Free for you · Pool leak detection
Swimming Pool Leak Detection by Vetted Local Specialists
Last reviewed October 2026
Pool losing water? Pool leak detection starts with one short request. Tell us how much you’re losing and we’ll pass it to up to 2 vetted local pool leak specialists. They quote you directly, and you choose. If you have a leaking swimming pool, it’s worth finding the cause early. Our service is free for you.
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Key facts (checked October 2026)
- SPATA: an outdoor pool losing more than 25 to 30 mm a week is worth checking.
- Corded puts most home surveys at about £250 to £600, and poolmaintenance.uk’s survey starts from £250. Diver-led surveys start from £1,190 plus VAT (ADI). Estimates, not our prices.
- Leak Sleuth says most leaks are found with the pool full.
- We cover Surrey, Kent, Essex and Hertfordshire.
Is your pool leaking or just evaporating?
SPATA says an uncovered indoor pool loses about 3 mm in 24 hours, and outdoor pools can lose much more (SPATA). In an outdoor pool, evaporation, splashing, swimmers and backwashing can add up to a 25 to 30 mm drop a week. If you lose more than that, it’s worth calling a specialist.
| Month | Normal loss (mm per day) |
|---|---|
| January | 0.88 |
| April | 1.70 |
| July | 2.97 |
| October | 1.34 |
Source: Water Leak Calculator. SPATA’s weekly guide comes first; this table is a rough extra check.
Signs of a pool leak
- You top up the pool more than usual
- The ground near the pool or plant room stays wet or soft
- Air bubbles come out of the return jets
- The water level always stops at the same point, such as the skimmer or the light
What is pool leak detection?
A leak detection survey finds where water escapes from the shell, liner, fittings or buried pipework, usually without draining the pool. Leak Sleuth says almost all leak detection is done with the pool full (Leak Sleuth). The survey tells you where the problem is before anyone starts repairs.
A specialist uses simple checks first, then specialist tools if needed. If you also need general pool cleaning services, see our home page.
How our matching works
- Tell us how much water you’re losing, and your bucket test result if you have one.
- We pass your request to up to 2 local specialists.
- They quote you directly, and you compare and book.
Read more about how our matching works.
How do you find a leak in a swimming pool?
PoolRound suggests starting with a bucket test, which compares your pool’s water loss with evaporation from a bucket (PoolRound). If the pool drops more than the bucket, you probably have a leak. It’s a simple first check before you book a specialist.
- Turn off any auto top-up.
- Put a bucket on a pool step and fill it with pool water to near the top.
- Mark the water level inside the bucket and on the pool wall.
- Leave it for 24 hours with no swimming, no top-up and no backwashing.
- Compare the two drops. The same drop means evaporation. A bigger drop in the pool means a leak.
Rain spoils the test, so try again on a dry day.
Pump on, then pump off
Run the test twice: once with the pump running and once with it off.
| Result | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| Faster loss with the pump on | Pressure side: returns or plant room pipework |
| Faster loss with the pump off | Suction side: skimmer lines or main drain |
| Same either way | Structure: shell, liner, tiles or a fitting |
Where does the water level stop?
HCSP says a level that stops at the bottom of the skimmer points to the skimmer or filtration. If it stops at the light, suspect the light fitting. Below the light, it may be the main drain or shell. On liner pools, don’t let the level drop too low; top up to protect the liner.
How do professionals find pool leaks?
Aspect says professional checks start with a visual look at cracks, the skimmer, lights, drains and returns, then a dye test with the pump off (Aspect). If the dye is drawn out of the pool, that’s the leak. Specialist tools follow if needed.
| Method | What it finds | Pool full? |
|---|---|---|
| Visual check | Cracks, skimmer, lights, drains, returns | Yes |
| Dye test | Fittings, liner tears, cracks | Yes |
| Pressure test | Each pipe line | Yes |
| Acoustic listening | Buried pipework | Yes |
| Tracer gas | Hard to find pipe leaks | Yes |
| Camera | Inside pipes | Yes |
| Diver | Floor and main drain | Yes |
Liner leak, pipework leak or fitting leak?
The pump test and the level test together point your technician in the right direction. A loss that’s the same with the pump on or off suggests the liner, shell or a fitting. A level that stops at the light points to a pool light leak. Leak Sleuth says a liner leak doesn’t always mean a new liner, if the hole can be found and patched.
How much does pool leak detection cost?
Corded puts most home leak surveys at about £250 to £600, and poolmaintenance.uk’s survey starts from £250. Diver-led surveys start from £1,190 plus VAT (ADI). These are estimates, not our prices. Checked October 2026.
| Source | Covers | Price | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corded | Home leak survey | £250 to £600 (basic £250 to £350, comprehensive £350 to £600; access £100 to £300 extra) | Cost guide |
| poolmaintenance.uk | Survey; survey with minor repairs; with diver | From £250; from £450; from £750 | Kent and Surrey |
| A UK pool leak specialist's cost guide | Survey | £300 to £800 or more | Checked October 2026; not our prices |
| ADI Leak Detection | Pool survey with divers; general leak detection | £1,190 plus VAT; £595 to £1,500 or more plus VAT | National |
| Aspect | Leak detection | From £54 per half hour, one hour minimum, parts extra | Includes our four counties |
| Chemsol, quoting Checkatrade | All water leaks, not pool specific | £80 to £1,600, average £500 | Cost guide |
These are estimates from public price lists, not our prices. Checked October 2026.
What changes the price
Pool size, indoor or outdoor, and how deep the pipes are buried. Whether a diver is needed. That UK guide says access to reach the leak is the biggest cost driver.
How is a pool leak repaired once it's found?
Pool leak repair is usually a separate job. A UK pool leak specialist’s cost guide puts a fitting or seal repair at £150 to £500 or more, pipework at £300 to £1,500 or more, and shell work from £500. Estimates, checked October 2026. Some specialists, such as poolmaintenance.uk, include minor repairs.
Ask whether swimming pool leak repair is part of the quote, or priced after the survey. For the fix itself, see pool repairs.
Does home insurance cover a pool leak?
Lemonade says standard policies usually exclude gradual leaks and liner or shell wear as maintenance, while sudden accidental damage may be covered (Lemonade). Trace-and-access cover isn’t always standard. Ageas’s general home insurance guidance says tracing a leak applies where leaking water has damaged the building, with the insurer’s agreement first (Ageas). Policies differ, so check your policy wording or ask your insurer before you book a survey.
What should you have ready before your technician visits?
Before the visit, do a bucket test with the pump on and then off, note how much you top up each week, and know your pool type and age. Take photos of any wet patches or cracks, clear access to the plant room, and list any recent work. This helps your technician start in the right place.
- Bucket test results, pump on and off
- How much you top up each week
- Pool type and age: liner, concrete or tiled, fibreglass
- Photos of wet patches or cracks
- Clear plant room access
- Any recent work on the pool
What to ask before you book
What does the survey include? Will I get a written report? Are minor repairs included? Is a diver needed? Do you have insurance?
How we vet specialists
Before a technician gets any requests, we check they have public liability insurance of at least £1 million. We also check for an active Companies House record, or at least 5 genuine reviews on Google or Checkatrade. We don’t carry out DBS or criminal record checks, so please make your own checks too.
Where can you get pool leak detection near you?
The Pool Cleaning matches homeowners in Surrey, Kent, Essex and Hertfordshire with up to 2 vetted local pool leak technicians. Tell us how much water your pool is losing and your postcode, and compare quotes from specialists near you. Our service is free for you.
If you searched for pool leak detection near me, local specialists cover: Run a hotel, gym or school pool? See commercial pool maintenance.
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We cover Surrey, Kent, Essex and Hertfordshire. Requests from elsewhere are welcome; we’ll email if we can’t match you.
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How much water should a pool lose in a week?
SPATA says an outdoor pool can lose 25 to 30 mm a week through evaporation, splashing, swimmers and backwashing together. If yours drops by more than that, it’s worth calling a specialist. Measure it fairly: no swimming, auto top-up off and no filter cleaning during the check. A cover helps rule out the weather.
Why is my pool losing water but no leak?
SPATA says evaporation, splashing, water carried out by swimmers and backwashing all lower the level without a leak. First check that any auto top-up is off. Then do a bucket test, as PoolRound describes. If the pool drops more than the bucket over the same time, you probably do have a leak.
What is a dye test for a pool leak?
Aspect says a dye test is done with the pump off and the water still. A technician releases dye near a suspected crack, fitting or liner tear. If the dye is drawn into the gap, that’s where water is escaping. It’s done with the pool full, so there’s no need to drain first.
Where is the most common place for a pool leak?
PoolRound says skimmer throats are the most common structural leak point. HCSP adds that if the level stops at the light, the light fitting is likely, and if it drops below the light, the main drain or shell may be the cause. Pipework, returns and liner tears are other common spots.
How can you tell where your pool is leaking from?
Aspect says a technician confirms the exact spot with checks such as a dye test or a pressure test on each pipe line. Before that, simple tests narrow it down. See the pump on and off check and the water level check in the section on how to find a leak above.
Can a pool liner leak be found with water in it?
Leak Sleuth says almost all leak detection is done with the pool full, and a liner leak doesn’t always mean a new liner if the hole can be found and patched. Your technician will tell you how it can be repaired. Don’t drain a liner pool to look for the leak yourself.
How long does pool leak detection take?
Chemsol says leak detection usually takes a couple of hours to half a day. It can take longer if pipework is buried deep, access is difficult or a diver is needed, as Corded and that UK cost guide note. Ask your technician what they expect for your pool when they quote.
Is it expensive to fix a pool leak?
A UK pool leak specialist’s cost guide puts a fitting or seal repair at £150 to £500 or more, pipework at £300 to £1,500 or more, and shell repairs from £500. Access to reach the leak is the biggest cost driver. These are estimates, checked October 2026, not our prices.
Does home insurance cover leak detection?
Lemonade says gradual leaks and liner or shell wear are usually excluded as maintenance, and trace-and-access cover isn’t always standard. Ageas’s general guidance says tracing a leak applies where water has damaged the building, with the insurer’s agreement first. Policies differ, so check your policy wording or ask your insurer before you book a survey.
Can you fix a pool leak without draining?
Leak Sleuth says almost all leak detection is done with the pool full, and the pool is drained only after the leak is found, if the repair needs it. An empty shell can be damaged by ground water and liners can shrink. Your technician will explain whether your repair needs a drain.
Losing water? Find the leak before it gets worse
Get free pool leak detection quotes from up to 2 local pool leak specialists. Our service is free for you. Prefer to ask first? Use the form, email info@thepoolcleaning.co.uk, contact us, or message us on WhatsApp on +44 7348 232538.
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