The most common sign is a water level that drops to the bottom of the skimmer opening and then holds. The skimmer is a separate box set into the pool wall, and a seal can fail at the joint where it meets the shell, at the throat or at the faceplate screws. Dye drawn into a hairline crack at the throat confirms the leak.
Skimmer leaks can usually be reached without major excavation, which is why it is important to confirm one before any digging begins. A leak farther along the skimmer line is a different repair and tends to show up as air in the pump instead.
Still not sure it’s a leak?
Describe what your pool is doing, and we will tell you what it may be and what a visit would involve. If the water level is dropping fast, call us right away.