Have you noticed your pool water dropping whenever you go out for a swim? Are you unsure if it’s a leak or merely evaporation? Well, you can find that out easily with a bucket test which is the simplest and most reliable DIY method. This detailed guide explores the pool bucket test in detail and how you can perform it to check your pool water levels.
Table of Contents
What You’ll Need for the Pool Basket Test
Here’s a list of materials you’ll need for a pool bucket test:
- A 5-gallon bucket
- A marker
- Rocks for weighing (optional)
How to Perform the Bucket Test
Now that you have all the materials ready, follow the instructions below to perform the bucket method easily.
Step 1: Prepare Your Pool
The first step is to prepare your pool. Ensure it’s at a normal operating level–halfway up the skimmer opening. Turn off the pool pump to prevent water from hindering the test. A stable starting point ensures your results reflect actual water loss, not equipment interference.
Step 2: Gather Your Materials
Gather a 5-gallon bucket that is best made of an opaque type to reduce algae growth, a waterproof marker, and optionally, a few clean rocks or possibly a brick to weigh down the bucket.
Step 3: Fill the Bucket
Fill the bucket with pool water to about 1 inch from the top. Pool water is preferred, as tap water might contain a different chlorine level and/or temperature. Gentle scooping will prevent air bubbles from forming inside the water surface that could influence the level. Equality in water conditions keeps evaporation rates inside and outside the bucket comparable.
Step 4: Place the Bucket in the Pool
Put the bucket on the shallow-end steps or on a stable ledge, submerging it about 5-6 inches into the pool water. Use some rocks to keep it submerged if it does float. Partial submersion will keep the stability of the bucket and will expose both water surfaces to similar air conditions.
Step 5: Mark the Water Levels
Using the waterproof marker, draw a line on the inner sides of the bucket at the water level and similarly draw a line on the outer sides of the bucket at the water level. Remember, accurate marks give you the baseline for comparison after the next 24 hours.
Step 6: Wait 24 Hours
Let the test be run for 24 hours. During this time, do not use the pool—no swimming, splashing, or adding water—and keep animals or debris out. If a major leak is suspected, carry out this test for 48 hours, in which case it helps to take note of weather conditions.
Step 7: Measure and Compare Results
Look at the water levels 24 hours after placing the bucket into the pool water. Measure downwards from your original marks with a ruler, noting the drop in both bucket and pool. The difference between these drops will indicate whether or not the pool water is being lost to something other than evaporation (usually accepted as 1/8 to 1/4 inch/day, depending on climate).
Tip: Pictures taken before and after may provide useful documentation of your findings, especially if you require outside help later.
Step 8: Record and Interpret
Note the measurements. If the pool level dropped significantly more than the bucket (e.g., 1/2 inch vs. 1/8 inch), you probably have a leak. If they are equal, it’s just evaporation.
Beyond the Bucket Test: Next Steps
In addition to the bucket test, there are other tests you can do for your pool maintenance, including a dye test for liners or equipment checks like BSP. If you want to learn more about other ways to identify your pool leaking and how you can repair a pool leakage, give this blog—How to Find a Pool Leak and Fix It a read.
The Final Thought
If your pool water is dropping, you can easily find out the reasons by doing a simple bucket test. It’s simple, straightforward, and helps you identify the source of the problem, whether it’s a leakage or just plain evaporation. With a pool leak test, you now have a foolproof way to spot pool leaks and take action on time.
