A swimming pool in Pahrump works hard. The desert sun, the dry air, and the long swim season all take water out of a pool every single day — so when the water level starts dropping, many pool owners assume it is just evaporation. Sometimes it is. But sometimes the water is going somewhere it should not go, through a crack, a fitting, or a buried plumbing line. The difference between evaporation and a leak matters, because a leak left alone can waste a great deal of water and quietly damage the ground, deck, and equipment around the pool.
Pahrump Leak Pros offers pool leak detection in Pahrump, NV, and the work does not stop at finding the leak. The business handles leak detection and repair in-house, so the same team that locates the problem can fix it.
Some water loss is normal. In Pahrump’s dry desert climate, a pool can lose a noticeable amount of water to evaporation, especially on hot, windy days. A leak, on the other hand, loses water steadily no matter the weather.
A simple way to tell the difference is the bucket test. Set a bucket on a pool step so the water inside the bucket sits at the same level as the pool water, mark both water levels, and leave the pump running as usual for a day. If the pool water drops noticeably more than the water in the bucket, water is leaving the pool somewhere other than the surface. If both drop by about the same amount, the loss is most likely evaporation.
The bucket test can confirm that a leak exists, but it cannot tell you where it is.
Pool leaks rarely announce themselves. The most common hiding places are:
The skimmer. The skimmer is where the pool’s water meets the deck, and the joint between the two can separate over time. A skimmer leak often shows up as damp soil or a soft spot in the deck nearby.
Return fittings and the main drain. Fittings, jets, and the main drain all pass through the pool shell. A loose or cracked fitting can leak steadily while the pool looks completely normal from above.
The plumbing lines. Pipes run underground from the pool to the equipment pad. A cracked or separated pipe can leak water into the soil for weeks before anything shows on the surface.
The pool shell and light niches. Small cracks in plaster, tile, or gunite, and the seals around underwater lights, are common leak points — especially in older pools.
The equipment pad. Pumps, filters, heaters, and valves can drip or spray. Check the pad for standing water, damp spots, or salt and mineral buildup around connections. A leak at the equipment is often the easiest to find and fix.
If you notice soggy ground near the pool, a deck that is settling or cracking, algae that keeps coming back in one spot, or a water bill that climbs even though your pool use has not changed, one of these hiding places deserves a closer look.
A pool leak is easy to ignore because the pool still works. The pump runs, the water looks clear, and topping it off with a hose takes a few minutes. But the costs add up quietly.
First, there is the water itself. In the desert, water is a resource worth protecting, and a leak can waste far more than most owners expect over a season. The Nevada Division of Water Resources offers guidance on conserving water at home, and stopping leaks is one of the most direct ways to do it — see water.nv.gov.
Second, leaking water goes into the ground around the pool. Over time it can wash out soil under the deck or the pool shell, which can lead to settling, cracking, and expensive structural repairs. Water pooling near the house can also find its way toward the foundation.
Professional pool leak detection is about narrowing the search before anything is dug up or cut open. The process usually starts with the simple checks — the bucket test results, the water level history, and a visual inspection of the skimmer, fittings, and equipment pad.
From there, detection focuses on the pool’s plumbing. Pressure testing the lines can show whether a specific pipe is holding pressure or losing it, which points to the section that needs attention. Dye testing around skimmers, returns, and light niches can show water being pulled into a crack or gap. Listening equipment can help locate leaks in buried lines without digging up the yard to find them.
If your pool is losing more water than evaporation can explain, start with the easy checks. Run the bucket test, look closely at the equipment pad, and check the ground around the pool for damp spots or settling. Note how much water you are adding and how often — that information helps a technician narrow the search.
Do not keep topping off the pool indefinitely while a leak runs. The longer water escapes underground, the more soil it can move and the more damage it can do out of sight.
If the bucket test points to a leak, or if you can see water escaping somewhere you cannot reach, call a leak detection professional. Pahrump Leak Pros serves Calvada Valley, Desert Greens, Joy Lake, Pahrump Town, and Pahrump Valley, and the team is available 24/7. For a pool leak, the visit starts with finding the source — then repairing it, in-house.
How do I know if my pool is leaking or just evaporating? Run the bucket test: put a bucket on a pool step, mark the water level inside the bucket and in the pool, and compare them after a day. If the pool drops noticeably more than the bucket, the pool is likely leaking.
Where do pool leaks usually happen? The most common spots are the skimmer, return fittings, the main drain, the plumbing lines, the pool shell, and the equipment pad. Many of these are out of sight, which is why a leak can run for weeks before anyone notices.
Can a pool leak damage my yard or my home? Yes. Water escaping underground can wash out soil under the deck or pool shell, cause settling and cracking, and pool near the foundation. The sooner a leak is found, the smaller the damage is likely to be.
Do you repair pool leaks, or only find them? Pahrump Leak Pros does leak detection and repair in-house. The same team that locates the leak can repair it — there is no need to bring in a second company.
Call Pahrump Leak Pros at (775) 773-9081 — 24/7 service. 365 Oxbow Ave, Pahrump, NV 89048.