Saunas - Traditional vs Infrared

Swimming Pool Liner Leaks & Repairs

Locating Leaks…

The three mains areas in which a liner pool can leak are the liner itself, the fittings (i.e. lights, step unit, skimmers etc) and of course the pipe work. It is not easy to distinguish between a leak in the pool and a simple water loss through evaporation and water loss due to bathers splashing/getting in and out. An outdoor pool in regular use can lose as much as half an inch a day through evaporation and spillage during a dry spell.  Even a covered pool can lose as much as half an inch through evaporation. Anything more than these amounts should be investigated or monitored. If in doubt, test by making a mark around the waterline and check in the morning to see if the water level has dropped.

The easiest way to find a leak is to leave the pool water to drop until it stops. The leak will then be somewhere around the pool at this level or just below. The disadvantage of this is it could be a very slow leak and you may have to wait a while to discover the area the water is going to stop at. If a visual inspection reveals no obvious cause, pressure test the pipe-work. This will either confirm the leak is in the pipe-work or show that the liner or fittings are the problem. Gaskets can perish as they become old or ill fitting screws are another possibility.

If the liner itself is at fault, then it is most likely to be along one of the joins, most commonly the base to sidewall join which is under the most pressure. Weld failures of this nature, whilst very rare, almost always occur within the first few days of a liners life and would be covered under the manufacturer’s warranty. Holes in the liner other than along a weld are almost unheard of and are most likely to be a result of abuse during the fitting of the liner, common causes of a hole in a liner are incorrect footwear, screw drivers, etc… when installing it. Or subsequently by the pool user’s telescopic pole, garden tools etc.

Repairing Leaks...

Whichever type of repair is undertaken; the first step is always to clean the area. Most leaks can be easily repaired on site with a vinyl patch and liner glue or larger liner repair kits using specially formulated solvent based glue. Most have the advantage of being used underwater (like an underwater epoxy), rendering it unnecessary to empty the pool. The rule when using glue or solvent is not to use excessive amounts and always follow the instructions on the packaging. Large holes may need to be repaired by means of solvent welding, high frequency welding, hot air or hot wedge welding. Only in rare cases should a liner be returned to the manufacturer for this type of repair, quite apart from the costs involved it is difficult, if not impossible, to refit a liner in which the fittings have already been cut.

The age and condition of the liner has to be taken into account as well as the size and nature of the repair when deciding how best to repair a hole. After approximately 3 years in the ground, a liner has lost it elasticity. If a pool in such a condition were to be drained, repaired and then refilled, it is possible that the liner could shrink and consequently split under the strain on refilling. A liner’s ability to accept glue, solvent or other forms of welding diminishes with age. Attempting to repair such liners are often unsuccessful.