When the Florida sun heats up it's so great to head out to the backyard to cool off. A tiny tear in your pool liner can cause you to stop your fun in the sun for the day or longer. If a liner tear grows larger than six inches you may need to replace the entire pool liner.
Aquaman Leak Detection understands the frustration and is here to help guide you through the process of patching your pool with water still in it.
Patching Your Pool Liner in an Above Ground Pool
If you determine your above ground pool needs a pool liner patch it's important to take care of the repair quickly. Your pool will continue to drain until it reaches the level of the hole. Depending on the location of the tear you may need an expert to complete the repair. If the leak is near the top rail, the water might only go down a couple of inches. But if it's near the bottom of the wall or the floor of the pool, the extensive water loss could collapse the pool and turn your yard into a muddy mess.
How to Patch a Pool with Water In It
Unlike other water features in your home, you don't need (or want) to drain your pool to fix a tear. Doing so could cause the liner to wrinkle or collapse! Here are a few things you will need:
- Tear repair kit
- Pool dye
- Snorkeling gear and goggles
Step 1: Identify the Tears in the Pool
Start by cleaning your pool if the water is not clean and clear. This is critical so you don't miss the tear (or multiple tears). Turn off the pool pump to keep the water calm. Next, slowly move around the pool wearing your snorkeling gear and goggles,
searching for the tear. If you can't find it, then squirt a small amount of pool dye around the liner. The dye will move toward any tears.
Check out our video to learn more
Step 2: How to Patch the Tears
Identifying the tears in the liner is half the battle, so you are almost done! Spread the parts of the tear repair kit out in a handy location. Take time to
clean the area around the tear and cut a patch from your kit that is an inch larger than the tear.
Place the patch on a smooth surface and spread cement or waterproof epoxy on the underside of the patch. Fold the patch and submerge it underwater at the location of the tear. Press it over the tear and use your fingers to smooth it from the center out. Follow the same process to patch the outside of the pool if it's accessible.
There are several types of vinyl liners to choose from. They each have pros and cons. Vinyl liner steel walls are compatible with over 200 different vinyl liner pool styles. The main con is that they will rust.
Polymer pool walls are a newer option. They won't rust. They use polymer braces that have built-in deck support to help hold the load of the pool decking.
Patching a pool with water in it is a fairly simple process, but keep in mind that a pool liner won't last forever and multiple patches will increase your chances for continual pool leaks.
If it's time to repair or replace your vinyl pool liner give Aquaman Leak Detection a call.
Our contractors are licensed to service all of Florida. Remember, the quicker you catch a leak the easier it is to repair!