Having a pool installed was one of the best decisions we ever made as homeowners. That is, until the darn thing started losing water a lot faster than it ever had before. My panic was obvious as I thought, "My pool is leaking!" I envisioned small lakes around my yard and the pool itself cracking and crumbling. My entire yard became a sink hole in my mind, and I didn't even know where to go for help.

I was really happy to find out that none of my worst dreams came true. It turns out that pool leaks aren't really all that rare, and there are many easy options for repairing them. Once the crack in the surface was stuffed with putty, my pool scare was over.

Leaks are a pool owner's worst nightmare, but they are often easy to diagnose and repair. Finding a leak may involve placing food dye into the pool and watching to see where it goes, or checking the skimmer and underwater lights for openings. Once you pinpoint the source of the leak, decide whether you can handle the repair job yourself or need a professional to get the job done right.

Cracks in the Pool Wall

If you find a crack in your pool wall, place some waterproof putty in the hole. These substances are made to use underwater and hold up pretty well over the long term. Putty can also be used to seal openings around the skimmer or underwater lights. Follow manufacturer's instructions carefully to make sure your patch job holds up.

Leaks in Plumbing

So what happens when you can't find any tears or cracks in your pool lining? It could be that you simply missed the mark, or your leak may be coming from another source. Leaks in your plumbing system can be tricky to say the least. Many of your pipes are probably underground, so detecting the leak may involve a whole lot of digging. You work up a serious sweat and your landscaping takes a beating if you try to take on this project yourself. Not an attractive thought, right?

Here's an option. If you suspect that your pool leak lies in your plumbing lines, call a professional detection service. These guys own special devices that can "hear" the leak, rather than digging up your yard to find it. They won't dig until they find the precise spot where water is getting out of the pipe. This saves a lot of damage to your yard and a lot of sore muscles on your part.

The most important thing to know about pool leaks is that they should be fixed as soon as possible. The longer water is allowed to get where it shouldn't, the more damage you might have to fix in the long run. As soon as you notice signs of leaking, such as wet ground around your pool or a water level that is consistently going down, begin diagnostic tests to see where the leak is located. If you can't find it on your own, don't be afraid to call in the professionals to find and fix your leak ASAP.