From High Water Bills to a Real Answer
A community pool losing water does not just cost money on the water bill. It costs money on chemicals too, because every gallon of fresh water replacing the lost water dilutes the pool's chemical balance. The pool service company has to add more product to maintain chemistry - which adds up quickly on a large commercial pool.
The water meter is the most direct diagnostic tool. If the community has a dedicated water meter for the pool, monitoring it over 24 to 48 hours with the autofill disabled - if that can be done safely - will show whether water is leaving the system and at what rate.
The property manager or pool service company should document what they observe before calling for a leak evaluation: how much water is being added per week, whether the autofill runs constantly, whether the spa drops between uses, whether wet areas have appeared near the equipment pad or around the deck perimeter, and whether any recent repairs were made.
That documentation helps the leak detection evaluation proceed more efficiently. When we know what the pool is doing, we can focus the evaluation on the most likely areas rather than starting from zero.
Leak and Subsurface Locators specializes in community and commercial pool work. We inspect the pool, equipment, plumbing, and water loss behavior, and provide a written report with photos for the property manager and board. That report gives the association what they need to authorize a repair budget and move forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should we document water loss before calling for an evaluation?
A week of documented observations is useful. Two weeks is better. The goal is to establish a consistent pattern - how much water is being added, how often the autofill runs, whether the loss is constant or varies with pump operation or spa use. That pattern helps focus the evaluation on the most likely sources.
Can a community pool leak cause damage beyond the water bill?
Yes. An active underground leak erodes the soil beneath the pool deck and equipment pad. Over time, this can destabilize decking, create voids under concrete, and damage surrounding infrastructure. The water bill is the first sign - the structural damage develops more slowly but can be significantly more expensive to address.
How do I schedule with Leak and Subsurface Locators?
Call Sandra at (954) 290-5177 for Broward County or (561) 325-2678 for Palm Beach County, Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm EST. Residential pool leak detection starts at $425. We serve Palm Beach, Broward, Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River Counties.
Schedule Your Pool Leak Detection
Licensed, local, and specialized. Call Sandra Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm EST.