5 Signs Your Inland Empire Pool Has a Leak (And What to Do About It)

Owning a pool in the Inland Empire is one of the best ways to beat the heat — but it also means staying alert to problems that can quietly cost you thousands of dollars if left unchecked. Pool leaks don't always announce themselves with a dramatic gush of water. More often, they show up as subtle changes that are easy to dismiss as normal wear and tear.

Here are five signs that your pool may have a leak, and what homeowners in Rancho Cucamonga, Corona, Riverside, and across the Inland Empire should do when they spot them.

1. Your Pool Is Losing More Water Than Evaporation Explains

Every pool loses some water to evaporation, especially during the dry, hot Inland Empire summers. On a typical summer day, you can expect to lose about a quarter inch of water. But if your pool is consistently dropping a half inch or more per day, something else is going on.

A simple bucket test can help you determine whether you're dealing with evaporation or an actual leak. Fill a bucket with pool water, set it on the top step of your pool, and mark the water level inside the bucket and the pool water level outside. Wait 24 hours. If the pool level dropped significantly more than the bucket level, you likely have a leak and should schedule a professional pool leak detection.

2. You're Adding Water More Than Once a Week

If you find yourself reaching for the garden hose to top off your pool multiple times a week, that's a red flag. Homeowners in Fontana, Ontario, and Moreno Valley often tell us they assumed the water loss was from splash-out or backwash — and by the time they called us, their water bills had already spiked for months.

Consistently needing to add water means your pool is losing it somewhere it shouldn't be. Whether the leak is in the shell, the plumbing, or a failing skimmer, the sooner you identify the source, the sooner you stop paying for water that never stays in your pool.

3. You Notice Cracks in the Pool Deck or Shifting Ground

Water that escapes from your pool doesn't just disappear — it goes into the surrounding soil. Over time, that moisture causes the ground to shift, expand, and settle unevenly. In the Inland Empire, where clay-heavy and expansive soils are common in cities like San Bernardino, Jurupa Valley, and Chino, this is especially problematic.

Visible signs include cracks forming in your pool deck, pavers lifting or separating, soft or muddy areas in your yard near the pool, or sections of your deck that feel like they've sunk. These are all indicators that water is saturating the ground beneath the surface — and a pool structural repair may be needed alongside leak detection.

4. Your Chemical Levels Won't Stay Balanced

Pool chemistry that refuses to cooperate can point to a leak. When water escapes your pool, it takes dissolved chemicals with it. That means you're constantly fighting to maintain proper chlorine, pH, and alkalinity levels — and spending more on chemicals than you should be.

If you feel like you're dumping chlorine into your pool and it disappears overnight, or your pH keeps swinging despite careful adjustments, a leak could be the underlying cause. Fresh water constantly entering through an autofill (to compensate for the leak) dilutes your chemistry, creating an endless cycle. This is one of the most overlooked signs, especially for homeowners in Upland and Claremont who maintain their pools meticulously.

5. You Spot Wet Areas or Unusual Growth Around Your Pool

Take a walk around your pool and pay attention to what the ground is telling you. Unexplained wet spots in your yard — especially areas that stay damp even during dry stretches — are a strong indicator that water is escaping from an underground pipe. Look for unusually green or lush patches of grass near the pool, as these spots may be getting a constant supply of water from a leaking return line.

In some cases, homeowners in Pomona, San Dimas, and Corona notice standing water or erosion near pool equipment. That typically points to a leak at a fitting or valve, which is often a straightforward repair once identified through pressure testing and professional detection.

What Should You Do If You Spot These Signs?

Don't wait. The longer a pool leak goes unaddressed, the more expensive it becomes — not just in wasted water, but in potential damage to your pool's structure, your deck, and your landscaping. For a full breakdown of what detection involves and what it costs, read our guide on pool leak detection pricing in the Inland Empire.

Some homeowners consider tackling it themselves first, but the reality is that finding the exact source of a leak requires specialized equipment — electronic listening devices, pressure testing rigs, and professional-grade dye testing kits. We break down the full comparison in our post on professional leak detection vs. DIY methods.

The best step you can take right now is to call a LeakTronics-certified technician who can identify the problem quickly and accurately. At Inland Empire Pool Leak Detection, Ed Sanders and our team have been solving these exact problems for homeowners across the region for over a decade. We find the leak, explain exactly what's happening, and provide repair options — from skimmer replacements to trenchless pipe repairs — so you can make the right call.

Call (909) 295-5996 or get a free quote today. The sooner you act, the more you save.

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