The inspection does not start with a tool. It starts with a question. Every step that follows serves the goal of narrowing the leak source with evidence -- not guessing.
Learn the H.U.N.T.E.R. Method → Free Report AppThe standard residential pool leak detection process starts with the customer interview and ends with a written report completed on-site before the technician leaves. Between those two points: visual inspection and mind mapping the system, hydrophone sweep, topside and underwater inspection, dye testing, pressure testing, pipe locating when needed, advanced locating when warranted, documentation, homeowner explanation, and final property walkthrough. Finding a leak does not end the inspection -- the technician notes it and keeps going.
"Finding a leak does not end the inspection. Note it and keep going. Patch last."
Park legally, avoid the driveway when possible. Vehicle secure. Locate water spigot and electrical outlet. Stage all equipment at the pool before starting -- nothing begins without knowing where everything is.
The inspection begins with questions before any tool is used.
Turn valves one at a time -- identify what each one controls. Watch where water returns to the pool as each valve opens. Trace every line at the pump to its fitting at the pool -- and back. Any unmatched line is a suspected ghost line. All lines must match in both directions.
Visual scan of pump and all equipment. Check for water leaks at pump, filter, heater, fittings. Check for air leaks at pump lid and fittings. Note pump pressure, flow, and unusual sounds. Mark ALL valve positions before touching anything.
Sweep the hydrophone around the entire pool with the pump off. Concentrate on all fittings, returns, lights, and drains. Note areas producing unusual sound for closer attention during the dive inspection.
Inspect skimmer housing for cracks. Inspect seams where skimmer connects to pool shell. Inspect surrounding deck -- collapse, settlement. Inspect pipe connections at bottom with flashlight and mirror. Dye test pipes at bottom of skimmer. Pressure test skimmer line.
Main drain: remove grate, inspect canister, check for hydrostatic plug, dye test pipe. Lights: pull light, inspect housing, dye test conduit and ring every inch. Suctions and vacuum ports: remove covers, inspect inside with mirror, dye test fitting faces. Returns: inspect threads, dye test fitting faces. Skimmer mouth underwater: inspect connection and tile grout, dye test mounting plate. Shell: tile line all around, walls working down, floor and stairs shallow to deep.
Test skimmer line, main drain, vacuum ports, returns. Document each test: line, start PSI, end PSI, duration, result. If a line drops -- remove and reinstall every plug and retest before concluding a pipe break exists. A plug seal failure looks identical to a pipe break on the gauge.
Pipe locating (RIDGID Scout with sonde) when a line fails and the pipe route needs to be mapped. Acoustic listening along the mapped route. Trace gas (5% hydrogen / 95% nitrogen) when acoustic signal is insufficient. Camera inspection for blockages -- not for finding breaks at fittings, which the camera cannot reliably see.
Do not patch during the inspection. Complete all steps above first. Review all noted findings. Perform all patches. Document each patch location in the report.
Dismantle all pressure test setup. Return ALL valves to original marked positions. Turn pump on. Verify pump operation matches arrival condition. Confirm no new leaks or air leaks introduced. Count all equipment. Confirm all drilled holes filled. Confirm no plugs left in pool. Walk entire property -- pool to equipment pad to truck.
Complete the report on-site with the homeowner present. Notify homeowner of all findings using plain language. Collect payment. The report app is available at full-leak-report.netlify.app.
Customer interview. Water loss history. Prior repairs. Pump-on vs. pump-off pattern. This shapes everything that follows.
Mind map the pool. Trace every line in both directions. Identify every valve. Understand the system before testing any part of it.
Visual inspection, hydrophone sweep, skimmer inspection, and equipment pad review narrow the most likely sources before diving begins.
Dye testing, pressure testing, acoustic listening, pipe locating, trace gas. Each test is chosen based on what the evidence so far suggests -- not randomly.
Confirmed findings documented with photos and video before any patchwork begins. The evidence record is created before the repair.
Report completed on-site. Homeowner notified verbally. Recommendations tied to confirmed evidence. Verification planned when possible.
How long does a residential pool leak inspection take?
The standard target at Leak and Subsurface Locators is 1.5 to 2 hours for a standard pool inspection. A pool plus spa combination is typically 2.5 to 3 hours. Complex jobs with pipe locating, trace gas, or multiple failing circuits take longer. Time targets should never compromise inspection quality.
Why does finding a leak not end the inspection?
A pool can have more than one leak. Finding one and stopping means the second one gets missed. The field checklist rule at Leak and Subsurface Locators is explicit: note the finding and keep going. Patch last.
What is the replug procedure?
When a pressure test fails, the technician removes and reinstalls every plug in the failed circuit, then reruns the test. If the line holds the second time, the original failure was a plug seal problem -- not a pipe break. This step prevents sending a repair crew to excavate a pipe that is not broken.
Should the report be completed on-site?
Yes. The field checklist closes with "Complete report while on site -- homeowner present." The free LBA report app at full-leak-report.netlify.app makes this practical on every job.
Jeff David is the founder of Leak Business Academy, LLC and Leak and Subsurface Locators, LLC. He is a licensed pool contractor in Florida and an FSPA Palm Beach board member. The 12-step process on this page reflects the actual three-phase field training program and inspection checklist used at Leak and Subsurface Locators -- from arrival to payment collection, including the rule that no leak discovered during the inspection ends it early.
LBA training teaches every step of this process -- from the customer interview through pipe locating, trace gas, report writing, and homeowner communication.
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