Liner Changing Time

Is it time for some new vinyl?

 

Hi again,

Is it liner changing time for your above ground pool? Let's go through some of the basics of this process.

  • Why am I changing my liner?
  • Getting the correct size liner
  • Getting the right type liner.
  • Prepping the pool for the new liner.
  • What do you need besides a liner?

Why are you changing the liner? If it is old age you have done a great job of caring for your pool. If your pool is leaking and you don't know why now is a good time to get answers. Before the liner is removed cut an opening around the top big enough to climb in. Go under the liner, the holes should be easy to spot. When you know why the liner is leaking maybe you can prevent that from happening to the new liner.

Once the old liner is removed it's time to do some measuring. You want to be sure you are getting the right size liner for your pool. With a round pool you need to measure side wall to side wall in several places. You should come close to one of the standard sizes. An oval pool will require a couple of measurements. Measure side to side and end to end. Again, you should fall close to a standard size.

Now measure the wall height, this is from the bottom of the bottom rail to the top of the wall. Here you should be very close to one of the standard wall heights, a 48" wall, a 52" wall or a 54" wall.

Be sure you know what type of liner you need. Is it an overlap or one of the beaded type liners? This is important.

With the old liner out of the pool it's a good time to do an inspection. How does the pool wall look? Are there any rust areas that could be sanded and painted over? Do you have thin areas that could use some reinforcement? Look especially close around the service area, the section of wall holding the skimmer and return.

Smooth Pool Base
How does the pool base look? Any moss, mildew, roots, weeds or grass should be cleaned out. Most sand bases could use with some smoothing. Can you do this with your existing sand or should you bring in a little more?

Pool pads get pretty thin from the weight of the water on them. If your liner sits on a pad check it to see if a new one would give you a better pool base.

This is also a good time to take inventory of all the things that might need replaced. Check the plastic coping strips that hold the liner in place, these often need replaced with every liner change. Examine the filter system closely, replace things like skimmer and return gaskets, hair and lint pot o-ring, flex hoses and anything else you see that looks bad. Rubber gaskets tend to have a longer life span than the cork ones and do not always need replaced, but they do need checked, and if in doubt replace them.

If you are considering upgrades now is a good time to do it. Things like preformed pool cove, pool pads and wall insulation are common upgrades that can be easily done at liner changing time.

Until next month, enjoy the swim.

Enjoy The Swim

Helpful Places Around This Site

 

Hi again

With over 50 years experience installing above ground pools, and just about as many years owning them, my knowledge might be just what your pool needs.

I would love to help you out with any problems you may be having with your pool.  Or any problems you are trying to avoid having with a pool you are about to purchase.  Either way, help is here.

The Installation Tips are all required reading for anyone attempting a do-it-yourself installation.  I have seen a lot of mistakes made when the homeowner takes on a pool installation.  That's not to say you can't do it, of course you can.  Read the tips and get it right the first time.

Solar Pool Lights
In Pool Products you can get up to speed on all the stuff you will need to get the most enjoyment out of your pool.  Most of this stuff I have either used, installed for customers or both.  My knowledge of what your pool needs can help you make the right choices.

Pool Questions, or site visitor pages, is where we cover everything, everything ever asked about above ground pools.  In the years I have been doing this online, I have been asked everything.  And the questions keep coming, and I keep answering.  Your thoughts and questions are welcome.

General help pages are all the stuff the guy at the pool store forgot, or won't to tell you.  If you bought your pool online you may have been left totally in the dark.  This will bring you up to speed with the real issues above ground pool owners have to deal with.

Under Hire the Pool Pro you can learn a little more about me and see if either of my e-books would interest you.  Most important, if you need help fast, try my consulting service.  It's inexpensive and I stick with you until your problem is solved. I also install above ground pools all over the state of Arizona.

Until next month, enjoy the swim.

Pool Guide

 

Hi again

I've been in the pool business most of my life, and owned pools most of that time, but never really learned proper water chemistry. I found a book that covers it all, written in a way I can understand.

I think all pool owners would benefit by having a copy of this on their desktop.

One of the questions I get asked all summer long is why is my pool water turning green, or brown or just cloudy. I will usually ask a few questions and then give some advice. I first want to know what kind of filter you are using and how many hours a day do you run it. Many times it's as simple as shock the pool and run the filter non-stop for a few days. After that it is as simple as increasing the hours a day the filter runs. Remember, the hotter it is the more hours the filter needs to run.

It does get more complicated than that, but that always worked for me. I always had a large filter, increased the run time as it got hotter and always shocked the pool every couple of weeks during the summer.

Environmental issues will play a role, like is your pool sitting under a tree? They can cause havoc with pool chemistry.

The big take away here is before you put yourself at the mercy of the local pool store that would, more than likely, love to sell you hundreds of dollars in chemicals, get this book and save your money for other things.

Take a look and see for yourself. Pool Guide