What can damage a pool liner?
High concentrations of chlorine (above 1.5 ppm) will attack the liner and bleach it, thus damaging it. Any level below this range will weaken its ability to kill off bacteria. The addition of chlorine to your pool water has to be done in a careful manner.
What causes a pool liner to start leaking?
This can cause the vinyl to become brittle. When liners become brittle they will begin to crack and rip much more easily, causing the pool to leak water. These types of cracks generally form at or very near to the surface of the water, as UV damage is most prevalent in that area.
How long does an inground vinyl pool liner last?
Most inground vinyl liners generally last around 10-12 years. It depends on where you live and the chemical care that you give to the pool. Pools open year around, with lots of UV exposure, may have a shorter life to their vinyl liner. Chemical care involves maintaining your pH and Alkalinity levels, so the water does not become slightly acidic.
Can a hole be repaired in a vinyl pool liner?
If holes do happen, they can be easily patched with an underwater vinyl patch kit. In most cases, there is no need to drain the pool to repair a vinyl liner. Patches can be very long-lasting, I had a patch on my old liner that lasted 15 years!
What happens if your pool is not covered in water?
Especially for older liners, if you drain the pool completely, a vinyl liner could rip or ‘snap’ when trying to refill the pool later. A liner not covered in water will quickly shrink, harden and slowly disintegrate, even if the pool is covered. Inground pools face a different threat.
Can a pool liner be installed on the ground?
The pool liner must be installed properly with all the areas touching the ground, earth mound, pool wall and not supporting the weight of the water, which will damage the above ground pool liner. Slight wrinkles appearing during the installation of a pool liner is natural.
What happens to a vinyl pool liner when it leaks?
In most cases, leaking pools do not damage the pool liner, except when the pool leaks to a low point, during winter perhaps, exposing the liner to the elements. If a vinyl liner pool leaks below the shallow end floor, the liner can relax and pull away from the walls.
Is it safe to leave my above ground pool full in winter?
If you have a vinyl-lined above-ground pool , leaving it full for the winter will protect the vinyl liner from shrinkage and other damage. Since these pools are above ground level, keeping them full ensures that the wind will not damage the walls, liner, or frame.
Why is it bad to drain an aboveground pool?
Aboveground Pools. After draining, the liner can shrink which may then tear when refilling. The older the liner, the less it will stretch when refilling. Do not drain the pool in cold weather as this also reduces the stretching capability of the liner.
