Accurate Pool Leak Detection in Hillsboro, OR

Stop Guessing and Start Saving Your Pool

There is nothing relaxing about a pool that loses water. Instead of enjoying the brief, beautiful summers we get in Washington County, you are stuck watching the water line drop and wondering if your liner is torn or a pipe has snapped. Every inch of water you lose is not just a utility cost; it is a potential threat to the structural stability of your backyard. You need answers, not expensive guesses.

At American Leak Detection of Portland, we specialize in cutting through the confusion. We provide focused Pool Leak Detection that isolates the problem without destroying your property. We understand that you want to know exactly what is wrong so you can make a smart decision about repairs. We act as independent diagnostic experts, providing you with the unbiased data you need to protect your investment and stop the waste.

The Tualatin Valley Challenge

Why is your pool losing water? In Hillsboro, the answer is often tied to the ground it sits in.

• The "Clay Sponge" Effect: The soil in our region is heavy with clay. It absorbs massive amounts of water during the rainy season and shrinks tight during the dry summer months. This expansion and contraction puts immense torque on underground plumbing, often shearing pipes or loosening fittings just beneath the deck.
• The Rain Mask: Our long wet season can hide leaks for months. A soggy spot in the yard is easy to dismiss as "just Oregon rain," allowing a plumbing leak to erode the soil support under your patio unnoticed until the concrete starts to crack.
• Root Intrusion: The lush vegetation that makes our neighborhoods beautiful is also a threat. Tree roots aggressively seek out water sources, invading tiny hairline cracks in plumbing and turning them into major breaches.

We understand these local dynamics. We don't just look for a hole; we analyze the environmental stress points specific to your property to find the root cause.

A Technology-First Diagnostic Process

Old-school methods involved digging up the yard to find a pipe. That is inefficient for no one. We use a non-destructive, forensic approach to map your pool’s plumbing and structure.

• Step 1: The Pressure Test: We verify the integrity of your plumbing by isolating the suction and return lines. By pressurizing these systems with air and water, we can confirm if the leak is in the pipes or the pool shell. If the pressure holds, your pipes are safe. If it drops, we know exactly which line is failing.
• Step 2: Acoustic Precision: If a pipe is leaking, we don't start digging. We use advanced hydro-acoustic listening devices to hear the specific frequency of escaping air or water underground. This allows us to "see" through your concrete deck and mark the leak’s location within a tight radius.
• Step 3: Structural Dye Testing: For the pool shell, we use specialized dyes around skimmers, lights, and main drains. The dye is drawn into any breach, providing instant visual confirmation of cracks or failed gaskets that are letting water escape.

Don't pay for unnecessary excavation. Call at (503) 843-8975 or request a service call to schedule your detection service.

Is It Evaporation or a Leak?

It is easy to blame the sun, but evaporation has limits. If you are seeing these signs, you are dealing with a mechanical failure:

• The Bucket Test Variance: Place a bucket of pool water on the step. Mark the water level inside the bucket and the pool level outside. After 24 hours, if the pool has dropped more than the bucket, it’s a leak.
• Chemical Imbalance: If you are constantly adding salt or chlorine but can't keep levels stable, you are likely diluting the pool with fresh fill water to compensate for a leak.
• The "Gurgling" Skimmer: If your pump sounds like it’s gargling rocks or losing prime, air is entering the system through a suction-side leak.
• Deck Settling: Cracks or sinking pavers around the pool edge often indicate that leaking water is washing away the soil base.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will you fix the leak once you find it?

Do I need to empty the pool?

No. Please keep the pool full. We rely on the hydrostatic pressure of the water to force the leak to "reveal" itself. Draining the pool can actually close up certain leaks and risk structural damage to the shell.

Can you find leaks under my concrete patio?

Yes. Our listening technology is designed to penetrate concrete. We can locate a plumbing failure beneath the slab, meaning the repair crew will only need to cut a small access hole rather than demolishing your entire patio.

Is a small leak really a big deal?

Yes. Water is persistent. Even a slow leak can saturate the soil foundation of your pool, leading to major structural settling and expensive renovation costs down the road. Finding it early is the most cost-effective strategy.

Get the facts before you dig. Contact American Leak Detection of Portland at (503) 843-8975 or request a service call for expert pool leak detection in Hillsboro, OR.