Compare like with like.
The bucket test compares evaporation in a container with the change in your pool’s water level. Choose a period without rain, swimming, or added water. Keep children and pets away from the test container.
Set up the bucket.
Place a stable bucket on a shallow pool step, with its rim safely above the pool water. Fill it with pool water to roughly the same level as the water outside.
Mark both levels.
Mark the water level inside the bucket and the pool level outside. Pause any automatic filling for the comparison if you can do so according to its instructions.
Keep conditions consistent.
Observe for about 24 hours without swimming or topping up. Record pump operation and weather. Rain or added water can make the comparison unreliable.
Compare the change.
If the pool drops noticeably more than the bucket, further investigation may help. Repeat under consistent conditions if the difference is small or the weather changed.
What the result tells you
A greater drop in the pool is a reason to investigate, but the test does not locate a leak or identify the part that needs repair. Wind, temperature, and the position of the bucket can affect the comparison.
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