Over the winter months, you may notice your pool’s water level going down which makes you wonder “How much evaporation is normal?” Knowing this information will help you figure out if the decreasing level of your pool water is due to evaporation or a possible leak. Don’t fret! A swimming pool without heaters or water features can lose approximately a quarter inch of water every day. That means your pool can lose over 1.5″ in a week. Most pools won’t lose quite so much, but it’s a good, general measurement to keep in mind.
Causes of Pool Evaporation
There are many things that can affect water evaporation in Central Florida, but the three main factors are: temperature, humidity levels and exposure.
Temperature: During the cooler months, Central Florida sees quite the drastic swings in temperatures throughout the day. The warm temperatures during the day heat your pool up, then the cooler temperatures at night cause the water to evaporate. This happens throughout the evening, until the sun comes out to warm the pool water again.
Humidity: When humidity levels are high, evaporation is low. Vice versa, when humidity is low, evaporation is high. Think of the air as a sponge. When a sponge is dry, it can hold more water. The dryer the air, the more evaporation you will see.
Exposure: Evaporation also increases if your pool is exposed to wind and the sun. Sometimes all year round in Florida the intense sunlight will lead to evaporation. The chemicals added to the pool for maintenance, like chlorine and other chemicals, will also evaporate. In the hot weather, adding stabilizers to your pool water will help prevent excessive chlorine evaporation.
Leaks vs Evaporation
If you notice your pool is losing over a quarter inch of water per day, it’s time to check for leaks. Look for puddles of water around your pool deck and check the fittings and drains. Puddles indicate a plumbing leak. To figure out if you have a leak in your pool, The Florida Spa & Pool Association recommends using the bucket test. The steps are as follows, “Fill the pool to a normal level and fill a 5-gallon bucket about a third full of pool water. Mark the water level on the inside of the bucket and the pool level on the outside (shut off the pump when you do it and then resume normal operation). After 24 hours compare the two. If the pool water mark on the outside of the bucket goes down more than the bucket water, there is probably a leak. If the levels change the same amount it is evaporation.”
Pools by Bradley is Here for YOU
Everyone here at Pools by Bradley lives and breathes our mission of designing and building your ultimate outdoor pool atmosphere. We intend to inspire you to improve the recreational time you spend with your family and friends in your new outdoor environment. BUT – we especially want you to protect your investment! Our motto is “take care of the customer and everything else will take care of itself”. When you choose Pools by Bradley to help you build your dream pool, you can rest assured that you’re choosing the absolute best. As a local family owned and operated company founded in back 1996, we have received numerous design awards and honors. Pools by Bradley is rated as one of the top 50 pool builders in the U.S., plus recognized as the “Best Pool Company” in Orlando by Orlando Magazine several years in a row! We offer custom built pools and spas with additions ranging from water features and lighting effects to rain curtains and water slides…the sky’s the limit! Contact us online or call us today at 407-323-7946 to see how we can help you build the pool of your dreams!
