If the level is too low, it can cause issues such as:
- Damage to your plaster and decking
- Staining of pool surface
- Heater damage
- Grout damage
How do you lower the level of your pool water?
- Let chlorine levels fall under 1ppm prior to draining the pool. ...
- If the pool liner is vinyl, avoid draining it completely. ...
- After water level is lowered under the skimmer, turn on your pump for several minutes to allow the pipes to drain.
How to lower the water level in an in-ground pool?
The water level may be lowered by the filter's multi-port or a drainage spigot on the pump, if the pool is equipped with either. However, if these are not available a submersible pump can be used, or a garden hose can be used for siphoning the water. Heavy rain is able to dangerously increase pool water levels.
How high should the water level be in a pool?
Whether you’ve got an inground pool or an above-ground pool, or spa, the water level can, literally, make or break your backyard oasis. Too low and your filter and motor may get damaged, too high and it will run inefficiently. The correct water level is around the midpoint of your skimmer.
Does the water level in a pool go down daily?
Your pool level can fluctuate on an almost daily basis. Everything from evaporation and heavy rains to running your pool pump can affect your pool’s water level. To keep your swimming pool water at the ideal level, it’s a good idea to check your water level daily to ensure that the water level looks normal.
What happens if pool water is too low?
What if the Water Level is Too Low? If your swimming pool water level sinks below the optimal depth, you could be facing severe damage to your skimmer. Due to the lack of water, your skimmer will start to draw air into the filter system. As a result, the motor for your pump is at risk of burning out.
What happens if water gets below skimmer?
Low Water. Allowing the pool water level to drop too low, meaning below the skimmer, is a big no-no. If this happens, the pump will draw air instead, resulting in loss of prime and running dry. Catch this in time, stop the dry run, and you might have to say good-bye only to your shaft seal – but be sure to replace it.
When should I add more water to my pool?
If the water level is too high, on the other hand, the water flow through the pump system will not be as efficient. The idea water level is at the exact halfway point on the skimmer door, and when the level gets below the one-third point, more water should be added.
Where do most pool leaks occur?
Most pool leaks are not in the underground plumbing, although it's every pool owner's worst fear, a large backhoe coming in and ripping up the pool deck. It does happen occasionally, that a leak occurs at a pipe connector under the pool deck, or beneath the skimmer, but repair rarely involves a backhoe.
Why is my inground pool losing an inch of water a day?
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 often should you top up your pool?
The Optimum water level is between 1/3 - 2/3's of the way up your Skimmer box . Any lower then 1/3 above the bottom of your skimmer is too low and needs topping up immediately . Normally pools will see ¼ – ½ inch loss of water per day due to evaporation. This is roughly 2 – 4 inches per week.
How do you know when your pool is full?
In general, the proper height can be measured according to the skimmer. The second screw from the top of the skimmer is a good marker to see if you need to add or drain any water. The second screw from the top of the skimmer is a good marker to see if you need to add or drain any water.
What happens if pool water is above skimmer?
If the water level is too high the debris floating next to the opening may pass by without being pulled into the skimmer. However if the water level is too low it may cause the skimmer to suck air into the system. If this happens you may run the risk of burning up your pool pumps motor.
What happens if your pool water is too low?
What Happens If Your Pool Water Levels Are Too Low? If your pool water levels are too low, it can also cause your pump to break down. If your pump does not have enough water in it, it can run dry. This can cause your pump to overheat, and then it can break down.
What happens if you don't keep your pool water level?
When you do not keep your pool water levels at the right spot, it is going to damage your pool. It can cause your skimmer or pump to break as a start, but that is not the only type of damage your pool can take. Your pool tiles can also dry out, which means they will become more brittle with time. This comes from being exposed to the effects ...
Why does my pool not get skimmed?
The water flows into the skimmer at a higher level, it causes the water to not get skimmed properly. This leaves more debris in your pool, and it can cause the debris to wind up getting pumped into the wrong hoses. If the debris goes into the hoses of the pool, it can cause the hoses to get clogged.
Why are pool tiles brittle?
This comes from being exposed to the effects of the sun without the protection of the water over the tiles. Your pool’s plaster will also become more brittle if you do not keep your pool water levels at the right height.
Why is my pool dirty?
The plaster surrounding your pool needs to be kept moist. When the plaster dries out, it becomes brittle, plus it begins to erode when the water hits it. This can cause your pool to look dirty, plus throw off the chemical levels of the water.
What to remember when adding pool water?
Things to Remember When Adding or Removing Pool Water. There are specific things you have to keep in mind when changing your pool water levels. If your pool water is too high and you need to remove some pool water, you are going to make the chemical levels of the pool more concentrated. If your pool water is too low and you need to add in some new ...
Why is it important to check your pool water levels?
Pool Water Levels Are Important to Improve the Longevity of Your Pool. Do you know how often you need to check your pool water levels, or why they require regular checks? Most pool owners remember that their pool water levels need checking, but they do not remember how often to do it or why. There are a lot of things that can go wrong ...
A Pool Leak With Equipment On
If your pool is only leaking when the equipment is on, this could be a sign of a pressure-side return leak. When the filter pump is on, the plumbing that is on the pressure side after the pump is under pressure. This can cause small drips to spray gushers.
A Leaky Pool With The Equipment Off
If your pool is leaking when equipment is off, this usually means you have a suction-side leak. This could also mean there is a leak in the pipes that bring water from the pool. When the filter pump is on, the suction side plumbing is under vacuum.
If Your Pool Is Always Leaking
If your pool is always leaking, know this doesn’t rule out plumbing leaks. Try to look at the shell of the pool for any tears in the vinyl or cracks in the plaster. You’ll want to look closer at the tile line and inside the skimmer or skimmers.
Equipment Pad Leaks
You will want to take a close look at the pump, heater, filter, and valves. Check for moisture on the ground. Turn the pump off and on and look closely for any spraying water when the pump is off.
Water Stabilization
If you notice that the water is stabilizing at a certain level, you could close the skimmer valve. This will let the water level drop to below the skimmer which will run the pump on the main drain.
Wet Areas Around The Pool
You’ll want to to take a walk outside of your pool deck and between the pool and equipment pad. When doing this, check for any eroded areas or wet soil. Your pool should have a downward slope near the pool.
Vinyl Liner Pool
If you have a pool with a vinyl liner, know there are certain specific things you should look for. For example sinkholes under the liner than may have washed away.
What to do when your pool water level is too low?
When your water level is too low, it’s as easy as throwing a garden hose into your pool and cranking it on. Done and done. It’s a little more of a hassle if your level is too high—but that’s also less likely to happen.
What happens if your pool water level hits halfway up the skimmer?
If your pool’s water level hits halfway up the skimmer, the debris that is floating along in your pool water is filtered out into the skimmer basket, which looks like a strainer in a bucket that is built into the ground beside your pool. That’s why it’s important to clean this skimmer basket out every day.
What to do when your pool is halfway up the skimmer?
Once your waterline is halfway up the skimmer, you just need to rebalance your chemicals and you’re in the clear. A little stressful, sure. But totally worth it, when the alternative is buying a new pool pump and/or needing to prime it to get all that destructive air out of there.
Why is my water level so high?
The most common reason why your water level would be too high is totally preventable—and that’s a good think, since you’ll need to drain your water to fix your level. That common reason? You probably guessed it: heavy rainfall.
What is a skimmer in a pool?
Just to remind you, your skimmer is the rectangular opening that is built onto the size of your pool wall and connects to your greater circulation system. That means that water travels from your pool through your skimmer, through your pool lines, back to your pump and filter, and out through your return jets.
Why is my waterline low?
This is especially true when your waterline is too low, because air has a way of moving through its own path of destruction when it is introduced into your greater circulation system.
How long should I run my pool pump?
Remember, every working part of your pool depends on the fact that the pool pump is run for the right amount of time every day (generally, that’s about eight hours). It can also add pressure to your filter, cause your lines to stop working, and wreak general havoc on every part of your circulation system.
Why does my pool lose water?
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. Read on to learn whether your pool is naturally evaporating ...
How much water does a pool lose in a day?
Pools in perfect working order will naturally lose water over time. It's typical for residential pools without a cover to lose up to a quarter-inch of water per day during the summer. Adding things like an enclosure and a pool cover can help slow down evaporation.
How to fix a leak in a pool?
1. Fill your pool to its normal water level. 2. Go to where you suspect a leak is occurring. 3. Add a few drops of dye or food coloring. 4. Observe where the dye flows. The dye or food coloring will naturally flow toward your leak.
What causes a pool to crack?
Leaks that occur below the surface can shift the ground your pool sits on, causing cracks. Therefore, cracks in your pool's concrete or tiles are a potential indication of an underground leak.
How to make a pool with a bucket?
1. Fill your pool to its normal water level. 2. Add some of your pool water to a bucket, filling it to about one inch from the top. 3. Place the bucket on the first or second step of your pool so that it's submerged about 5–6 inches into the water. 4.
What to do if you have a leak in your pool?
If you have a leak at the bottom of your pool, you'll likely need some goggles and a snorkel so you can effectively follow the dye's path. Once you determine the leak's location, you can attempt to fix it yourself or call a professional pool service to help you.
Why is it important to find leaks in a pool?
It's essential to find leaks early so you don’t lose money on wasted water, heat, and chemicals. But it's also critical to detect them to preserve your pool's overall structure. Leaks left unaddressed can wash away your pool's fill dirt and cause other costly problems.
What happens if your pool is not level?
If an above ground pool is not level, the water’s weight can cause damage to the walls and liner. As a result, your pool will collapse, potentially causing property damage or personal injury. Properly leveling your pool can be tricky, so can fixing your unlevel pool. Luckily for you, we have the answer to all your pool questions, ...
Why is it dangerous to have a pool off by 3 inches?
This is because, at 3-inches, the imbalance of the thousands of pounds of water in your pool will put too much pressure on one side over the other , causing severe damage.
What happens if you don't compact sand?
If you do not, the sand will sink with the pool’s weight and the added weight of your feet inside of the pool. This will cause wrinkles in your liner and a potentially uneven water level.
How to use a pool board?
To use the board, place it on the ground, and then put a level on top of it to see how level the board actually is. To use a string level, tie the string to a wooden stake and hammer it into the ground at the edge of where the pool should be.
How much water does a 15 ft pool hold?
An average 15-ft round pool with a 52-inch wall holds a little over 5,000 gallons of water. That is a little over 41,700 pounds of water weight. When this water level is off by more than three inches, you will start to see problems due to the weight of the water with: Damage to the liner. Pool wall damage. Uneven water level.
Why is it important to level an above ground pool?
Leveling Your Above Ground Pool Is Important. Water weighs much more than we think it does. That weight can cause severe problems to even the toughest pools if they are not leveled correctly. When assembling your above ground pool, it is important to take your time during the leveling step.
Why should a pool track be outside of the sand?
The pool track should be outside of the sand to ensure the sand doesn’t wash out. Tracks on top of the sand will move with the settling sand and possibly sink, making the walls uneven.
