For the past two wks, have suspected I may have a water leak in my pool. I have an automatic pool cover and this is the first year I havent been keeping the pool coverd, due to the extreme heat we have been having - low to mid 90s, so I have been trying to convince myself the water loss is due to evaporation. I did my first bucket test over a 24hr period. Filled the bucket with pool water, marking the inside of the bucket at the water level. Sat the bucket on the steps in the pool and marked the outside of the bucket at the pool water level. Last night, had 1/4" loss of water from bucket, but a 3/4" loss of water from the pool. During the 24 hr period, the pump ran for 8 hrs. I am doing the bucket test again and so far over the past 12hrs, there is no water loss, but so far, it has only covered the cooler evening hrs and the pump has been off. I am wondering if I should keep the pump off today and finish up the bucket test without it to get a more accurate reading? Does it matter one way or the other? In Pool School, it says to block all openings. The only opening I have is at my skimmer - it is an Aqua Genie. There are no "plugs" for the actual opening, but I can plug the hole inside the skimmer, if that would be sufficient? Should I just close all the valves at the equipment pad instead? Before I call my pool man, I want to make sure I am doing this correctly. My biggest concern is leaving for vacation Monday and losing 3/4" of water every day means the water level will eventually be too low for the pump and it will burn up in my absence.