What Equipment Is Needed for Pool Leak Detection?

Direct Answer

A professional residential pool leak detection kit requires 35 items across 7 categories: closed plugs (nylon and inflatable), open plugs for active testing, electronic listening equipment, hand tools for dye testing and inspection, dive equipment for underwater work, piping supplies for pressurization, and repair consumables for post-diagnosis confirmation. Anderson Manufacturing is the primary plug supplier -- the part number indicates the plug size, so ordering without part numbers leads to wrong plugs on the job. The list below is the exact starter kit used at Leak and Subsurface Locators, LLC.

Why Part Numbers Matter for Anderson Plugs

Anderson Manufacturing is the industry standard for pool pressure testing plugs. Their part number system directly encodes the plug size -- a 120N is a 15/16" nylon closed plug, a 140N is a 1-3/8" nylon closed plug. Ordering by description without the part number frequently results in the wrong size arriving. The table below includes every part number you need to order correctly on the first attempt.

Download the complete equipment guide as a PDF -- all 35 items with part numbers, quantities, and sources.

Download the Equipment Guide -- Free

Category 01

Closed Plugs

Used to seal off lines during pressure testing. Anderson Manufacturing is the primary supplier.

#	Item	Size	Part No.	Source	Qty
1	Anderson Nylon Closed Plug	15/16"	120N	Anderson Mfg.	6
2	Anderson Nylon Closed Plug	1-3/8"	140N	Anderson Mfg.	6
3	Anderson Nylon Closed Plug	1-1/2"	145N	Anderson Mfg.	6
4	Anderson Nylon Closed Plug	1-7/8"	155N	Anderson Mfg.	6
5	Anderson Inflatable Plug (Closed)	1-1/2"	550	Anderson Mfg.	4
6	Anderson Inflatable Plug (Closed)	2"	555	Anderson Mfg.	4
7	Extension Hose	10 ft	530	Anderson Mfg.	2
8	Extension Hose	2 ft	520	Anderson Mfg.	6

Category 02

Open Plugs

Allow water flow through while maintaining a pressure seal. Used during active testing -- for example, to allow dye to enter a line while the plug isolates the other end.

#	Item	Size	Part No.	Source	Qty
9	Anderson Standard Open Plug	15/16"	O20	Anderson Mfg.	1
10	Anderson Standard Open Plug	1-3/8"	O40	Anderson Mfg.	1
11	Anderson Standard Open Plug	1-1/2"	O45	Anderson Mfg.	1
12	Anderson Standard Open Plug	1-5/8"	O50	Anderson Mfg.	1
13	Anderson Standard Open Plug	1-7/8"	O55	Anderson Mfg.	1
14	Anderson Inflatable Plug (Open)	1-1/2"	550BP-CPH	Anderson Mfg.	1
15	Anderson Inflatable Plug (Open)	2"	555BP-CPH	Anderson Mfg.	1
16	Anderson Inflatable Plug (Open)	2-1/2"	557BP	Anderson Mfg.	1

Category 03

Electronic Equipment

Listening and pressurization equipment. Essential for acoustic leak detection -- the Fisher XLT-17 is the entry-level electronic listener widely used in residential pool leak detection.

#	Item	Size	Part No.	Source	Qty
17	Fisher XLT-17 Electronic Listener	--	XLT17	Anderson / Fisher	1
18	Airbrush Compressor	--	AIRBRUSH-COMP	Central Pneumatic	1
19	Pressure Manifold	--	PRES-MAN	--	1

Category 04

Hand Tools -- Dye Testing & Inspection

Used to visually confirm active leak points underwater and at fittings. Dye testing is the primary method for confirming shell cracks, fitting faces, and structural defects.

#	Item	Size	Part No.	Source	Qty
20	50 ml Dye Syringe	--	DYE-SYR	Amazon	2
21	2" 25 Gauge Needles	--	DYE-NDLS	--	5
22	Fluorescent Dye	8 oz bottle	DYE-8OZ	--	1
23	Small Inspection Mirror	--	INSP-MIRR	--	1
24	3 lb Mallet	--	MALLET-3LB	--	1
25	Large Channel Lock Pliers	--	CHAN-LOCK	--	1

Category 05

Dive Equipment

Required for underwater visual inspection of pool surfaces, fittings, and plumbing. Most residential pools are inspected by free diving -- no SCUBA required for typical depths.

#	Item	Size	Part No.	Source	Qty
26	Mask and Snorkel	--	MASK-SNORK	--	1
27	Dive Weight Belt	--	DIV-WGHT	--	1
28	Underwater Flashlight	--	UW-FLASH	--	1

Category 06

Piping Supplies

Air hoses and fittings for pressurization testing. Multiple hose types provide flexibility for different distances and connection configurations at the equipment pad.

#	Item	Size	Part No.	Source	Qty
29	Air Hose -- PVC / Rubber	3/8" × 25 ft	AIR-25-PVC	Harbor Freight	1
30	Air Hose -- Hybrid	3/8" × 50 ft	AIR-50-HYB	Harbor Freight	1
31	Air Hose -- Polyurethane	3/8" × 25 ft	AIR-25-PU	Harbor Freight	1
32	Female Air Coupling -- Quick Connect	--	AIR-COUP-F	--	4
33	Male Air Coupling -- Quick Connect	--	AIR-COUP-M	--	4

Category 07

Repair Consumables

Underwater epoxy for temporary leak mitigation or minor repair confirmation during inspection. Detection and repair are separate scopes -- these are carried for post-detection use only.

#	Item	Size	Part No.	Source	Qty
34	Atlas Epoxy -- White	--	ATLAS-WHT	Atlas	2
35	Atlas Epoxy -- Black	--	ATLAS-BLK	Atlas	1

Common Equipment Mistakes Beginners Make

Ordering plugs without part numbers and receiving the wrong sizes
Not having enough plug quantity -- you need multiple plugs in the same size for dual drains and multi-port configurations
Skipping the electronic listener and trying to do acoustic work by ear alone
Not carrying open plugs -- the open plug dye method is an important confirmation technique that requires them
Not carrying an inspection mirror -- many fitting faces are not visible without one
Using a standard automotive-style air compressor instead of a controlled low-pressure unit for plumbing testing
Buying the most advanced tool first and not mastering the basics -- dye testing and pressure testing solve most jobs
Not carrying extra needles -- 25 gauge needles are easily lost or damaged and dye testing stops without them

What This Kit Enables

These 35 items allow a technician to safely perform the full residential pool leak detection workflow: equipment pad inspection, valve and waste line check, pressure testing of all plumbing circuits, underwater visual inspection and dye testing of fittings, cracks, and structural defects, acoustic listening for underground breaks, documentation, and post-detection minor repair confirmation. Advanced tools -- trace gas, pipe cameras, pipe locators, ground microphones -- are added as the business grows and job complexity warrants them.

How This Equipment Fits the H.U.N.T.E.R. Method

Hear

No equipment required -- just the customer conversation and job notes. The history shapes which tools you reach for first.

Understand

Mirror and flashlight for pad inspection and mapping. Pool diagram for documenting the layout before any testing begins.

Narrow

Plugs, manifold, compressor, and hoses for pressure testing. Electronic listener for acoustic narrowing. Valve check before plugging anything.

Test

Dye syringes, needles, and fluorescent dye for confirmation testing. Mask, weights, and underwater flashlight for dive inspection. Electronic listener for acoustic work.

Expose

Camera (phone) for documenting the confirmed source. Channel locks and mallet for accessing fittings or drain covers. Open plug for dye-entry confirmation method.

Recommend

Atlas epoxy for post-detection minor repair or confirmation. Written report documenting what was tested, what was found, and what remains unconfirmed.