Surfaces and decks
Bucket test
A bucket test compares water loss in a bucket on the pool step with water loss in the pool to spot leaks.
Set a bucket of pool water on a step, with its water level matching the pool level. Mark both levels. After a day or so, compare how much each dropped. The bucket shows evaporation. If the pool dropped more, you likely have a leak.
Run the test twice, once with the pump running and once with it off, to hint at where the leak sits. In the Texas summer, expect a fair amount of normal loss. The test is a clue, not proof. A pro should confirm a suspected leak.
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