The advent of vinyl-lined pools made owning a swimming pool more affordable to many families. The construction of the pool shell consists of two phases: building the perimeter frame or sidewalls and installing the vinyl swimming pool liner. Galvanized steel or aluminum sidewall panels are the most common, and the frame must be structurally adequate to support the various forces exerted on the pool. The bracing is installed after the sidewalls are bolted together.
Next, the area around the bracing is backfilled so that it is flush with the surrounding terrain. The sidewalls must have a smooth finish so as not to abrade the vinyl, but they do not have to be waterproof – the vinyl lining is. Before installing the liner, the base must be prepared.
Generally, the bottom of the liner rests on a 2- to 3-inch sand base, and the top is secured with a special coping. The sun’s ultraviolet light and the chemistry of the water affect the life of the vinyl swimming pool liner, while manufacturers generally guarantee a liner against defective workmanship for 10 years. As vinyl liners age, the material becomes less supple and more prone to leaks from cracks or damage.
You can patch a small hole in a vinyl pool with a similar vinyl sheet material and a waterproof adhesive, and if done correctly this patching can be effective. However, once a liner has reached the age when several patches are needed, you might want to consider replacing it.
An inground vinyl pool is the most common type of pool lined with vinyl, but aboveground pools can also be vinyl lined. They are considered portable pools, meaning that they can be dismantled and moved to a new location. Many pools, however, are partially or fully surrounded by a deck, making them more permanent. The walls of the pool must be self-supporting and capable of withstanding the pressure being exerted on them by the water. The walls are generally galvanized steel, plastic or aluminum, and are 48 or 52 inches high. Because the walls are so high, most municipalities do not require a safety fence surrounding the pool.
Vinyl-Lined Pools Inspection – Checking for Leaks
Finding a leak in a vinyl swimming pool liner can prove to be a rather difficult task, because most of the surface area of the liner is underwater, making a close visual inspection more difficult. If you traced the leak through diagnosis to be located in the liner, the most efficient way to find the leak is to check the most common vinyl liner leak locations. Also, consider what could have caused the leak – it will help you focus on one particular aspect of the liner.
Remember to check the ladder in your pool to ensure that it has rubber bumpers protecting the bottom stainless steel tubes from cutting the liner. The bumpers tend to warp and deteriorate with age, increasing the likelihood of them falling off, so this is one of the most common leak sources.
In addition, check anything that goes into your swimming pool for signs of damage or any physical hazards that could pose a threat to your vinyl swimming pool liner. This includes poles, skimmer nets, vacuum heads, automatic vacuum cleaners and pool toys. Also, check your hose to make sure it doesn’t have any hose clamps or sharp burrs which could damage the liner when you are topping off the water in your pool.
After ruling out the items used in maintaining and using your pool, move on to any location that is inclined to leak, for instance skimmer gaskets, light gaskets, return gaskets and particularly stair gaskets. Check the screws on these face plates to make sure the leak is not in these locations. Note that excessive rust or loose screws are a definite sign of a leak present in this area.
If the leak is located in a random spot somewhere in the liner, perform a visual inspection starting at the top of the walls and progress around the edge of the pool perimeter. A small hole in the line will often look like a ¼ inch crescent in the liner. Generally, such holes in vinyl liners can be felt with the fingertips easier than spotted by sight, especially if they are on the walls.
Lastly, most vinyl liner swimming pools have galvanized steel walls, which will rust when in constant contact with chlorinated water. Given enough time, rust will form on the walls around any location where there is even the tiniest leak present. A vinyl-lines pools inspection is a procedure that should be performed regularly. While you can take care of the pool maintenance, perform a dye test or inspect the walls of your pool by sight and by feel, it is recommended that once in a while you have a professional handle the inspection.