Skimmers · Fittings · Lights · Plumbing · Shell
Pool Leak Detection & Repair in Phoenix, AZ
Topping off your pool more than usual? Arizona evaporation hides a lot, but a real leak wastes water, drives up your bill, and can damage the shell and the ground around it. We confirm the leak, pinpoint where it is, and fix it.
In a Phoenix summer, a pool can lose around a quarter inch of water a day to evaporation alone, more on hot, windy days. That makes leaks easy to miss. The difference is that evaporation is steady and weather-driven, while a leak keeps draining no matter the weather, and often faster when the pump is running. Finding a leak fast matters: every day it runs costs water, chemicals, and money, and escaping water can soften the soil under the pool and deck.
Evaporation or a leak? Try the bucket test
You can check before you call anyone. Set a bucket on the pool’s top step or on the deck, and fill it to match the pool’s water level. Mark the water level inside the bucket and on the pool (on the tile or skimmer). Run the pool as normal for 24 hours, then compare.
If the pool dropped noticeably more than the bucket, you likely have a leak. Repeat the test with the pump off: if the pool loses more with the pump running, the leak is probably in the plumbing; if it loses about the same either way, look at the shell, fittings, or lights. Either way, that’s the point to bring us in.
Where pools leak
Skimmers
The most common leak point: cracks and gaps where the skimmer meets the pool shell.
Returns & fittings
Worn seals and cracked fittings around return jets, cleaner lines, and drains.
Pool & spa lights
Leaks through the light niche and the conduit that carries the light cord.
Underground plumbing
Cracked or separated pipes between the pool and the equipment pad.
Shell cracks
Structural cracks in the gunite shell, steps, or tile line. See pool crack repair.
Equipment pad
Leaking pumps, filters, valves, and unions at the equipment. See equipment repair.
How we find and fix pool leaks
Confirm the loss
We measure water loss against evaporation, with the pump on and off, to confirm there is a leak and narrow down where.
Pinpoint the source
We inspect the shell, skimmers, fittings, lights, and equipment, and use tests such as dye testing and plumbing pressure tests to find the exact spot.
Repair it right
Fittings resealed, plumbing repaired, cracks structurally fixed, with a written quote before work begins.
Verify the fix
We confirm the pool is holding water so you’re not left guessing.
Why you shouldn’t wait on a leak
Water and money. A leak drains water, heat, and the chemicals you’ve paid for, all day, every day.
Soil and structure. Water escaping under a pool or deck can wash out and soften the soil, which leads to settling, deck cracks, and shell damage.
Small becomes big. A leaking skimmer or fitting is a modest repair. Left alone, the same leak can turn into a structural crack or failed plumbing run. For more warning signs, read our guide to the signs of a pool leak.
Signs your pool may be leaking
- Adding water more often than usual
- A pool that loses more than the bucket test
- Soggy spots or new cracks in the deck or yard
- Air bubbles or poor pressure at the returns
- Algae that keeps coming back despite chemicals
- Loose tile or cracks in the shell or steps
As seen in the news
Recognized across Arizona & national media
We Fix Ugly Pools and owner Brian Morris, “the Ugly Pool Guy,” hold a world record for the fastest pool build and have been featured by national and Arizona outlets, including as expert pool columnists for The Arizona Republic.
Why homeowners call us for leaks
- Licensed & insured. A licensed Arizona contractor (ROC KA5-275609 / KB2-304269).
- Find it and fix it. The same team that locates the leak repairs it, from fittings to plumbing to the shell.
- Whole-pool expertise. We remodel, resurface, and repair pools, so we know every place water can escape.
- Clear pricing first. A written quote before any repair begins.
- 700+ renovations a year. Deep experience with Valley pools of every age.
- 4.9 stars from 305+ homeowners. Serving the Valley since 2001.
Think your pool is leaking?
Schedule leak detection and get a clear answer, and a clear quote, before the damage spreads.