How a Pool Heater Can Trick You Into Thinking You Have a Leak
Tobia Pools – Palm Beach County’s Trusted Pool Experts
If your swimming pool is suddenly losing water, it’s easy to assume you’ve got a leak. But before you worry about cracked pipes or underground plumbing issues, there is another very common cause we see every week at Tobia Pools:
👉 Your pool heater may be creating water loss that mimics a real leak.
Most homeowners are surprised to learn this but it’s true. A running or malfunctioning heater can cause dramatic evaporation or internal drip loss that looks almost identical to a serious leak.
Here’s how it works, what to look for, and when to call us for help.
🔥 Why Pool Heaters Can Cause Water Loss
Your pool heater constantly pushes large amounts of water through internal tubes, coils, gaskets, and fittings. When anything inside the heater fails or when the heater simply runs often—water loss can occur in ways that are easy to confuse with a leak.
1. Leaking Heat Exchanger
Heat exchangers can crack or corrode from:
- high chlorine
- low pH
- salt systems
- age
When they fail, water escapes inside the heater and drips out the bottom.
2. Loose or Leaking Unions
Vibration + heat cycles = loose fittings over time.
These leaks only happen when the system is running.
3. Normal Condensation (Often Misdiagnosed)
Gas heaters naturally release condensation.
In fact, a heater can produce:
👉 1–2 gallons of condensation per hour
Many homeowners mistake this for a plumbing leak.
4. Failed Gaskets or Manifolds
When gaskets deteriorate, water exits around the heater pad—making it appear that the pool is losing water rapidly.
💧 Heater Evaporation vs. Normal Evaporation
One of the BIGGEST reasons pool owners think they have a leak is because a heater dramatically increases evaporation.
Let’s break it down:
🌤️ Normal Evaporation (Heater Off)
A typical uncovered pool in Palm Beach County loses:
¼–½ inch per day
(1.5–3.5 inches per week)
This is completely normal with Florida heat, sun, and humidity.
🔥 Evaporation With the Heater Running
Warm water evaporates much faster—especially during cool mornings or evenings when the heater creates steam.
A heater can:
⭐ Double or even triple evaporation
Typical heater-related water loss:
½–1 inch per day
(up to 7 inches per week)
This is the #1 reason homeowners mistakenly assume they have a leak.
💦 Signs Your Pool Heater—Not the Pool—Is Causing the Water Loss
Before assuming there's a structural or plumbing leak, check for these signs:
- Water drops more when the heater is running
- Water pooling or dripping under the heater
- No wet spots or cracks inside the pool
- You see steam when the heater runs
- Water level stays stable when the heater is turned off
If this sounds familiar, you may not have a leak at all.
👨🔧 How Tobia Pools Diagnoses the Issue
Our technicians are trained to tell the difference between evaporation, heater-related water loss, and true leaks.
We:
- Inspect the entire equipment pad
- Check heater internals for leaks
- Test unions and fittings
- Compare water loss with heater on vs. off
- Confirm true water level changes
We never recommend unnecessary repairs.
We diagnose the real problem—quickly, honestly, and accurately.
⭐ Trust Tobia Pools to Keep Your Pool Running Right
If your water level is dropping, don’t guess.
Let us help you understand what’s normal and when you should call a leak detection specialist.
We’ll inspect your equipment, explain what’s happening, and point you in the right direction — so you don’t waste time or money on unnecessary repairs.
📞 Call Tobia Pools: 561-86-POOLS (561-867-6657)
🌐 Visit: TobiaPoolCare.com
📍 Proudly serving all of Port St. Lucie, Palm Beach and Broward Counties, FL
Professional. Local. Honest.
We keep your pool trouble-free.
