Be on the lookout for these four symptoms telling you it is time for a new vinyl pool liner! Vinyl liners need proper care and maintenance to ensure a safe, healthy, and beautiful pool.
1. Stretching
Improper care for your vinyl liner will result in the stretching of the material. This stretching is an early warning sign of further issues that can develop in your liner's health, such as wrinkling. Vinyl Liners will shrink and stretch from exposure to hot and cold temperatures.
The weight of the water dispersed across your liner will also impact your liner's health. If your water levels are low, it will allow for an easier time for water to absorb and become trapped between your liner and pool wall. As your liner is prolonged to reduced water levels, it will be inclined to stretch and eventually wrinkle.
2. Staining
Staining of your vinyl liner can and will occur from many maintenance-related blunders. Your pool needs a specific pH range to avoid bacterial and algae growth, 7.2-7.6 ppm. This proper balance will ensure your comfort and safety and also assist the chlorine in effectively cleaning your pool.
Free chlorine keeps your pool happy and healthy, free of germs and bacteria. Proper pool maintenance is when the free chlorine levels fall between 1.5-2.5 ppm. Free chlorine levels lower than this will result in conditions for algae and bacteria growth.
Calcium buildup is another source of staining that can drastically affect your vinyl liner. To avoid corrosive conditions, aim for a level of 200 ppm. Levels above 500 ppm will lead to calcium scaling on the liner and often result in cloudy water.
3. Fading
Continued exposure to the sun and imbalances in your chemicals will result in fading in your vinyl pool liner. While some fading is normal, Installing a new liner when it's time, usually in a range of 10-15 years, will restore your liner's appearance and provide a much more resistant covering for your pool.
Also, consider a stabilizer/conditioner to help protect against ultraviolet rays that will damage your liner and result in further fading. A stabilizer/conditioner will assist in reducing the consumption of chlorine and increases its lifespan.
High concentrations of chemicals that combine during regular maintenance will bleach your liner. To avoid this, you should call a trained professional to assist in the process is highly recommended.
4. Wrinkles
A low PH value in your pool's water will cause it to stretch by absorbing more water than it can handle, causing it to become bloated and create dimensional instability.
While stabilizers/conditioners assist with fading, improper handling of a stabilizer/conditioner will result in wrinkles. Stabilizer levels less than 50 ppm combined with pH less than 7.0 and chlorine levels that exceed 2.5 ppm create the perfect conditions for wrinkles to form. Wrinkles that develop from excessive absorption are irreversible and will forever alter the appearance of your vinyl liner.
The Diagnosis
If your pool suffers from stretching, staining, fading, or wrinkles, it may be time for a new vinyl liner. Restore your pool's beauty and provide it with the maintenance it deserves for continued health and complete enjoyment of your pool, whether for just the season or year round!
To avoid replacing your liner, seek regular maintenance by professionals. Seeking assistance is highly recommended to keep your pool in perfect condition.
To learn more about your vinyl pool liner and how to care for it check out 3 Ways To Protect A New Pool Liner.