In the humid, tropical climate of Far North Queensland, your swimming pool is more than just a luxury—it’s a sanctuary. However, nothing ruins a weekend at home quite like noticing your water level has dropped significantly below the skimmer box. Is it just the intense Cairns sun, or do you have a structural problem?
At Allan’s Pool Shop, we’ve been the “Clear Choice” for pool owners from Gordonvale to Port Douglas since 1981. With over 40 years of local expertise, we know that water loss is one of the most stressful issues a homeowner can face. If you suspect your pool is losing more than its fair share of water, this guide will help you differentiate between natural evaporation and a costly leak.
Evaporation vs. A Leak: The Cairns Context
Living in a tropical environment means dealing with high evaporation rates, especially during the hotter months or when the wind picks up across the Northern Beaches. It is perfectly normal for a pool in Cairns to lose between 5mm and 10mm of water per day due to evaporation and “splash-out” from family use.
However, if you find yourself topping up the pool every two or three days just to keep the pump primed, you likely have a leak. Ignoring a leak doesn’t just waste water; it dilutes your expensive chemicals and can eventually wash away the supporting soil beneath your pool shell, leading to catastrophic structural failure.
Fact: A tiny leak, approximately the size of a pinhead, can result in the loss of up to 1,300 litres of water per week—a staggering amount that can significantly impact your quarterly utility bill and chemical balance.
The DIY “Bucket Test”
Before you call in the professionals, you can perform a simple, low-cost test to confirm if your water loss is environmental or mechanical.
- Step 1: Bring your pool water to its normal operating level (usually halfway up the skimmer opening).
- Step 2: Fill a plastic bucket with pool water to about 2cm from the top.
- Step 3: Place the bucket on the first or second step of the pool (so the water in the bucket stays at the same temperature as the pool water).
- Step 4: Mark the water level inside the bucket with a permanent marker or electrical tape.
- Step 5: Mark the pool’s water level on the outside of the bucket.
- Step 6: Wait 24 to 48 hours. Ensure no one swims and the auto-leveler (if you have one) is turned off.
If the pool water level (the outside mark) has dropped significantly more than the bucket’s water level (the inside mark), you officially have a leak.
Common Leak “Hot Zones” to Inspect
If the bucket test confirms a leak, your next step is a visual inspection. Leaks rarely occur in the middle of a pool floor; they almost always happen at the points where the plumbing meets the shell or where the “pool equipment” interacts with the water.
- The Skimmer Box: This is the #1 culprit. The bond between the plastic skimmer and the concrete pool can crack over time due to ground movement.
- Pool Lights: The conduit that carries the power cable to your underwater LED lights is a very common place for water to escape.
- The Multi-Port Valve: Check your filter’s waste line. If water is trickling out of the backwash pipe while the filter is on “Filter” mode, your internal spider gasket is likely worn out.
- The Hydrostatic Valve: Located at the bottom of the pool, this valve prevents the pool from “popping” out of the ground during heavy rain. If it’s stuck open with debris, water will drain straight out the bottom.
- Pump and Chlorinator Fittings: Look for damp patches around your equipment pad. Saltwater is highly corrosive and can eat through seals and O-rings over time.
Fact: Industry data suggests that roughly 80% of pool leaks are found within 1 metre of the pool shell, usually concentrated around the skimmer, return jets, or light niches.
Why Professional Leak Detection is High-Leverage
While DIY checks are great for confirmation, finding the exact location of a subterranean pipe leak requires specialized technology. At Allan’s Pool Shop, we use non-invasive acoustic sonar and pressure testing equipment to pinpoint leaks without digging up your beautiful patio or landscaping.
Our technicians have seen everything the FNQ environment can throw at a pool. Whether it’s a cracked pipe caused by a growing tree root in Edmonton or a rusted light niche in a resort pool at Port Douglas, our 40 years of data allow us to find the “hidden wins”—the small repairs that prevent $10,000 resurfacing jobs.
The Financial Impact of Waiting
Proactivity is the hallmark of a smart marketing and maintenance strategy. A leak doesn’t just waste water; it wastes the energy your pump uses to move that water and the chemicals you use to treat it. Furthermore, constant water leaking into the ground around your pool can destabilize the “bond beam,” leading to cracks in your tiles or even the pool shell itself.
By catching a leak early, you preserve the structural integrity of your home’s most valuable outdoor asset. As we often say at Allan’s, leak detection service today can save you from a $30,000 structural repair tomorrow.
Get Your Pool Back to “The Clear Choice”
Don’t let a mystery leak drain your bank account or your peace of mind. If your water level is dropping, lean on the local expertise that Cairns has trusted for over four decades. Our team is ready to help with advanced leak detection, pressure testing, and professional repairs.
Act now before the damage gets worse. Visit Allan’s Pool Shop at our Manunda or Edmonton locations for expert advice, or call us directly on (07) 4051 9344 to book an on-site leak detection specialist. Let us help you keep the water where it belongs—in your pool!
