Why does my pool lose so much water in the winter?

Asked by: Mary Harvey

As the temperature of your pool’s water gets colder, the differential pressure between the water and the air increases. This speeds up the rate of evaporation. In addition, lack of humidity and wintertime dry air can also increase evaporation rates. The humid air during the summer keeps more water in your pool.

How much water should a pool lose in the winter?

about a quarter-inch

An uncovered pool will lose water in the winter to evaporation in the same way it does during the summer. But the water loss is only about a quarter-inch on average during a 24-hour period when the pool is not in use. An uncovered or covered pool can have problems in the plumbing lines or pump.

Why does the water level in my pool keep dropping?

Typically, pools lose water for one of two reasons: Evaporation or a leak. Evaporation naturally occurs in any body of water, but it may increase under certain conditions, such as hot, humid weather. Leaks, however, indicate a bigger problem that a professional may need to address.

How can you tell if your inground pool has a leak?

Common Signs Of A Leaking Pool

• Water Level Changes. Dropping water level is the clearest sign a pool is leaking, but it’s important to determine if the water loss is due to evaporation or a leak. …
• Cracks or Falling Tile. …
• Wet Spots in Yard. …
• High Water Bills. …
• Water Under Equipment. …
• Air or Dirt Blown Into Pool. …
• Algae Growth.

Why does my pool lose 1 inch of water daily?

Pool Is Losing 1 Inch of Water Per Day

Losing more than ½” of pool water per day indicates you likely have a leak in your pool’s structure or your pool pump system. You should call your pool service for a thorough leak inspection. You might not be able to keep up with refilling your pool at this point.

How can I tell where my pool is leaking?

Check the waste or backwash line for water consistently running. One inch of your pool water can equal 500 gallons. Check downhill from a pool, looking for weepers where underground leakage is surfacing. Check for soft or wet spots in the yard, on the side of the pool where the plumbing returns water to the pool.

Should a pool lose water in winter?

Did you know that swimming pools often experience water loss during the fall and winter? It’s true. Your pool still needs proper care and maintenance during the fall and winter months.

How often should I have to add water to my pool?

This will vary depending upon several factors including: weather, if the pool is covered or not, bather load, and if it is heated or not. With pools that are covered, a good rule of thumb is that they should not have to be refilled more often than once every 2 weeks.

Is my pool leaking or evaporating?

If the water went down a similar amount in the pool as well as the bucket, then you lost water due to evaporation. If it went down more in the skimmer and not much at all in the bucket then you have a pool leaking.

Is it normal for pool to lose water?

On average, swimming pools lose about a quarter of an inch of water each day, yet variations in wind intensity, humidity and sunlight can drastically change water loss rates.

Why does my pool water evaporate so fast?

Evaporation occurs whenever you expose wind or air to the surface of your pool. So in short, this applies to every pool, all the time. Water molecules rise to the surface, form into a vapor and eventually get released into the air. Heated pools on cool nights experience evaporation more rapidly.

How much can a pool evaporate overnight?

Losing a half-inch or more overnight indicates a problem. A covered pool or spa tub will lose very little water from evaporation in a 24-hour period. Check the water level in your pool or spa tub before you cover it and turn off the pump system. You will know if the water level drops below normal.

How do I stop my pool from evaporating?

RECOMMENDATIONS TO MINIMIZE WATER LOSS

The number-one way to combat evaporation is with a pool cover. It’s estimated that a pool cover will reduce evaporation by 95 percent. Solar covers can heat your pool in the off-season, too. A pool cover reduces the pool’s chemical consumption and reduces your cleaning time.

Do pools lose more water at night?

The differential that occurs between the pool water temperature and the air temperature on late summer nights causes water to evaporate at an accelerated rate. In some cases you might see a water level difference of 1-3 inches overnight. Depending on the size of your pool, that can be over 500 gallons of water loss!

Does a pool cover stop evaporation?

Pool covers can be used on indoor and outdoor pools, as well as in-ground and above-ground pools, of almost any size or shape. Using a pool cover can prevent up to 95 percent of pool water evaporation.

Should pool cover touch water?

The cover is designed to touch the surface of the water. So your pool should always be filled when covered, and the water level should never go below 18 inches from the top of the pool. Check the water level of the pool and fill it up if it goes below 18 inches.

How quickly does pool water evaporate?

The average pool water evaporation rate is about a quarter of an inch of water per day or more than two inches in a week, which on a 33′ x 18′ swimming pool (an average pool size) is more than 2500 liters or approximately 600 gallons a week; this may vary depending on your climate and the factors listed above.

Does chlorine affect evaporation?

Because chlorine is considered to be extremely volatile, it will evaporate without much issue. If you don’t want to spend money to get rid of chlorine in your water, the chlorine will eventually evaporate if you simply leave the water to stand.

How long does chlorine last in a pool?

Most floating chlorinators can hold anywhere from two to eight weeks worth of chlorine, depending on conditions such as the season and your pool’s size. An automatic feeder works in a similar way, allowing it to mix with the pool water slowly and deliberately. This type generally comes in a large bucket.

Does letting water sit remove chlorine?

Chloramine does not disperse from the water like chlorine does. In the event that you let chlorinated water sit for 30 minutes to an hour, it will disperse from the standing water. However it may still leave behind bi-products and VOCs.