Pool Leak Detection & Structural Repair in North Georgia

When a “Small Leak” Isn’t So Small

A little water loss can seem harmless — until you’re refilling your pool every few days and your water bill tells a different story. Leaks in Georgia pools often start small, but if left unchecked, they can undermine decking, rust out walls, or wash away the soil that supports your pool shell.

At My Aqua Fun Pools, leak detection and structural repair are some of the most valuable services we perform. We’ve seen what a season of unnoticed water loss can do, and we’ve built a system to find problems early and fix them the right way.

How to Tell If Your Pool Has a Leak

All pools lose a little water naturally through evaporation — especially in the Georgia heat — but there’s a simple rule of thumb:
If you’re losing more than ¼ inch per day, something’s not right.

Common warning signs include:

Needing to top off the pool every few days
Air bubbles in return jets
Cracked deck areas or soggy spots near the pool
Uneven water levels or floating liners
Algae returning quickly after cleaning (from diluted chemicals)
Sudden increase in water or chemical use

If any of these sound familiar, you likely have a leak somewhere in the system — plumbing, fittings, or the structure itself.

Step 1: The Leak Detection Process

We approach every leak like a detective case. Our process combines technology, experience, and a little patience.

1. Visual & Pressure Testing

We start by inspecting the pool, plumbing pad, and nearby ground for visible clues — wet soil, cracked grout, or shifting deck joints. Then we pressure-test plumbing lines individually to pinpoint leaks in return, suction, or main drain lines.

2. Dye Testing

For suspected surface leaks, we use a harmless colored dye near cracks, fittings, and lights. If the dye gets pulled in, we’ve found the culprit. It’s simple but incredibly effective.

3. Electronic Leak Detection

For more complex cases, we use specialized listening equipment that detects the faint sound of escaping water, even through concrete. This helps us identify underground leaks without unnecessary digging.

4. Liner or Structure Inspection

If it’s a vinyl liner pool, we inspect seams and corners for tiny tears or bead-separation. For gunite pools, we check plaster and tile lines for cracks or hollow spots.

Our goal is to locate the exact source — not just the symptoms.

Step 2: Structural and Plumbing Repairs

Once we’ve identified the leak, we move on to fixing it properly — not with temporary patches, but with lasting solutions.

For Vinyl Liner Pools

Small punctures or seam separations can often be patched underwater without draining. Larger issues may require partial draining or liner replacement. We match the pattern as closely as possible to make repairs nearly invisible.

For Gunite or Plaster Pools

Cracks are cleaned, sealed, and resurfaced using professional-grade repair compounds that bond with the existing material. If the issue is deeper — like shifting from soil erosion — we stabilize the structure before resurfacing.

For Plumbing Leaks

If a line is damaged underground, we expose only the affected area, repair or replace the section, and backfill carefully to prevent future movement. We always retest under pressure before re-covering the area.

Why Leaks Happen — Especially in Georgia

Our local conditions don’t make it easy on pools. Georgia’s red clay soil expands and contracts as it absorbs and dries, which can shift plumbing or create stress cracks in concrete. Add tree roots, vibration from nearby construction, or freeze-thaw cycles, and it’s easy to see why leaks happen even in newer installations.

Many older pools were also built before modern flexible plumbing and expansion joints were standard. Over time, those rigid systems simply give out.

Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Fix a Leak

Even a small leak — say, one gallon per minute — can add up to over 40,000 gallons a month. That’s not just wasted water and chemicals; it’s soil erosion beneath your decking, pump strain from air in the lines, and corrosion around fittings.

Early detection and repair save money and extend your pool’s lifespan. What looks like a small cosmetic issue now can turn into a structural rebuild later if ignored.

The Aqua Fun Advantage: Precision and Prevention

Our team brings decades of combined experience to every detection job. We use specialized equipment that’s designed for pool environments, not generic plumbing tools. That precision matters — especially when leaks are subtle or buried under concrete decking.

We also look at root causes. Fixing the symptom without addressing what caused it — like improper drainage or worn expansion joints — just invites the problem back. We’d rather solve it once and for all.

When Repair Turns Into Renovation

Sometimes, during a leak repair, homeowners realize it’s the right time to tackle other upgrades — resurfacing, coping, or liner replacement. If your pool’s structure is already exposed, combining repairs with renovations often saves money and downtime.

Because Aqua Fun handles construction and renovation, we can coordinate everything seamlessly — one crew, one schedule, one trusted team.

How to Prevent Future Leaks

While no pool lasts forever without maintenance, you can dramatically reduce risk with a few habits:

Keep water balanced to prevent corrosion
Maintain a stable water level to reduce stress on liners
Inspect tile lines and expansion joints annually
Schedule professional checkups if you notice even minor changes in water level or performance

We also recommend pairing leak detection with annual equipment inspections, especially if your system is over five years old.

Wrapping Up

Leaks are sneaky, but with the right experience and tools, they’re no match for Aqua Fun’s approach. Whether your water level is mysteriously dropping or your liner looks off, we’ll find the problem, explain the fix, and handle the repair start to finish.

For Georgia homeowners, peace of mind means knowing your pool isn’t quietly draining away beneath the surface. We help you keep it that way — full, balanced, and ready whenever you are.