When your water levelDrops too low

What you may notice

Monitoring the water level is part of maintaining a pool. You might notice the water drops below the skimmer opening more frequently than normal. At the equipment pad, you might notice visible drips or puddles under the pump and filter. You might notice air bubbles blowing from the return jets. If your pool has an automatic leveler, you might notice a change in your water bill. You might notice the filter gauge reading higher than it usually does. These signs can point to water escaping the system instead of typical evaporation.

Common causes in the valley

The Southern Nevada Water Authority notes that an average in-ground pool loses 48.6 gallons per square foot per year to evaporation. For a typical 470 square foot pool, this means losing up to 22,842 gallons a year. NWS Las Vegas normals show a July average high of 104.5 degrees, driving evaporation. A pool cover cuts evaporation by about 90 percent. The Las Vegas Valley Water District lists tap water at 280 ppm total hardness. Topping up the pool repeatedly with this hard water raises the calcium levels, leaving calcium scale at the tile line.

What you can safely check

You can perform a few safe visual checks around the pool and equipment pad. Check whether the water level looks low compared to the skimmer opening. Look for visible drips at the equipment pad around the pump, filter, valves and heater. Look for any error code on a display. Check whether your skimmer and pump baskets are full. Check whether the filter gauge reads higher than it usually does. Do not open or adjust the equipment. Electrical sparks, burning smells or water near electrical equipment: turn the equipment off at the breaker only if it is safe to do so, keep everyone away, and call NV Energy or 911 if there is any danger.

When to call a technician

If water loss seems higher than evaporation explains, leak detection can find out what is happening. We schedule urgent repairs, such as equipment that has stopped circulating the water, a leak at the equipment pad or a failed pool or spa heater, ahead of routine work during business hours. Topping up the pool frequently with hard tap water changes the water chemistry. A technician can test the plumbing and equipment to locate the source of the water loss.

How Kingfisher diagnoses it

Our repair diagnostic visit is $85, credited in full toward the repair when approved within 30 days. We provide a written estimate first. Our leak detection steps include a visual inspection, dye testing, pressure testing of suction and return lines, electronic listening, and an equipment pad inspection. We repair equipment and equipment-pad leaks and most light, fitting and skimmer leaks we find. Underground line repairs beyond the deck and structural shell cracks are referred to a specialist contractor. The technician explains what failed, what a repair costs and what replacement would cost. We recommend replacement only when age, parts availability or repeated failures make a repair poor value. We repair most major brands, including Pentair, Hayward, Jandy, Raypak and Sta-Rite. New equipment we install carries a one-year installation labor warranty plus the manufacturer parts warranty. We provide a 90-day warranty on repair labor.