5 Signs It’s Time For a Vinyl Liner Pool Replacement
A vinyl liner’s lifespan is typically between 10 and 15 years. However, this can vary depending on where and how often your pool is used.
Fading of your liner is normal, but if you’re seeing significant fading, it’s time to consider replacement. Heavy fading can indicate that the liner is losing its plasticizers, which makes it less pliable and prone to stretching.
The Liner Won’t Stay in the Track
When a liner isn’t on the track, it can cause problems. The pool may need to be drained and the liner replaced. If this isn’t done promptly, it can lead to water damage and a hefty repair bill.
It’s always best to have a professional perform a liner replacement to ensure there is no water damage to the structure, proper care techniques are followed, and a liner is of the highest quality. An experienced professional from DND Spas can also suggest a new design for your vinyl pool to ensure the perfect look.
The most common reason a liner comes off the track is that some sand/grit/bug got behind the liner bead in the track. In these cases, adding a liner lock will only worsen the issue.
Cracks or Tears
Over time, vinyl loses some of its elasticity, and the liner may begin to stretch. If you notice your liner pulling away from the track or falling out completely, it’s time to get a new one. A faulty liner can damage equipment, cause structural problems, and lead to costly repairs.
If you have a tear, you can use a waterproof tape or patch kit to fix it without draining the pool. However, if the tear is large, you’ll need a vinyl patch kit with a larger piece of vinyl and adhesive to cover the entire area.
You can also test for a leak by placing food coloring in different areas of your pool. If you notice the food coloring disappearing, that’s a sign of a leak.
Fading or Discoloration
Although modern vinyl liners are built to resist fading from sunlight and chemical degradation, it’s time for a new liner if you notice spots or areas that have lost their color. This is a sign that the sanitizing chemicals and the sun are breaking down the resins and plasticizers that give vinyl its resiliency.
Often, fading is accompanied by stains, especially around the waterline area of your pool. This is an excellent opportunity to check your water chemistry. Maintaining a healthy total alkalinity and a reasonable pH will prevent your vinyl liner from discoloring and bleaching by pool chemicals or sun damage. This can be done by testing your water and using natural cleaners. This will help reduce your overall pool maintenance expenses.
Wrinkles or Ripples
A wrinkled liner is unsightly and a sure sign that it’s time to get a new one. Wrinkles can’t be fixed with water chemistry as high chlorine and low pH levels will eat away at the vinyl and cause wrinkles.
If you have significant rust stains or algae buildup in your pool, this is also a good indicator that it’s time to replace the liner. These stains are hard to remove and can permanently damage the vinyl.
Small wrinkles can be moved around with a telescopic brush and your feet or a toilet plunger (don’t use the dirty one). This will take some time but is less expensive than draining and refilling your pool. Wrinkles that develop due to installation issues will not be solved and must be replaced.
Water Leaks
While some water loss is average, a significant amount of water loss may indicate a leak. Water leaks are usually accompanied by wet spots around equipment, in the yard, or the pool—small leaks can come with a liner patch kit. Larger holes will need to be replaced with a new liner.
The sun’s UV rays and the chemicals used for pool maintenance can cause vinyl liners to deteriorate over time. Exposure to these factors can lead to brittle vinyl that will become prone to puncture, tears, or rips. This deterioration can also cause wrinkles and ripples in the pool that are difficult to remove and can affect the smoothness and tightness of the vinyl liner. Replacing the vinyl liner sooner rather than later will prevent further damage to your pool.
