OK Guys - I've been hitting this forum for old threads about once a day for the past month. Finally decided I'd post for some helpful, expert opinions.
In early April, we had our pool installed (see signature for specs). I was immediately surprised at how much water I was losing each day/night...especially given the time of year. Now we've only had this pool installed for a month, so my history is short, but this is a recap:
In the first few days, we were losing more than a quarter inch per night. Sometimes 1/2". Highs were in the 50s, lows were in the 30s. And pretty windy (I live on a hill with almost zero windbreaks). Builder also thought that more than 1/4" was excessive. He did some digging, and found one of the lights wasn't sealed. So he sealed that light, and also added additional sealants around all of the jets/lights coming into the pool. He said he had another pool in very similar conditions (on a hill, no windbreak) also losing 1/4" a night at that point. He did a bucket test, and said it was good. So he made me comfortable we were all set.
From 4/14 to 4/19, my wife and I were on vacation. The temps were swinging that week from low 30's to 60s, and also super windy. We lost 1-3/4" in 5 days...or 3/8" per day in that stretch.
From 4/20 to 4/26, things were calmer and temps were a little more steady. We lost about 1/8" per day.
At this point, I had convinced myself it was all evaporation. So, I bought a solar cover (aren't they supposed to eliminate 95% evaporation?). I put that on on 4/27. And with the solar cover on from 4/27 to 5/1, we still lost 1/8" per day. I noticed in this stretch that it still ALL came overnight. My pump runs during the day from 8am to 6pm and I wouldn't really see any loss during the day. So almost all loss was at night (when the pump wasn't running). But it just boggles my mind that 1/8" (or 80 gallons!) could evaporate from this pool overnight through the borders of the pool where the pool cover doesn't fit tight! No way!
On 5/2, I took the solar cover off, and turned out heat pump on. It's been mid 70s during the day now, and 50s at night. Only been a couple days...but losing 1/8 to 1/4" per day.
Last night I started a bucket test. There was hardly any wind at all. From 7pm to 7am, Pool dropped 1/8" (and water temp dropped from 78 to 73). Bucket dropped 1/16" (water temp from 78 to 70). I guess I figure 1/16" difference is even hard to judge right. And I was shocked at the fog rolling off the top of my pool at 7am this morning.
Anyway - that's my story. I go back and forth between: "This is fine. 1/4" per day is normal. Evaporation is a pain.", to "No way is this normal! I gotta have a leak somewhere in the plumbing! Call the POLICE!".
So tell me people - am I Nuts? Or is my concern totally sound and I should be concerned? Which is it.
Appreciate any and all feedback on this. And I appreciate all the helpful things I've read on this forum so far. I can see myself spending a lot of time here over the next 20 years!
In early April, we had our pool installed (see signature for specs). I was immediately surprised at how much water I was losing each day/night...especially given the time of year. Now we've only had this pool installed for a month, so my history is short, but this is a recap:
In the first few days, we were losing more than a quarter inch per night. Sometimes 1/2". Highs were in the 50s, lows were in the 30s. And pretty windy (I live on a hill with almost zero windbreaks). Builder also thought that more than 1/4" was excessive. He did some digging, and found one of the lights wasn't sealed. So he sealed that light, and also added additional sealants around all of the jets/lights coming into the pool. He said he had another pool in very similar conditions (on a hill, no windbreak) also losing 1/4" a night at that point. He did a bucket test, and said it was good. So he made me comfortable we were all set.
From 4/14 to 4/19, my wife and I were on vacation. The temps were swinging that week from low 30's to 60s, and also super windy. We lost 1-3/4" in 5 days...or 3/8" per day in that stretch.
From 4/20 to 4/26, things were calmer and temps were a little more steady. We lost about 1/8" per day.
At this point, I had convinced myself it was all evaporation. So, I bought a solar cover (aren't they supposed to eliminate 95% evaporation?). I put that on on 4/27. And with the solar cover on from 4/27 to 5/1, we still lost 1/8" per day. I noticed in this stretch that it still ALL came overnight. My pump runs during the day from 8am to 6pm and I wouldn't really see any loss during the day. So almost all loss was at night (when the pump wasn't running). But it just boggles my mind that 1/8" (or 80 gallons!) could evaporate from this pool overnight through the borders of the pool where the pool cover doesn't fit tight! No way!
On 5/2, I took the solar cover off, and turned out heat pump on. It's been mid 70s during the day now, and 50s at night. Only been a couple days...but losing 1/8 to 1/4" per day.
Last night I started a bucket test. There was hardly any wind at all. From 7pm to 7am, Pool dropped 1/8" (and water temp dropped from 78 to 73). Bucket dropped 1/16" (water temp from 78 to 70). I guess I figure 1/16" difference is even hard to judge right. And I was shocked at the fog rolling off the top of my pool at 7am this morning.
Anyway - that's my story. I go back and forth between: "This is fine. 1/4" per day is normal. Evaporation is a pain.", to "No way is this normal! I gotta have a leak somewhere in the plumbing! Call the POLICE!".
So tell me people - am I Nuts? Or is my concern totally sound and I should be concerned? Which is it.
Appreciate any and all feedback on this. And I appreciate all the helpful things I've read on this forum so far. I can see myself spending a lot of time here over the next 20 years!
