What You Are Really Paying For When You Hire Pool Leak Detection

When a pool is losing water, hiring someone to find the leak can feel like paying for a guess. It should not be. A good leak detection visit is a series of tests that narrow the search until the leak has a location, and then a written report of what was found. Knowing what the visit contains helps you compare companies fairly and know what to expect when the technician arrives.

A process, not a hunch

Aquatrace works through the same sequence on each visit. Each step does a job, and the order matters.

• Equipment. The technician brings acoustic listening devices, pressure testing gear, water level sensing equipment, electronic basin testing tools, dye, and SCUBA gear for underwater inspection.
• Water loss confirmation. A baseline is measured against that day's evaporation index, so there is proof the pool is losing water beyond evaporation. A final measurement is taken after the testing and any repairs.
• Reservoir inspection. The pool and spa basin are inspected, including underwater, with photographs.
• Pressure testing. The filtration system and the entire plumbing system are tested under pressure.
• Audible survey. Water, air and specialized listening devices are used to locate underground plumbing leaks under the decking without tearing anything up.
• The findings. You receive the results, including a digital copy of the findings report emailed after the inspection.

Every step either finds a leak or rules out a place a leak could be. A technician who can say what has been ruled out is giving you more than one who can only say what was found.

The report is part of the product

A leak you cannot document is a leak you cannot discuss with a builder, a repair crew or an insurer. The emailed findings report, with the underwater photographs from the inspection, gives you something to keep and to forward. It turns a phone call into a record. That matters most when the fix is a bigger job than the one the inspector can do, because you will need to give someone else the details.

The guarantee, in plain words

Aquatrace backs its work with what it calls the Aquatrace Promise, a No Find, Full Refund policy. If your swimming pool is losing half an inch or more of water daily, without a heater in operation, and the team fails to locate the source of the water loss, you receive a refund for the service. The company also reserves the right to a no cost revisit, for example an evaporation test, if the pool continues to leak after the initial assessment.

The FAQ words the promise a little more narrowly: when the team arrives to provide the service, if a leak is present in your system, they will find it. Leaks that arise after the visit are not covered. Read both and notice what they say. The guarantee is about finding the leak that is there on the day, not about promising that nothing will ever fail again.

Repairs: what is included and what is referred

Simple epoxy and vinyl repairs are included at no additional charge with the service fee. For major repairs, the team consults with you and recommends the most cost effective solution. Aquatrace does not otherwise offer repair services, and for those jobs it recommends going back to the original contractor. That separation has an upside: the company that finds the leak is not the company profiting from a larger repair.

Why rates vary, and how to ask

Aquatrace does not publish a price list, because the work depends on the pool. A standard pool, an infinity edge pool, a custom pool with a spa and a commercial pool are different jobs, and the rate varies with the type of pool you have. A phone consultation is required before booking, and fees are due at the time of service. Card payments are welcome and may carry an additional fee. When you compare companies, ask for what is included, not just the rate.

• What tests will be done, and are any of them underwater?
• Will I get a written report, and will it include photographs?
• What happens if the leak is not found?
• Are simple repairs included, and who handles the bigger ones?
• Is the person on my deck an employee of the company I called?

Your part of the visit

Help the visit go well by preparing the pool. Covers should be removed, the pool and spa should be clean and balanced, the water should be at its normal operating level, and the inspection areas should be free of obstructions. Do not drain the pool. The testing needs water in it, and a prepared pool lets the technician spend the time on testing instead of setup.

To see what the visit would look like for your pool, send Aquatrace a service request or call (864) 710-8636 for a phone consultation with Chris and Catherine Sears.