Leak N Pool

How to Tell If Your Pool Is Leaking | Gold Coast Guide

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 23:56:24 GMT

LeakNPool has put together the 10 most important signs your pool may be leaking, plus simple tests to confirm it

1. Faster-Than-Normal Water Loss

Gold Coast weather, especially through summer, causes natural evaporation. A normal pool may lose 3–5 mm per day in hot conditions. But if your water level is dropping more than 10 mm per day, that’s not evaporation… that’s likely a leak.

Tip: Turn off your auto-top-up to monitor true water loss.

2. You’re Refilling the Pool More Often

If you’re adding water once or twice a week, or your auto-fill is constantly running, your pool is compensating for water escaping somewhere else.

In suburbs like Oxenford, Labrador, or Helensvale, where soils can shift after rain, this is a common red flag.

3. Soggy or Wet Areas Around the Pool

If you feel soft or mushy spots around the yard—especially near:

Return lines
Pool equipment
Plumbing trenches
Paved areas

…it often points to an under-ground plumbing leak.

This is especially common on the southern Gold Coast, where sandy soil allows water to spread quickly.

4. Cracks in the Pool, Tile, or Surrounding Deck

Gold Coast pools, especially older concrete ones, often develop small structural cracks.

Signs to look for:

Hairline cracks in plaster
Loose or hollow tiles
Gaps between coping and concrete

Even tiny structural changes can allow steady leaks.

5. Air Bubbles in the Return Jets

If your pool returns are blowing bubbles or making gurgling sounds, air is entering the plumbing system—usually through a suction-side leak.

This can happen when underground pipes shift slightly, especially after heavy rain or intense heat.

6. Unusual Spike in Water, Chemical, or Power Bills

A leak means:

More water added
More chemicals to balance
More electricity to circulate diluted water

Many Gold Coast homeowners first discover leaks after a sudden increase in their quarterly water bill.

7. Algae or Cloudy Water

Gold Coast pools are prone to algae thanks to warm weather. But if your water turns green despite proper maintenance, a leak may be diluting chemicals faster than you can add them.

Leaks destabilise:

Chlorine levels
Stabiliser
pH
Salt concentration

This is incredibly common in saltwater pools across the Gold Coast.

8. Dirt or Sand Appearing Inside the Pool

This is a major sign of a broken underground pipe, often caused by shifting ground or soil erosion.

If you start seeing sand re-enter the pool, especially after storms, the plumbing line may be cracked.

9. Drips or Moisture on the Equipment Pad

Check the equipment area for:

Pump leaks
Valve drips
Cracked filters
Heater unions are leaking
Wet concrete around pipework

Gold Coast humidity can mask slow leaks, so look carefully.

10. The Bucket Test Shows a Drop

The bucket test is the simplest way for Gold Coast homeowners to confirm a leak.

How to do it:

Fill a bucket with pool water
Place on a pool step
Mark the water levels
Wait 24 hours

If the pool level drops more than the bucket level, there’s a leak.

If you live anywhere on the Gold Coast, from Pimpama and Coomera in the north to Coolangatta in the south, your pool is one of your favourite parts of the home. But with our coastal climate, sandy soils, and hot summers, pool leaks are more common here than most people realise.

Whether you’re in Southport, Broadbeach, Robina, Burleigh Heads, Palm Beach, or Currumbin, detecting a pool leak early can save you thousands in repairs and water bills.

Why Pool Leaks Are Common on the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast has conditions that make leaks more likely:

Sandy coastal soil in suburbs like Palm Beach, Burleigh, and Miami.
This shifts easily, putting pressure on underground pipes.
Clay pockets in northern Gold Coast like Coomera and Upper Coomera.
Clay expands and contracts, causing plumbing movement.
Heavy summer rain and storms.
Rapid soil saturation displaces PVC plumbing.
High UV exposure.
Breaks down seals, fittings, and equipment faster.

That’s why an expert leak detection team familiar with local ground conditions is essential.

Your Gold Coast Leak Detection Specialists

When to Call LeakNPool

If you live anywhere on the Gold Coast and suspect your pool has a leak, from north Gold Coast to south Gold Coast, LeakNPool can pinpoint the issue using:

Electronic leak detection
Pressure testing
Underwater acoustic equipment
Dye testing
Advanced plumbing diagnostics

We service:

Coomera, Pimpama, Oxenford, Helensvale, Labrador, Southport, Mermaid Waters, Broadbeach, Robina, Varsity Lakes, Burleigh, Palm Beach, Currumbin, Tugun, Coolangatta, and surrounding areas.

Final Thoughts

A pool leak never gets better on its own, it only becomes more expensive over time. By watching for early signs and contacting a local specialist, you can prevent major damage and protect your pool investment.

If you’re anywhere on the Gold Coast and think your pool may be leaking, LeakNPool can locate and diagnose the problem quickly and accurately.

Common Causes of Pool Leaks | Leak n Pool

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 23:53:17 GMT

Pools are one of the best forms of entertainment and relaxation for many people and shouldn’t be a source of stress. Unfortunately, even a small leak can mean an increased water bill, damage to equipment, additional cost for chemicals and expensive repairs if left untreated.

Understanding what causes pool leaks is the first step to identifying them early and in some cases preventing them.

Structural Cracks – Often the Easiest to Spot

All pools are built with the structural integrity to last decades in place, however, overtime shifting soil, ground movement and harsh weather conditions can cause the pool shell to move resulting in cracks in the pool walls or floor.

The most common areas for cracks include:

Around the skimmer
Underwater lights
Pipe penetrations

If your pool is tiled, movement can compromise grout, allowing water to seep behind tiles causing them to loosen or fall off. Early sealing of small cracks in the grout lines can save you time and money in the long run.

Main Drain & Hydrostatic Vale Issues

The main drain at the bottom of the pool can also be another common leak point. Most pools have a hydrostatic valve within the main drain that over time can wear and fail.

The job of the hydrostatic valve is to ensure equalization of the ground water underneath doesn’t cause significant movement or damage to the structure of the pool, by releasing ground water into the pool when required to release pressure.

These are easily replaced by one of our friendly technicians for a small extra charge.

Leaks in Pool Plumbing

Pool plumbing includes the pipes that run from your pool to the pump. If you have a spa, it will have its own plumbing as well.

Unfortunately, most of the time this plumbing is buried underground and quite often under concrete or paving, making it difficult to spot issues with leaks.

Common Signs of Plumbing Leaks

Pool cleaner or vacuum not working correctly
Air in the pump causing it to lose prime
Excessive bubbles coming through the return jets
Unexplained water loss

What Causes Plumbing Breaks?

The most common issues we encounter include:

Tree root intrusion
Shifting soil
Ageing pipework
And unfortunately, in some cases poor installation

How Can I Test If I Have a Leak?

As we’ve previously discussed in an earlier blog, the best way to test for a pool leak is to conduct a bucket evaporation test.

Fill a bucket with pool water and place it on the pool step or swimout area
Mark the water level inside the bucket
Mark the pools water level on the outside of the bucket
Wait 48 hours without swimming or running the equipment
Compare the levels

If the pool water has dropped significantly to the bucket water level, you know that there is likely a leak.

If the bucket test comes back positive for a pool leak, we can help. Call us to discuss your findings and we can arrange for one of our friendly technicians to visit and conduct non-invasive testing to determine the exact issue and we can offer a solution for repair.

Pool Leaks

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 23:51:34 GMT

The first step is to understand, what is normal water loss?

Most pools will lose approximately 3-5mm daily due to evaporation. If you live in a particularly hot or windy location, you can expect to lose a bit more, but the rule of thumb is anything around 8-10mm can indicate you may have a leak.

Do I Have a Pool Leak? How To Know For Sure

Owning a backyard pool for many is a rite of passage growing up in Australia. Countless lazy summer days swimming, eating and enjoying time with family and friends, but fun times can quickly turn to anxiety if you suspect your pool is losing water too quickly.

It is normal for pools to lose some water over time. Particularly during the heat of summer and with the kids jumping in and out constantly, even though you’ve told them 100 times not to bomb!

So, when do you know to be concerned about the number of times you’re topping your pool up?

Common signs of a pool leak

Rapid water loss. Having to top up with the hose more frequently than usual
Wet spots around the pool, particularly where the pipes for the pool run back to the equipment
Air or dirt in the pool system. Excess bubbles coming out of the returns or other jets
Cleaner or vacuum not working properly
Changes in water clarity or needing to top up the chemicals more regularly than normal

How To Determine If You Have a Leak

The simplest and most cost-effective way to determine if you have a pool leak is to do some basic testing.

A bucket evaporation test is the method we suggest to customers who aren’t sure if they have a leak or how much their pool is losing.

Fill a bucket with pool water and place it on the pool step or swimout area
Mark the water level inside the bucket
Mark the pools water level on the outside of the bucket
Wait 48 hours without swimming or running the equipment
Compare the levels

If the pool water has dropped significantly to the bucket water level, you know that there is likely a leak.

You Have Done ‘The Bucket Test’ And You Definitely Have A Leak… Now What?

This is where we can help. When you call us , our friendly customer service people will talk you through a series of questions about your pool and what you are noticing. Don’t worry if you can’t answer all of the questions, some information is better than none.

We can offer a quote for testing based on the information you give us, and once you accept, we will book you in with one of our specialist technicians who will do thorough testing to determine where the issue is.

Don’t worry if you can’t be there when the technician comes to do testing. If you are happy for them to access the pool and equipment while you are at work or away, one of our customer service staff will call you to take payment and explain the findings prior to a written report being emailed to you.

Finally, it is important to follow your own instincts if you suspect there is a leak. You know your pool best, and if you suspect there is an issue, there most likely is.

Catching and repairing a leak early can prevent costly repairs and keep your pool running efficiently for many years to come.

Leak N Pool

How to Tell If Your Pool Is Leaking | Gold Coast Guide

LeakNPool has put together the 10 most important signs your pool may be leaking, plus simple tests to confirm it

1. Faster-Than-Normal Water Loss

2. You’re Refilling the Pool More Often

3. Soggy or Wet Areas Around the Pool

4. Cracks in the Pool, Tile, or Surrounding Deck

5. Air Bubbles in the Return Jets

6. Unusual Spike in Water, Chemical, or Power Bills

7. Algae or Cloudy Water

8. Dirt or Sand Appearing Inside the Pool

9. Drips or Moisture on the Equipment Pad

10. The Bucket Test Shows a Drop

Why Pool Leaks Are Common on the Gold Coast

Your Gold Coast Leak Detection Specialists

When to Call LeakNPool

We service:

Final Thoughts ﻿

Common Causes of Pool Leaks | Leak n Pool

Structural Cracks – Often the Easiest to Spot

Main Drain & Hydrostatic Vale Issues

Leaks in Pool Plumbing

Common Signs of Plumbing Leaks

What Causes Plumbing Breaks?

How Can I Test If I Have a Leak?

Pool Leaks

Do I Have a Pool Leak? How To Know For Sure

Common signs of a pool leak

How To Determine If You Have a Leak

You Have Done ‘The Bucket Test’ And You Definitely Have A Leak… Now What?

Final Thoughts