Conducting a bucket test is straightforward and helps determine the rate of evaporation in your swimming pool. We recommend conducting a bucket test during the warmer months. In the cooler months, measuring water loss can be effectively done by simply marking the pool’s water level with a piece of tape or a pencil line.

If the water level in the pool has decreased more than the water inside the bucket, there is a leak in your pool. If the water levels are the same, then the water loss is likely due to normal evaporation and usage. Use the steps below to perform a bucket test:

1. Ensure the pool water is at its usual level.
2. Fill a 5-gallon bucket with pool water to about a few inches from the top.
3. Set the bucket on a step in the pool.
4. Inside the bucket, mark the water level.
5. Mark the water level on the outside of the bucket.
6. Turn off the auto fill and operate the pool pump as usual.
7. After 24 hours, check and compare the water levels inside and outside the bucket.