When you think of a pool leak, you probably imagine a massive gash in the plaster or a geyser of water spraying from a pipe. In reality, most pool leaks in Round Rock are much more subtle.
Small leaks can hide for months, silently wasting thousands of gallons of water and slowly eroding the ground beneath your pool deck. By the time the problem becomes "obvious," the repair bill has often tripled. Identifying the early, hidden signs of a leak is the best way to save your pool and your wallet.
Sign 1: Your Autofill Runs Constantly
Many modern pools in Round Rock come equipped with an automatic water leveler (autofill). This is a fantastic convenience—until you have a leak.
The autofill's job is to keep the water at a set level. If your pool is leaking, the autofill will simply keep adding water to compensate. This masks the water loss, so you never see the water level drop.
How to check: Take a look at your autofill device (usually a small plastic lid near the pool edge). If you hear water running through it constantly, or if you see the valve open even after a rainstorm, you likely have a leak. Try turning off the water supply to the autofill for 24 hours and see if the pool level drops.
Sign 2: Unexplained Spikes in Your Water Bill
If your lifestyle hasn't changed but your Round Rock utility bill has suddenly jumped by $50 or $100, your pool might be the culprit.
Because pool leaks often happen underground, you won't see the water "leaking." Instead, you'll see it reflected in your monthly statement. A leak the size of a pencil tip can lose hundreds of gallons of water a day. If you notice a trend of increasing water usage over 2-3 months, it's time to investigate.
Sign 3: Cracks in the Deck or Coping
Round Rock is known for its expansive clay soil, which moves as it gets wet and dry. However, a pool leak accelerates this process.
When water leaks out of a pipe or the pool shell, it saturates the soil under the concrete deck. This causes the soil to expand or, even worse, wash away entirely (voids). When the ground shifts or collapses, the concrete above it will crack.
Pay close attention to the "coping"—the stone or brick border around the top edge of the pool. If you see the coping stones separating from the tile or if new cracks appear in your concrete deck that seem to radiate away from the pool, you might have a pipe leak beneath that area.
Sign 4: Soggy Spots or Lush Green Patches
Is there one part of your yard that is always a little bit muddy, even when it hasn't rained for a week? Or perhaps you have a patch of grass near the pool that is significantly greener and faster-growing than the rest of the lawn?
This is a classic sign of an underground plumbing leak. The leaking chlorinated water is being filtered through the soil and "watering" that specific area of your yard. If you walk on your lawn and feel a "squish," or if you see a sunken area in the grass, call a leak detection specialist immediately.
Sign 5: You're Adding Chemicals More Often
Do you find yourself constantly battling to keep your chlorine or salt levels up? If you're adding chemicals every few days and the levels just won't stay stable, it might not be the sun—it might be dilution.
When a pool leaks, it loses perfectly balanced, chemically treated water. As you (or your autofill) add fresh tap water to replace it, you are diluting your chemicals. This makes it much harder to maintain a safe swimming environment and can lead to sudden algae blooms.
Bonus Sign: Air Bubbles in the Return Jets
Keep an eye on the jets where water flows back into your pool. Do you see a steady stream of tiny air bubbles? This is often a sign of a "suction-side" leak.
This means there is a leak in the plumbing before the water reaches the pump. Instead of water leaking out, the pump is sucking air into the system. This puts extra strain on your pool pump motor and reduces filtration efficiency.
The Round Rock Soil Warning
Because Round Rock sits on expansive clay, ignoring these signs can lead to structural damage. Leaking water creates a "slurry" under your pool that can cause the entire shell to tilt or crack. Early detection isn't just about saving water; it's about saving your pool.
Don't Panic—Most Leaks are Fixable
The good news is that most pool leaks can be fixed without draining the pool or tearing up your entire backyard. Modern leak detection technology allows us to pinpoint the exact location of the problem, often within a few inches.
Whether it's a cracked pipe, a loose fitting, or a small structural crack, our team at Centex Pool Repair has the tools and experience to get it fixed fast.