If you have figured out that your pool is probably leaking and you are ready to call a professional, you might be wondering what happens next. What does the process actually look like? How long does it take? Will they have to drain the pool? Will they tear up your deck?
These are reasonable things to want to know before someone shows up at your house with a truck full of equipment. The process varies somewhat from company to company, but most professional pool leak detection services in South Florida follow a fairly consistent approach. Knowing what to expect makes the whole experience less stressful and helps you ask better questions when you are comparing providers.
The Initial Phone Conversation
Most good Miami pool leak detection companies will ask you several questions before they even schedule the appointment. They want to understand what you are seeing, how long it has been going on, and whether you have done any basic testing on your own.
Be prepared to answer questions like:
- How much water are you losing and over what period of time
- Whether the loss seems to happen whether or not the pump is running
- Where the water level tends to stabilize when you stop adding water
- Whether you have noticed any wet spots, cracks, or other visible issues
- What type of pool you have and roughly how old it is
This conversation helps the technician arrive prepared. If you know that the pool stops losing water when the pump is off, for example, that suggests the leak is on the pressure side of the plumbing rather than in the shell. That is useful information before the diagnostic even begins.
What Happens During the Inspection
Visual Assessment First
A thorough technician starts with a visual inspection of the entire pool and surrounding area before using any specialized equipment. They are looking at the pool shell for visible cracks, staining, or repairs that might indicate previous problems. They check the skimmer baskets, return jets, light fixtures, and drain covers for signs of deterioration. They look at the equipment pad for moisture, dripping connections, or corrosion. They walk the deck and yard for wet spots, sinkholes, or areas where the soil feels soft.
This part of the process might look casual from the outside, but an experienced technician is gathering a lot of information during the walkthrough. Pool leaks tend to leave evidence if you know where to look.
Dye Testing
Dye testing is often one of the first hands-on steps. The technician uses a small syringe or squeeze bottle to release a small stream of colored dye near suspected leak points. Common areas to test include around skimmer throats, return jet fittings, light niches, main drains, and any visible cracks in the shell.
If there is active water movement at that spot, the dye will be pulled through it. This is a simple but effective method for confirming surface and structural leaks.
Pressure Testing the Plumbing
If the visual inspection and dye testing do not fully explain the water loss, or if the pattern of loss suggests an underground plumbing issue, the technician will pressure test the lines. This involves plugging the returns and suction lines and pressurizing each section of plumbing to check for drops in pressure that indicate a breach.
Pressure testing is the most reliable method for diagnosing underground pipe leaks without digging. It can confirm not only whether a line is leaking but also which specific section of pipe is affected.
Electronic Listening and Location Equipment
Once pressure testing confirms a leak in a particular plumbing section, electronic listening equipment helps narrow down the exact location. The technician uses a sensitive ground microphone to listen for the sound of water escaping through a pipe below the surface. This allows them to mark the repair location within a small area rather than digging up a long section of deck or yard.
How Long Does It Take?
A standard pool leak detection visit in South Florida typically takes two to four hours for a thorough inspection. More complex situations, particularly those involving multiple potential leak sources or extensive underground plumbing, can run longer.
You do not need to be home for the entire visit, but it helps to be available at the beginning so you can walk the technician through what you have observed, and at the end so they can explain what they found.
Will They Need to Drain the Pool?
In most cases, no. The majority of leak detection methods work with the pool full or nearly full. Dye testing, pressure testing, and electronic listening all work with water in the pool. Certain shell repairs may require partial draining, but that is a separate step that comes after the diagnostic.
Beware of any company that insists on draining the pool before they can diagnose the problem. That is not standard practice for a well-equipped leak detection service.
Questions to Ask Before You Hire
When comparing pool leak detection companies in Miami, a few questions help separate the experienced operators from the less qualified ones:
- How long have they been doing leak detection specifically, not just general pool service
- What methods and equipment do they use for both surface and underground leaks
- Whether the diagnostic fee gets applied toward the repair cost
- What the repair process looks like if they find a leak in the underground plumbing
- Whether they provide a written report of their findings
A company that answers these questions clearly and confidently is one that knows what it is doing. South Florida has no shortage of pool service companies, but leak detection is a specialty skill. Finding someone with real experience in that area makes a significant difference in the accuracy of the diagnosis and the quality of the repair.
