We provide specialized winterization services to safeguard your pool during the off-season, and when spring arrives, we handle the thorough opening process.
We provide specialized winterization services to safeguard your pool during the off-season, and when spring arrives, we handle the thorough opening process.
Suspect your swimming pool is leaking? Absolute Pools provides pool leak detection and pool leak repairs in Johannesburg and surrounding Gauteng areas, helping homeowners, estates, schools and commercial properties find the cause of water loss and repair it properly.
A leaking pool can quickly become more than a water-level problem. It can increase your water bill, waste pool chemicals, damage paving, soften the soil around the pool and place extra pressure on the pump and filtration system. If your pool needs constant topping up, the safest step is to check the cause before the damage spreads.
Swimming pool leaks are not always visible from the surface. In some cases, water escapes through a crack in the pool shell, a damaged fitting, loose tiles, the weir, return lines, suction lines, pool lights or underground plumbing. In other cases, the first sign is simply that the paving around the pool stays damp or the pump starts pulling air.
Absolute Pools assists with leak detection for different pool types across Johannesburg, including concrete pools, marbelite pools, fibreglass pools, tiled pools, older residential pools, estate pools and commercial swimming pools. We look at the visible signs, the rate of water loss, the condition of the pool structure and the plumbing points that commonly cause leaks.
The aim is to find the real source of the leak before repair work begins. Guessing can lead to wasted money, especially when the visible crack is not the only problem or when the water is escaping from underground pipework rather than the pool surface.
Many pool owners first notice a leak because the water level keeps dropping faster than expected. A small daily drop can be normal during hot weather, but ongoing water loss that needs regular topping up should be checked.
Common signs of a leaking pool include a water level that drops quickly after filling, damp soil or paving around the pool, loose coping, cracks near the pool edge, air bubbles in the return jets, the pump losing prime, cloudy water after constant top-ups, pool chemicals not lasting, stains around cracks, or a sudden increase in municipal water usage.
A leak can also show through indirect symptoms. Your pool may look normal, but the pump may run noisily, the water level may settle at the same point every time, or the paving may start shifting near one side of the pool. These signs can point to a leak around a fitting, pipe, light, weir or structural joint.
Johannesburg weather can cause natural evaporation, especially during hot, dry and windy days. Pools with a large exposed surface, heated water, water features or no cover may lose more water during certain periods of the year.
The concern starts when the pool loses water consistently, even during cooler or less windy periods. If the water level drops noticeably every day, if you are topping up the pool several times a week, or if the level falls faster when the pump is running, a leak inspection is worthwhile.
A useful clue is where the water level stops dropping. If it keeps falling below the weir, lights or return jets, the issue may be lower in the structure. If the level stops around a specific fitting, tile line or light, that area may need closer checking. If the level drops faster while the pump is on, plumbing pressure may be part of the problem.
Pool leaks can happen for many reasons. Older pools may develop cracks because of age, ground movement, worn surfaces or previous poor repairs. Marbelite can become thin, rough or cracked over time. Fibreglass pools can develop surface damage, separation or weak points around fittings. Concrete pools may leak through cracks, tile lines or structural joints.
Plumbing leaks are also common. Underground pipes can crack, fittings can loosen, joints can fail and pressure lines can leak without being visible above ground. A pool may also leak around the weir, return fittings, suction lines, pool lights, main drain, water features or pump connections.
In many Johannesburg properties, the leak only becomes obvious after paving begins to sink, soil stays wet or the pool starts requiring more chemicals because fresh water is constantly being added. This is why leak detection should look at both the pool structure and the system around it.
Absolute Pools starts by looking at the symptoms and where water loss appears to be happening. The inspection may include checking the pool shell, tile line, fittings, weir, lights, pump area, visible plumbing, paving edges and any damp areas around the pool.
The condition of the pool also matters. A new leak in a recently built pool is different from water loss in an older pool with worn marbelite, cracked coping and ageing plumbing. A pool that only leaks while the pump is running may need a different approach from one that loses water even when the system is off.
The goal is to narrow down the likely source before repair work begins. This helps avoid unnecessary digging, repeated patching or replacing parts that were not causing the leak.
Once the leak has been identified, Absolute Pools can assist with the repair work needed to stop the water loss. The right repair depends on the cause, the pool type and how much damage has already happened.
Some leaks can be repaired around fittings, lights, weirs, pipework or pump connections. Other leaks may need crack repairs, tile repairs, coping repairs, resurfacing, relining or more detailed renovation work. If the pool surface is badly worn, a small repair may only be a temporary solution, especially where the pool shell or finish is already failing in several places.
Where possible, we focus on practical repair options that solve the cause without unnecessary work. If the leak is part of a bigger problem, we can advise whether a simple repair is enough or whether resurfacing, relining or renovation would be more reliable in the long term.
Not every pool leak comes from the pool shell. Some of the most frustrating leaks happen in the underground plumbing between the pool, pump and filtration system. These leaks may not be visible immediately, but they can still cause water loss, air in the system, poor suction, low pressure or damp ground near pipe routes.
Plumbing leaks can happen on suction lines, return lines, waste lines or around fittings connected to the pool. They may be caused by old pipes, ground movement, poor previous installation, pressure damage or cracked joints.
If your pump is struggling to prime, if air bubbles are coming through the return jets, or if the water level drops faster while the system is running, the plumbing should be checked as part of the leak detection process.
A visible crack does not always mean the pool is leaking, but cracks should not be ignored. Water can escape through cracks in the shell, weak areas in the surface, gaps around tiles, worn marbelite, damaged fibreglass or failing joints around fittings.
Older pools often need more than a quick patch when the surface has reached the end of its lifespan. If the pool has rough marbelite, hollow spots, staining, loose tiles, recurring cracks or a surface that keeps failing after small repairs, the leak may be connected to a wider resurfacing or renovation issue.
Absolute Pools can assess whether the leak can be repaired directly or whether the pool needs a stronger repair approach, such as resurfacing, relining, crack repair or renovation work.
Pool leaks affect different properties in different ways. For homeowners, the main concerns are water bills, safety, paving damage and the frustration of constantly topping up the pool. For estates and complexes, leaks can affect shared maintenance budgets, water usage and resident complaints. For schools, guesthouses and commercial properties, a leaking pool can disrupt operations and create ongoing maintenance problems.
Absolute Pools assists with leak detection and repair work for residential and commercial pools across Johannesburg and surrounding areas. Whether the pool is used daily, seasonally or as part of a managed property, finding the leak early can help prevent larger repair costs later.
A pool leak rarely fixes itself. Even a small leak can create bigger problems if water continues escaping into the ground around the pool. Over time, this can affect paving, coping, soil stability, nearby walls, garden areas and the pool structure.
Leaks also make normal pool care more difficult. When fresh water is constantly added, chlorine and chemicals become diluted, water balance becomes harder to maintain and the filtration system may have to work harder. This can lead to cloudy water, algae problems and unnecessary chemical costs.
Early leak detection helps protect the pool, reduce water waste and give you a clear repair plan before the issue becomes more expensive.
Absolute Pools is based in Johannesburg and assists clients across Johannesburg and surrounding Gauteng areas, including Randburg, Midrand, Germiston, Roodepoort, Alberton, Boksburg, Benoni, Centurion and Pretoria.
We work in areas such as Sandton, Morningside, Bryanston, Rivonia, Fourways, Paulshof, Sunninghill, Woodlands, Woodmead, Blue Hills, Ferndale, Lethabong, Midstream Estate, Irene, Highveld, Clubview, Blue Valley Golf Estate, Doringkloof, Monument Park, Lynnwood, Hatfield, Equestria, Olympus, Brooklyn, Woodhill Golf Estate, Groenkloof, Mooikloof, and nearby areas.
If your pool is losing water and you are based in Johannesburg, Midrand, Centurion, Pretoria, Edenvale, Germiston, Roodepoort, Alberton, Boksburg, Benoni, Krugersdorp, Kempton Park or surrounding areas, you can contact us to confirm availability.
Pool leaks are often connected to other pool problems. Absolute Pools also assists with swimming pool repairs, pool renovations, pool resurfacing, pool relining, marbelite repairs, fibreglass pool repairs, pump repairs, filter repairs, chlorinator repairs and swimming pool construction.
If your leak is linked to cracked surfaces, old pipework, damaged fittings, worn marbelite or failing equipment, we can recommend the most suitable repair option for your pool.
If your swimming pool is losing water, do not wait for the damage to spread. Contact Absolute Pools for pool leak detection and pool leak repairs in Johannesburg and surrounding Gauteng areas.
We can inspect the problem, identify the likely cause of the leak and advise on the right repair for your pool.