Frequently Asked Questions

A little water loss is normal, so before you assume the worst it helps to rule out the everyday causes: evaporation, splash-out from swimmers and pets, water carried off when you backwash the filter, and normal auto-fill behavior. When the loss is faster than those can explain, you likely have an actual leak in the shell, the plumbing, or the equipment. An auto-fill can hide the problem entirely by topping the pool off as fast as it drains, so the level looks steady while water keeps escaping. Leaks below ground are the easiest to miss, because nothing shows on the deck. If your pool keeps dropping more than about a quarter inch a day, it is worth a look. Call us at (941) 270-6138 and we will help you tell evaporation from a leak.

Evaporation is the most common reason a level drops, and it is easy to mistake for a leak. As a rule of thumb, a heated pool loses roughly a quarter inch of water a day and a non-heated pool loses about an eighth of an inch a day. Covering a heated pool cuts that loss noticeably. Evaporation is driven by the temperature difference between the air and the water, the humidity, sun and wind exposure, and any fountains or water features. Screened and covered pools lose less than open ones. In our area the cooler, drier months of October through March usually show more evaporation, while the frequent afternoon showers from April through September often keep the level topped up on their own. If your loss runs well beyond these numbers, or keeps up regardless of the weather, that points to a leak worth investigating.

Sometimes. It depends on your policy and on what caused the leak, and coverage is more likely when the leak has led to secondary damage. Every policy is different, so the honest answer is to check yours. If it helps your claim, the detailed photo report we leave after a detection documents exactly what we found and where. Contact us and we are happy to talk it through.

This is where our "Private I's" process comes in: we Investigate, we Identify, and we Inform. We start non-invasively. Using acoustic listening equipment, dye testing, and full pressure testing of the pool plumbing, we narrow the leak down to its exact source before anyone touches a shovel. Nothing gets dug up or opened on a hunch. Only once we have identified the leak do we explain what we found, show you the evidence, and walk you through your options. In 23-plus years of doing this across Southwest Florida, we have learned that patience and the right sensors beat guesswork every time.

Buried lines are exactly where experience and equipment matter most. We pressure-test the plumbing to confirm which line is losing water, then use specially designed listening equipment to pinpoint the spot along the run, often within a small area. Our technicians are trained to read those signals accurately. We will be straight with you: underground work always carries some unknowns and the occasional surprise, but pinpointing the leak first is how we keep any digging as small and targeted as possible.

Plan on about 1.5 to 3 hours for a full leak detection. Every pool is different, and more complex plumbing takes longer, so we run every test we reasonably can before we leave rather than rushing to a clock.

Our detection is a flat rate that covers a complete dive test of the pool and a full pressure test of the plumbing. Any small repairs or patchwork we can handle during the same visit are included at no extra charge. The one exception is floor systems, which carry extra plumbing and take additional testing. If we uncover something that needs a larger construction repair, we quote that separately and never start it without your approval.

Yes, whenever we can. Many leaks we find can be sealed the same day with a two-part underwater epoxy, and that patchwork is covered by the flat detection rate. There is no per-patch fee, and you will not be left waiting on a second appointment for the simple fixes.

No. We use a two-part underwater epoxy that sets right in the water, so there is no need to drain. The standard set time is about 2 hours in 70-degree water, and we recommend leaving the pump off for 24 hours so it can cure fully. Applied correctly, the epoxy will not shrink or sag.

Yes. Floor systems, sometimes sold as self-cleaning systems, sweep debris toward the main drain so you vacuum less. They also add a lot of plumbing, and each jet has to be tested back to the floor dome, the gear pack that runs the system. Because of that extra work, floor systems fall outside the standard flat rate, and we will let you know before we begin.

We do not give up. If the usual tests do not turn up a source, we will mark and date your water line at the skimmer so you can monitor the loss precisely, and we will schedule a return trip to pick the investigation back up. We are 100% dedicated to solving your pool leak mystery. At Aqua Leak Detection, we are committed to diving in and solving problems. That's why our work is guaranteed, and if a leak is missed we will continue working on your pool until it is leak free. Put plainly, we will not stop until we figure it out.

Every detection comes with a detailed report so you are never left guessing. It documents what we tested, what we found, and where, with photos of the leak and the affected areas, plus our recommended next steps and any quotes for larger work. It is written so a homeowner, a Realtor, or an insurer can understand exactly what is going on with your pool.

Not necessarily. As long as our technician can reach the pool cage and the equipment area, and there is access to power and water, we can complete the detection while you are out and leave a detailed invoice and report behind. We follow up with a call once we are done to review everything with you.

Because pool complexity varies so much, we do not book rigid, to-the-minute appointment slots. Instead, your technician calls ahead before heading your way, so you are never caught off guard. Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm, and you can always reach us at (941) 270-6138.

Two practical reasons. It gives us a reliable backup way to reach you if we cannot get through by phone, and it lets us email your invoice and photo report, which is handy if we could not leave a copy at the property. You can always reach us at office@aqualeaks.com.

No. We keep access as small as we possibly can. A typical repair opening is only about 10 by 12 inches, and a skimmer repair runs about 24 by 27 inches. When we do need to open the deck, we texture the patch to blend with the surrounding surface so scarring is kept to a minimum. One honest note: we will not paint. Matching deck paint to the original color rarely comes out looking right, and we would rather not leave you with a mismatched patch.

Most repairs are wrapped up in a single day. Once we have pinpointed the leak, the actual fix is usually quick, and we will give you a clear timeline before we start.

For the leaks we seal with underwater epoxy, no draining is needed at all. For larger structural repairs, we will tell you up front exactly what the job requires before any work begins, so there are no surprises.

We handle the full range: leaks in underground plumbing lines, skimmers, main drains, return lines, and light housings, plus worn bulbs and gaskets. Our repair services include pool leak repair, line clearing, pool pipe cut and cap, bulb and gasket replacement, and main drain cover installation. If the issue turns out to be structural, we will show you what we found and quote the work before we touch it.

It depends on the part and its condition, and we will always tell you honestly which makes more sense for your pool and your budget. Where a repair will hold up, we repair. Where a part is worn out or past saving, we will explain why replacement is the better value rather than sell you a fix that will not last.

Yes. We partner with Wisetack to offer straightforward financing, so a repair does not have to wait. Ask us and we will walk you through the options.

A pre-sale pool inspection is a top-to-bottom look at the health of a pool before it changes hands. We check the shell and surface for cracks and wear, pressure-test the plumbing for leaks, and evaluate the equipment, including the pump, filter, and related components, so you know its true condition. You get a clear, documented picture of what is working, what is not, and what may need attention.

A general home inspector gives the pool a quick visual once-over as one item on a long checklist. We do the opposite: the pool is all we do. We bring the same leak-detection equipment and pressure testing to an inspection that we use on a service call, which surfaces hidden problems, especially leaks, that a visual check simply cannot catch.

Anyone with money on the line around a pool. Buyers get one to avoid inheriting an expensive hidden problem. Sellers get one to head off surprises that could derail a sale. And homeowners planning a renovation get one so they are not building on top of an existing leak. If a pool is part of the deal, an inspection protects you.

You receive a detailed photo report covering the condition of the shell and surface, the results of the plumbing pressure test, the state of the equipment, and any leaks or concerns we found, along with our recommendations. It is documentation you can hand to a buyer, a seller, a Realtor, or a lender with confidence.

Yes, the simple ones. If we spot a small leak we can seal with our underwater epoxy during the inspection, we take care of it at no additional cost. Larger repairs are quoted separately for your approval.

A leak detection is aimed at one question: where is this pool losing water, and how do we fix it. An inspection is broader. It still includes leak testing, but it also evaluates the overall condition of the shell, surface, and equipment to give a complete health report, which is what you want when a pool is being bought, sold, or renovated.

Over time, pool plumbing lines can clog or restrict flow because of debris, buildup, or a collapsed section. Line clearing is the process of opening those lines back up so water moves the way it should. Clear lines also make it far easier to pressure-test and pinpoint a leak, so this often goes hand in hand with detection.

Sometimes the smartest fix for a leaking or abandoned line is not to chase it but to seal it off. A cut and cap does exactly that: we cut the problem line and cap it cleanly so it can no longer leak, then rely on the remaining plumbing as needed. It is a proven way to stop a leak in a line that is not worth rebuilding.

We handle the parts of pool lighting that cause leaks and failures: replacing worn bulbs and, just as important, replacing the gaskets and seals around the light housing that keep water out of the fixture. A failed light gasket is a common and easy-to-miss source of water loss.

There is no single calendar date, but main drain covers do not last forever. They become brittle, crack, or break over time, especially under constant sun and pressure, and a damaged or missing cover is a genuine safety hazard. Covers also have to meet current safety standards. We recommend having yours checked periodically and replaced the moment it shows cracking or damage, or if it no longer meets code. We install compliant main drain covers as one of our core services.