Pool leak bucket test results in......Help me interpret

15K gallon, plaster 16x32 inground pool. I seem to be refilling more than evaporation would warrant. Pad shows no leaks. Backwash piping is dry. Weather has been in 80s and 90s for weeks.

I did the bucket test for 24 hours with the pump running. Pool dropped 3/4 inch and bucket dropped 1/2 inch. Temp in 90's.

Did same test 24 hour test with pump OFF. Pool dropped one inch and bucket dropped 1/4 inch. Temp in 80's.

So the pool lost more water when pump off....

I read the sticky about the "bucket test" but it was not clear if this test had pool pump on or off (?)

I was going to pump water out of the pool below the skimmer, eyeball returns, light and Polaris fitting and try the 24 hour bucket test again....with the pool pump OFF. Would that give me a clue ?

Not sure if I can run the same test with the pool pump ON if the skimmer is dry. There is a diverter valve in the skimmer and if I shut it closed, I think the equipment will run OK from the bottom main drain. Am I right?

I can have a local pool repair company do a static test, if necessary. They can also caulk as needed.

How am I doing so far ?

Bit of an update and hopefully some useful information: Bucket test was done 9/4 (pump on) and 9/5 (pump off). 9/6 and part of 9/7 I ran the pump for 24 hours to circulate and filter. Midday 9/7 pump turned off and stayed off until today. I re-checked the pool level mark and it was down 2-1/2 inches from the original test. The bucket level was down 3/4 inch from the original test. Does that tell me there is NOT a leak in the PVC lines, but rather there is caulk/grout missing somewhere ?

I am now pumping water out of the pool to get below the skimmer, so I can get a mirror and light and look for missing grout or caulk. It was COLD here last winter and ice would form in the pool even tho we were running the filter 24x7.

Any and all comments will be much appreciated.

Update.....I dropped the water level below the skimmer and saw two cracks in the grout or plaster on either side. Did a 24 hour bucket test with pump off and both the pool and bucket levels went down 1/4 inch. I bought some A and B epoxy putty and will cram some in each crack, refill pool and try the bucket test again. One test with pump running and another with pump off.

Comments, anyone ?

BTW....Admin. Can you move this thread up to "inground pools"

Update.......Maybe my pool level measurement yesterday was not 100% correct. It is difficult to measure. Think pool went down more than 1/4 inch.

I did a 12 hour bucket test last night and this a.m. Pool went down one inch and bucket down one-half inch. So the skimmer was probably one leak and there is another leak elsewhere. I am now draining the pool below the eyeball returns and Polaris cleaner fitting. Might even expose the light. Will let you know results.

Admin/Mod......can you move this up to the main forum....inground pool......please