Over the course of several years, pool chemicals and weather can cause your vinyl pool liner to deteriorate. How do you know if your pool liner needs to be replaced? Consider these 4 signs you need a new vinyl pool liner.

Stretching

If the top edge of the liner, the liner bead, slips out of the track and you can’t put it back in place, it’s a sign that your vinyl pool liner is stretching. When your liner isn’t secure in its track, it will sag, water can drain from your pool, and your liner will start to wrinkle. If your liner is stretched, it can’t be repaired and must be replaced. Other signs of liner deterioration include loose fittings around the pump and the skimmer.

Fading

After years of exposure to sunlight and chemicals, your vinyl pool liner can start to fade and then become brittle. In fact, fading is one of the first signs of deterioration. When you have a brittle liner, expect more cracks and tears to develop in your liner.

Cracks & Tears

Harsh UV rays and pool chemicals can cause small cracks in your vinyl pool liner over time. If you see these cracks or small tears in your liner, chances are high that your pool is leaking water. To know for sure, monitor your pool’s water level for about a week to see if it changes. If the water level drops more than one inch, you know your liner is leaking.

Leaking

Even though modern pool liners are built to resist punctures and tears, they can still happen as your liner starts to age. If you know where the leak is, you can patch it with a wet patch kit. If you can’t find the leak to repair it, your pool will continue to leak water. That water can wash out the supporting backfill behind the walls or cause sinkholes by washing away the sand that’s underneath the pool.

Repair or Replace?

How do you know if your pool liner needs repair or replacement? If your liner is less than 3 years ago, it might be worth it to repair the liner instead of replace it. If your liner is older than 3 years, or if you have any of the problems listed above, it’s usually better to replace the liner.

Do you have questions about your pool liner? We can help. Give us a call or stop by one of our showrooms and we can help you with all of your pool renovation questions.