Refilling an Above Ground Pool.

by Frank
(Michigan)

We have a 24 foot round above ground doughboy pool. Everything is in great shape but over the winter (we live in Michigan) our winter cover ripped and the pool water wound up disgusting. We have drained all the water out and cleaned the liner. The center of the pool is about one foot deeper than the sides. There is now a large wrinkle that goes around the area where the depth difference is and the liner has pulled away from the walls. We started to fill it thinking the water pressure would push the liner back into the walls but after about six inches of water it wasn't happening. We can't seem to get the wrinkle out. My question is will the liner gradually suck back into the pool walls with the more water we put in and what is the best way to get rid of the wrinkle.

Hi Frank. Let me start by saying vinyl lined pools should never be drained. The liners shrink and, depending on the age of the liner, may not be reusable. Liners that are in their first or second season can usually be drained and refilled without to many problems. This still should only be done if you have to. With liners older than that you must be will to change the liner with a new one, should thing not turn out will, which is usually the case.

Water problems can be taken care of by the use of chemicals and filtration, or in the worst case, draining to about a foot and refilling.

Deep end pools are the worst because the liner shrinks so bad refilling is usually impossible. It is this shrinking that caused your wrinkle and getting rid of it could be tough. If you actually had enough stretch left in the liner for it to fill, without pulling out at the top, you may want to just leave it alone. By draining it again you will be taking more of a chance that it will shrink beyond reuse.

To fix the problem you need to work on a hot day with direct overhead sun. Drain the pool to just below the wrinkle and start to refill. The liner should become pliable in the direct sun and you might be able to hold the wrinkle out while the pool fills. You will have to make use of the weight of the water and the sunshine. The sun should make the liner workable and the water will eventually be heavy enough to hold the wrinkle out. But you will need to be in there for hours before this happens. It takes patience and persistence but, depending on the age of the liner, might be a possibility for you.

If a new liner becomes necessary this page may be useful.


Expandable Liner Installation