Pool leak detection has grown far beyond searching for drips with dye. Today’s top tools are precision instruments that help professionals save time, reduce guesswork and boost revenue. Three companies — Leaktronics, Mini Bucket Test and Anderson Manufacturing Company — are leading the way with products and training that support accurate, efficient detection.

Leaktronics

Pro-level equipment and training 

Leaktronics specializes in advanced leak detection equipment designed for pool professionals, not DIYers. 

“Our best products are our basic products, which we build, and they’re called hydrophones,” says Darren Merlob, CEO and founder. These function as underwater microphones, detecting the exact location of leaks. 

Other tools include: 

• Pipe Mics, which locate plumbing leaks inside pipes
• Side Mics, ideal for structural leak areas like skimmer seams or light niches
• The Pool Scope, which detects floor leaks by dragging across the pool surface

Merlob says the equipment is designed to minimize invasive testing. Leaktronics teaches its certified users to perform noninvasive static testing first, which usually identifies a leak in just 45 minutes.

Leaktronics offers an 11-hour training course to certify pool contractors and service providers in its methods. Once certified, pros are listed on the company’s “Find a Pro” map.

Since its launch in 2011, Leaktronics has expanded beyond pools, now serving plumbing, irrigation and other industries. Merlob, who started in pool cleaning and remodeling, developed Leaktronics’ flagship hydrophone and other products to fill a gap he experienced firsthand.

That hands-on experience also drives one of Leaktronics’ biggest differentiators: its commitment to customer support. 

“There’s nothing we won’t do for our customers,” Merlob says. “They could be out on a job, and we’ll FaceTime with them and get all the facts. We’ll do anything.”

Mini Bucket Test

A simple, DIY leak check 

Jeff Johnson, president of Mini Bucket Test, describes his company as the “black horse” of the pool leak detection industry. 

The Mini Bucket Test simplifies the traditional bucket test, a long-standing method used by service professionals for determining whether a pool is losing more water than normal, by providing a $20 reusable, weighted device that eliminates the need for multiple materials and extensive instructions. 

“This is a do-it-yourself pool leak detector,” Johnson explains. 

To use it, place the Mini Bucket Test on the first step of the pool and fill it so the water level inside matches the pool’s. After 24 to 48 hours, compare the water levels; if the pool water has dropped more than the water in the Mini Bucket Test, it indicates a potential leak. This simple tool helps rule out evaporation and makes it easy to monitor water loss without complex equipment.

Launched just before the COVID-19 pandemic, Mini Bucket Test faced initial market challenges. Now it’s in about 1,300 stores nationwide and available through online platforms like Amazon and Walmart Marketplace. The company also offers a tutorial video on its website. 

While the product is gaining traction, Johnson says education remains key. 

“Most don’t know this product exists,” he says. “Everyone knows education on a new product is a long, tedious process, but we’re growing and [getting great feedback] at all the pool shows.”

Anderson Manufacturing Company

Supporting pros with proven equipment 

“There is no one ‘silver bullet’ tool for leak detection that will find all leaks,” says Britta Flynn, marketing manager at Anderson Manufacturing Company. “In fact, we like to say that you can’t buy a ‘leak detector’ because you are the leak detector — it’s your job to make a logical conclusion based on the information you’re gathering through your tests.”

Anderson equips pros with a full suite of diagnostic equipment to support that process. One standout is the LeakTrac 2400 Vinyl Liner Leak Detector, introduced over 30 years ago. 

The LeakTrac 2400 helps pool professionals quickly find even the smallest leaks in vinyl liners — or any water-containing vessel with an electrically insulating shell, including fiberglass — by sending a small electrical charge through the pool water. When the charge escapes through a hole in the liner, the system tracks it, pinpointing the leak in minutes without the need for a visual inspection. Now in its fourth generation, the LeakTrac 2400 features wireless connectivity and digital controls, making it faster and easier to use. 

Other tools include: 

Electronic listening devices and hydrophones, which detect the bubbling sound created by air escaping into water-saturated soil

The Leakalyzer, a rapid water-loss sensor that measures level changes to the 10,000th of an inch and graphs them in real time, helping pros confirm if a pool is actively leaking Anderson prioritizes reliability over novelty.

“We focus on the tried-and-true products you really need instead of flashy new products that may work in some circumstances but aren’t as widely effective,” Flynn says. “Many of the products we originally brought to the market have been copied by others, but they aren’t able to replicate the same quality and innovation.”

According to Flynn, the biggest challenge in leak detection is the lack of professionals in the field.

“Just about every company we talk to feels like there are not enough leak detection professionals in their area to cover the demand,” she says. “We anticipate that more pool builders and servicers will start offering leak detection services to keep their customers happy and increase repair revenue.”