Which Type of Inground Swimming Pool Leaks the Most?
If you’re currently considering purchasing an inground swimming pool, odds are you have a few concerns about what will be a big and exciting investment. Maybe you already own a pool–perhaps you’ve experienced getting in day after day and noticing the water getting lower. Nope, you weren’t growing half an inch every day; your pool had a leak in it.
A leaking pool can be a hassle for a number of reasons, such as the cost of repairs and new water, loss of swim time, potentially corroded material, and my personal least favorite: finding them. Each inground pool type (fiberglass, vinyl liner, and concrete) can leak. Locating the leak is the first step in a process that will differ depending on the type of pool you have. You will usually find leaks either in the structure of the pool, in the fittings inside the pool, or in the plumbing and equipment. There are a few things you will notice that may indicate that your pool is leaking somewhere.
Signs that Your Pool May Be Leaking
- Unusually low water level
- Water under equipment
- Cracks in pool surface or deck
- Wet spots in the yard
- Wrinkled liner
- You’re adding more chemicals and water than usual
- High water bill
Concrete Pool Leaks
At Royal Pools and G2 Outdoor Designs, we only install fiberglass and vinyl liner pools, but we service many concrete pool owners and have seen more than a few leaks over the years.
Concrete pools will leak if there is some sort of structural crack in the pool or around any of the pool fittings. Concrete naturally cracks over time, and it does not seal so quickly, which would keep water out, so leaks should be expected with concrete pools. Concrete pool fittings are more prone to loosening over time as they are not always sealed to the surrounding concrete. Concrete pools are, unfortunately, highly prone to leaking.
Vinyl Liner Pools
If leaks sound as bad to you as they are to us, then vinyl liner pools may not be the way to go for a new pool. Vinyl pools are the most susceptible to leaking, and they typically happen the fastest. Vinyl liners typically only last 5-7 years, and one of the biggest reasons is wrinkles and tears.
Liner wrinkling happens over time due to absorbing water into the liner, water getting underneath the liner, and improper water chemistry. Holes have been known to rip open in the seams over time. Lots of things can rip open a liner. Water can also leak at the fittings due to seams or if the liner is not cut correctly. A vinyl liner pool leaking will make itself evident right away when it starts losing copious amounts of water. But if you notice your liner beginning to wrinkle, that may indicate that water has leaked underneath the liner.
Saltwater vinyl pool leaks can be highly costly if you have metal plates behind the liner, which will become corroded due to salt exposure. To put it plainly, vinyl liner pools are the worst when it comes to leaks.
Fiberglass Pool Leaks
There is one major design aspect to fiberglass pools that makes them more resistant to leaks than concrete and vinyl liner pools: they come in one solid shell. Concrete and vinyl are two materials that cannot stand harsh water conditions for long periods of time; fiberglass can.
Structural cracks in the fiberglass are generally the most common reason for a fiberglass pool leak, and these are rare. The biggest reason these cracks occur is from manufacturer error. However, because the fiberglass pool manufacturing process has become so streamlined in the past several years, the odds of a fiberglass pool cracking are very rare unless it was installed extremely haphazardly.
A fiberglass pool can leak because of a burst or cracked pipe as a result of installation error as well, so be sure to research and pick a trusted installer if you do choose to go with fiberglass pools. Cracked pipes can lead to a leak on any pool type, but because fiberglass pools leak so rarely, we’ll throw them in here. Jokes aside, fiberglass pools are the best inground pool type for minimal leaks.
Closing Thoughts
I hate leaks. Every pool professional does. They’re a hassle no matter what. All three types of inground swimming pools can leak, but that doesn’t make any of them a bad product. It just means that they are a pool! At least you now know which inground pool types leak the most and which the least. Once again, that ranking of most susceptible to leaks to least susceptible is:
- Vinyl Liner
- Concrete
- Fiberglass
Vinyl liners are ultimately the most prone to quick and excessive water loss. The nature of vinyl is too delicate, and the structure of these pools makes it easy for wrinkles to form and leaks to occur. If you don’t want to deal with leaks in your pool, then a fiberglass pool would be the way to go. They’re a great pool for a number of reasons, this being just one of them. If you’re curious to read more about fiberglass pools, check out these articles below.