Above Ground Pool Losing Water Overnight? (Best Tips On How To Prevent!)

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Why Is My Above Ground Pool Losing Water Overnight?

Losing some water everyday from your above ground pool during the pool season is quite normal. Water splashing out and evaporation are the main reasons. But do you find the water level much lower than expected each morning? Then you may well ask, “Why is my above ground pool losing water overnight?

Your above ground pool could be losing water overnight due to leaks in the pool liner or the plumbing system. Water loss due to evaporation can still be a contributor, especially on warm, windy summer nights.

Water loss from an above ground pool due to evaporation is typically about a ¼” per day. So if your above ground pool is losing more than that, overnight, then the pool, most likely, has a leak.

Is My Above Ground Pool Leaking or Evaporating?

Is your above ground pool losing water too fast overnight? Is there a leak? Or just excessive evaporation? You need to find out before you can fix it.

The normal rate of water depletion during the pool season, due to evaporation, is ¼” per day. The rate of evaporation may diminish a bit in the night, but it really depends on ambient temperature, humidity and wind speed.

Check for Evaporation Rate & Leak

Place a bucket full of water next to your above ground pool. Ensure that the water level in the bucket and in the pool are at the same height from the ground. Mark off the levels with a marker.

Check the levels in the morning. If the drop in water level is similar in both the pool and the bucket, chances are that your pool does not have a leak. At least not a major leak that needs attention.

The pool likely has a leak if the pool water level dropped more than the bucket water level. Further investigation is required to find the leak.

Use a Pool Cover to Reduce Water Loss Due to Evaporation

Use a Pool Cover whenever you are not using your above ground pool. Basically keep your above ground pool covered during night and in winter months. A pool cover serves the following purposes:

• Prevents dry leaves, yard debris, insects & small animals from falling in the pool
• Acts as a safety net for adventurous kids & pets
• Reduces water, pool chemicals & heat loss due to evaporation

In the long run an above ground pool cover will make it easier to maintain your pool and save you tons of money. There are a few options when it comes to pool covers for use overnight or during winter.

Mesh Safety Covers

Mesh safety covers are a good option for winter. They prevent leaves and similar debris from falling into your pool. It also prevents kids & pets from falling into the pool.

However, the mesh will allow rain & snow to go right through. The pool cover does not collect and sag under the weight of rainwater & snow. Mesh safety covers are a lot easier to clean.

On the flip side a mesh safety cover does not prevent evaporation. So you continue to lose heat, water and expensive pool chemicals. Dust & small insects can also go through the mesh.

Solid Safety Covers

A solid safety cover will not permit debris of any size, insects or even rain or snow to pass through. As a result it is very effective in reducing evaporation from your above ground pool.

Solar Pool Covers

A solar pool cover comes with all the benefits of a solid safety cover along with the additional benefit of insulation. A solar pool cover is very helpful, particularly during winter nights. The solar powered pool cover will keep your above ground pool warm in winter.

Apart from insulation, a Solar Pool Cover also reduces heat loss from the pool by reducing water evaporation. As an added benefit a Solar Pool Cover keeps bugs and debris out of the pool too!

24′ Round 12 Mil Clear Solar Pool Cover – $164.99
from: Pool Splash, LLC

Use Windbreaks to Reduce Evaporation

High wind speed over the surface of the pool water increases the rate of evaporation. Since you cannot keep the pool covers on, all the time, you should consider adding windbreaks.

Adding a solid or a semi solid fence around the above ground pool, will not only reduce the wind speed over the water, it will also provide some privacy.

Alternatively you can use natural or artificial shrubs or trees. They add beauty to the landscape, while reducing air flow over the pool surface.

PATIO Outdoor Ivy Privacy Fence for Dogs Pool Fence Artificial Faux Leaves Screen

Why Did My Above Ground Pool Lose So Much Water Over the Winter?

Did you winterize your above ground pool property and install a good quality winter pool cover? If the answer is “yes”, then why did your above ground pool lose so much water over the winter?

If your above ground pool is losing excessive amounts of water over the winter, then the most likely reason is a leak, either in the pool liner or in the plumbing system.

Above ground pool leaks, during winter, can be somewhat confusing. The location of the leak is not that easy to determine. The rate of water leakage may change, from time to time, adding to the confusion. The rate may increase, slow down or even stop for no apparent reason.

For example, a crack in the suction line will not show up in summer because the pump is running. Air from outside gets sucked into the crack. There is no leakage.

The same crack becomes a leak in winter when the pool and the pump are shut down.

The water flow out from a leak in the above ground pool may not get noticed during summer months. In summer, the ground around the pool may be saturated and the water table may be high. The water leakage rate will be low.

However, during winter, the surrounding ground dries up and the water table may fall. The flow rate from the same leak will increase.

It is also possible that your above ground pool has an automatic fill valve. Since this is turned on during the pool season, you will never see any drop in water level. 

In winter you would switch off the automatic fill valve. Naturally the effect of the leak will then become obvious as the pool water level keeps dropping.

How Do I Fix My Pool from Losing Water?

An above ground pool may leak from the pool liner or the plumbing system. Pool liners are made from vinyl and can last more than a decade if maintained properly. However, they can get damaged quite easily by any sharp object. 

A leak in the pool liner system, if small, can be patched up. If the leak is large and the pool liner is a bit old, it makes more sense to replace it.

An above ground pool will of course have a circulation system consisting of skimmers, pump, filter and return jets. A leak can happen at any spot in the system.

In some ways finding a leak in an above ground pool is easier than a leak in an inground pool. The reason is that everything is above ground and visible.

If you can find the leak in the pool circulation system it should be relatively simple to fix it. In case you can not find the leak, you will need to call in the professionals.

Thank you very much for reading the post. I do hope you found it informative and helpful.