Is There Something You Can Put in a Pool to Find a Leak? Why Pros Use Pool Scope Tools to Find and Fix Pool Leaks

If you’re a pool owner or a service company, you’ve likely heard this exact question:
“Is there something you can put in a pool to find a leak?”

For many pros today, the better answer is: you don’t need to put anything in the water to get real results. Instead, you can listen, verify, and pinpoint the exact location of the leak using professional tools especially a Pool Scope paired with a complete kit like the LeakTronics Ultra Red Kit. This article is built for pool businesses that want to speed up inspections, reduce false guesses, and confidently sell higher-value pool leak detection jobs using LeakTronics equipment.

Why Your Pool Is Losing Water: Leak or Evaporation?

Before you tear into a deck or start chasing plumbing, you need to confirm if your customer is dealing with a leak or normal evaporation.

Most pools lose some water naturally. But repeated drops, soft soil, or a stopping point at a certain height suggest pool leaks.

Signs your customer may suspect a leak:

• The water level falls faster than seasonal norms.
• The drop seems to stop at a specific tile line or fitting.
• There’s unexplained moisture around the pool area.
• The customer notices they’re refilling more often.
• A spa level drops faster than the main body.

This first conversation is where trust is built. The more structured your process feels, the easier it is to sell the next step.

How the Bucket Test Helps You Prove Water Loss

The classic bucket test is still a smart, low-effort way to confirm whether water loss exceeds normal evaporation. Many pool pros use it to help a customer understand what’s happening before scheduling advanced diagnostics.

Here’s a clean way to explain it:

1. Bring the pool to normal operating level.

2. Fill a bucket with pool water.

3. Place it on a step so the level in the bucket sits within the same air and water conditions.

4. Mark the water level inside the bucket and on the pool wall.

5. Check again in 24 hours.

If the pool drops more than the bucket, you likely have a leak causing abnormal water loss. 

Pro workflow tip:

• Do one test with the pool pump running normally.
• Repeat after you turn off the pump to help narrow whether the source of the leak is structural or in the plumbing line.

What a Pool Scope Can Do for Swimming Pool Leak Detection

This is where your service becomes “pro-level.”

A Pool Scope is an underwater listening tool (hydrophone) designed to help you locate the sound of water escaping from a swimming pool, spa, or water feature. The LeakTronics Red Head Pool Scope is built with enhanced acoustic sensitivity and is designed to work with LeakTronics amplifiers for clearer, cleaner signals. 

In plain terms, a Pool Scope can help you:

• Pinpoint leaks in shells and fittings
• Hear subtle movement that a visual check can miss
• Reduce time spent guessing
• Lower the risk of unnecessary demo
• Build confidence with clients who need proof

The Red Head Pool Scope is also designed for professional comfort and durability, and it comes with a five-year warranty and support through LeakTronics.

Where to Use a Pool Scope to Find the Leak Fast

If your team is training new techs, give them a repeatable search path.

A Pool Scope is especially effective near:

• Skimmer throats and transitions
• Main drains
• Returns and fittings
• Steps and benches
• Light niches
• Cracks in the pool shell
• Problem areas where the drop stops

The goal is simple: locating the leak without guesswork.

If you’re working on an inground pool or a large ground pool, this consistent order keeps your inspection clean and easy to document.

Why the Ultra Red Kit Is Built for Pros Who Need the Exact Location

A single tool is helpful. A full system is how you dominate your local market.

The LeakTronics Ultra Red Kit is an all-in-one solution designed to cover structure and plumbing diagnostics for pools, spas, and related systems. It includes the Hydrostick and Leakstick amplifiers and a complete probe set featuring the Pool Scope, Pipe Mic, and Side Mic, plus a professional pressure-testing setup.

In short, this kit supports the whole journey from:

• Confirming the problem
• Narrowing the area
• Pinpoint the leak
• Verifying line integrity
• Planning the correct repair

For a growing service business, the Ultra Red Kit is a strong way to standardize training, reduce callbacks, and justify premium pricing.

What About Leaks in Underground Plumbing Lines?

Not all pool leaks are visible.

If water loss changes with the system running, you may be dealing with underground leaks in suction or return plumbing.

This is where the kit’s audio tools and pressure gear matter.

Your team can:

• Isolate lines
• Test return lines
• Listen for leak signatures with the right probe
• Identify the leak location before cutting concrete

LeakTronics’ approach of pairing advanced amplification with targeted probes is designed to make these jobs faster and more defensible to the customer. 

Vinyl Liner and Above-Ground Pool Jobs: What to Watch

A vinyl liner needs a slightly different mindset.

Small tears can be tough to see. A pool may look perfect and still have a tiny failure point.

If you’re handling leaks in vinyl, your process might include:

• Checking seams and penetrations
• Inspecting fittings for loosening
• Listening near suspect zones
• Using the correct patch approach when confirmed

LeakTronics also offers specialized liner-focused solutions like the VILO V2 system for pros who want dedicated tools for this category.

Good service language for clients:

• “We’re going to confirm the exact problem area before we recommend a patch kit or more involved repair.”

This keeps your diagnosis credible and your close rate high.

A Simple, Sellable Process for Pool Businesses

Below is a simple method you can turn into a checklist, a training SOP, or a client-facing inspection sheet.

This gives your business a strong “diagnose-first” identity perfect for premium positioning.

How to Explain Findings to a Pool Owner

Most customers don’t just want a fix. They want certainty.

Once you’ve narrowed the exact location of the leak, your report should be simple:

• What we tested
• What we found
• Where the leak is likely located
• What repair options match that result
• What happens if we wait

Use short sentences in your client notes. Include photos. Use location language like “near the skimmer” or “along the return run.”

This makes your service feel high-end and protects your price.

From Find a Leak to Fix a Leak

Once the leak is confirmed, your next step depends on material and severity.

Small structural or fitting issues

You may be able to patch the problem area.

Larger damage or pipe failure

You may be looking at:

• A targeted line repair
• Deck access
• Rerouting sections
• Or a specialized professional pool repair plan

When you present your findings with clear test logic, you reduce pushback and make the repair decision easier.

Final Takeaway: The Best Answer for Pros

So, is there something you can put in a pool to find a leak?

For pros who want repeatable results, the modern answer is:

• Confirm loss
• Listen underwater
• Test lines
• Pinpoint the exact location
• Fix only what needs fixing

The LeakTronics Ultra Red Kit gives you a complete, field-ready way to do that, with a probe set that includes the Red Head Pool Scope for precise underwater detection and a pressure rig for plumbing confirmation.

That’s how you stop guessing, shorten job time, and keep your pool clients loyal while building a service reputation that stands out in your area.