How can I save water in my swimming pool?
Slow evaporation by covering your pool when it is not in use, rule out leaks with a bucket test, and backwash only when your filter needs it.
Before you change anything, find out where the water is going. Evaporation and leaks need different fixes.
Is it evaporation or a leak?
A bucket test compares your pool's water loss against a bucket of pool water that cannot leak.
- Fill a bucket with pool water and set it on a pool step, so the water level inside the bucket matches the pool's water level.
- Mark the water level inside the bucket, and mark the pool's water level on the outside of the bucket.
- Wait 24 to 48 hours without anyone using the pool. For above ground pools, also keep the pump off during the test.
- Compare the two levels. If the pool and the bucket dropped by about the same amount, the loss is most likely evaporation. If the pool dropped more than the bucket, you likely have a leak.
If the test points to a leak, our guides to finding leaks in inground pools and finding leaks in above ground pools walk you through the next steps.
Cover the pool when it is not in use
Important: A solar cover is not a safety cover. Remove it completely before anyone swims, and never leave it partly in place.
A cover greatly reduces evaporation. During swim season, a solar cover floats on the water, reduces evaporation, and limits heat loss overnight. A solar cover reel makes the cover easier to roll on and off, which makes it easier to use every day.
| Cover | When it is used | Effect on evaporation | Safety cover? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar cover | Swim season, between swims | Reduces evaporation and overnight heat loss | No. Remove completely before swimming |
| Automatic cover | Daily, during swim season | Limits evaporation | Yes, when fully closed |
| Solid safety cover | Off-season | Blocks nearly all evaporation | Yes |
| Mesh safety cover | Off-season | Slows evaporation; rain passes through | Yes |
An automatic cover protects the pool only when it is fully closed, and it is a barrier, not a substitute for fencing, alarms, or supervision.
Shop solar covers for inground pools or above ground pools, solar cover reels, automatic covers, and safety covers.
Backwash only when your filter needs it
Backwashing sends pool water out of the pool, usually to a waste drain or sewer line, and lowers your water level. For a sand filter, the clearest signal that it is time is pressure: a rise of 8 to 10 psi above your normal operating pressure. Our backwash guide covers the full process.
More on pool covers
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