Swimming Pool Blog
The BuyPool.ca swimming pool blog is a great location for finding the answers to your swimming pool questions. Helpful advice, tutorials and information created for swimming pool owners - by swimming pool experts.
Most Commonly Asked Swimming Pool Questions - Answered
In this blog we will examine the most common questions that pool owners have. As a pool professional I tend to
get asked the same questions day after day. As part of this growing swimming pool blog I thought that I would
address some of these more frequently asked questions.
How To Patch A Leak In Your Vinyl Liner
Fixing a leak in a vinyl liner swimming pool is basically the same process as patching a bicycle tire - except
under water in many cases. Locating the leak itself is generally the difficult part of this process, but if you
have managed to locate the source of the leak then you can easily purchase a Vinyl Swimming Pool Patch Kit
Application of the patch itself will depend on precisely which type of vinyl patch you have purchased but
generally will consist of a few shapes and sizes of 20mm or 30mm vinyl patches as well as a waterproof glue /
epoxy. To increase the likelihood of the patch lasting for any significant period of time be sure to round all
of the edges of the patch itself to limit its tendency to peel up at sharp edges.
When you apply the glue be sure to cover the whole side of the patch, and not just a portion in the center of the
patch. If the edges are firmly glued down on all sides the patch will last much longer. Finally be sure to press
the air out of the patch starting in the center and working your way out in all directions for the best protection
against leaks.
If the patch has wrinkles that extend to the edge any where on the patch you will need to remove the patch and
reapply it before it dries. The weight of the water in a swimming pool is immense, especially on the floor of the
pool where leaks in the vinyl liner often occur, so having the patch well applied and free of wrinkles is critical
in ensuring that water will not continue to leak out of the pool.
If you have one leak you very likely could have two or more as well. A very common source for leaks in vinyl
liners is attributed to maintenance equipment like vacuums, brushes and poles. Check your pool equipment for
sharp edges to determine if you have been accidentally cutting you liner to ribbons every time you vacuum the
pool.
You can find more information about finding leaks in your swimming pool by reading the Swimming Pool Leak Detection Tutorial
How Do You Find A Leak In A Vinyl Liner
Finding a leak in the vinyl liner of your swimming pool can be a difficult task. Most of surface area of the surface area of the liner is underwater making it very difficult for close visual inspection. If you have traced the leak through diagnosis to be located in the liner, then the most efficient way to find the leak is to check the most common vinyl liner leak locations.
Before you spend any time looking for the leak you should consider what could have possibly caused this leak as this could help you to focus in on one particular aspect of the liner. Check the ladder in your pool to ensure that there is rubber bumpers protecting the bottom stainless steel tubes from cutting the liner. This is one of the most common leak sources since the bumpers tend to warp and deteriorate with age increasing the likelihood of them falling off.
Next be sure to check anything that goes into your swimming pool for signs of damage or any physical hazards that could pose a threat to your liner. This would include skimmer nets, poles, vacuum heads, automatic vacuum cleaners and pool toys. You can also check your hose to make sure that it does not have any hose clamps or sharp burrs which could damage the liner when you are topping off the water in your pool.
Once you have ruled out the items that are used in maintaining and using your pool you can consider any location that is inclined to leak such as skimmer gaskets, return gaskets, light gaskets and especially stair gaskets. Inspect the screws on these faceplates to ensure that the leak is not in these locations as opposed to being a hole in the liner itself. Excessive rust or loose screws are a sure sign that there is a leak present in this area.
If the leak is in a random spot somewhere in the liner you would perform a visual inspection beginning at the top of the walls and progress around the edge of your pool perimeter. A small hole in the liner will often represent itself as a 1/4" long smile or crescent in the liner. Often these holes in vinyl liners can be felt with your fingertips easier than by sight - especially when on the walls.
Most vinyl liner swimming pools have galvanized steel walls which will rust when in constant contact with chlorinated water such as with a leak in your liner. Rust will form on the walls around any location where there is even a tiny leak present given enough time. You can inspect the walls of your pool by sight and by feel for areas that are rough - an indication that there is a leak close by and rust is beginning to form.
You can also perform a dye test which will help you to identify possible leak points in your pool. To learn how to perform a dye test of your pool you can read the Swimming Pool Leak Detection Tutorial available on our affiliate website.