of water this next summer pool season. These six tips should help.