The best way to extend your swimming pool liner life is to maintain proper water balance and follow proper vinyl pool liner care procedures. When your water is properly balanced, and sanitizing agents (Chlorine, Bromine, Baquacil) are added to control bacteria, viral and contaminants, the result is balanced swimming pool water. Knowledge of pool chemistry is obtainable online or at your local swimming pool supply store. Balancing knowledge backed by the instructions of the chemical manufacturers is a valuable resource in obtaining a long life for your vinyl pool liner.
Below are some proper balancing levels. PH ……………………………………….7.2 to 7.8 ……………………….Test Daily Total Alkalinity…………………………60 to 125 ppm…………………Test Weekly Calcium Hardness…………………….150 to 250 ppm……………….Test Monthly Free Chlorine Range…………………1.0 (perfect) to 3.0 ppm……Test Daily ppm = parts per million
The most important factors in proper vinyl pool liner care is the control of water chemistry is pH and Chlorine. The pH is the measure of the acidity and alkalinity of the water, with 7.0 being neutral. Never allow the pH to fall below 7.0 into the acid range. Dropping below a 7.0 complex can prove to be very harmful to the liner. In this range the liner actually “grows” and develops unsightly burn wrinkles that cannot be removed, and the liner ages prematurely. Chlorine abuse is a major cause of liner aging and failure. A high concentration of chlorine will attack the liner, bleach it, cause it to ripple (burn)”, become brittle in areas and make the vinyl deteriorate rapidly. You should never allow chlorine to come into direct contact with a vinyl liner before it has been fully dissolved and thoroughly dispersed in the water. If you use granular chlorine, dissolve it in a bucket of water. If it doesn’t dissolve then leave it overnight and stir once again in the morning. Pour the liquid around the pool perimeter, and thoroughly agitate the water to ensure that the chlorine is thoroughly dispersed. Never just throw the granules into the pool, as they will collect on the bottom and bleach or burn the vinyl. If you use chlorine tablets, You should add it to a chlorine feeder. Never add them directly to the pool, because they will certainly bleach and burn the vinyl. Stay away from floaters that hold tablets, the concentration will bleach out your liners border. If you use Calcium Hypo-chlorine tablets, you should never add them to the skimmer, as the chlorine vapor can overflow back into the pool when the pump/filter is turned off and bleach and burn the liner wall in the area of the skimmer. If you use liquid chlorine, pour it around the pool perimeter and agitate the water to thoroughly disperse it. To make sure the chlorine is thoroughly dispersed, it is a good idea in all cases to have the circulating pump running for a minimum of four hours after addition of chemicals. In adding chemicals to your pool water, remember that “more” is not “better”. Too much may actually be very harmful to your liner, and is certainly a waste of your hard earned money. For the sake of safety, never mix chemicals together. Add them one at a time. And always add chemicals to water – never the other way around. Never drain the pool to where you would have less than about one foot of water in the shallow end. If the water pressure is removed from the liner, even for a short time, the liner may shrink. In addition to being unsightly, this can cause the liner to tear in the corners or around fittings or steps. Most liners will eventually get a “ring” at the waterline from the accumulation of body oils, suntan lotions, etc. These can usually be removed by specially formulated cleaners that your pool dealer has available. But be sure that they are the kind meant for vinyl liners. Avoid the use of abrasive cleaning agents like steel wool, sharp bristled brushes, scouring pads, etc., as these can damage your liner. Never use gasoline, kerosene, or other petroleum based products, as these can cause your liner to deteriorate rapidly. Keep your filtration system in good working order so it can remove impurities and help in the dispersal of pool chemicals. If you should ever develop a leak in your liner, special patching glues are available from your pool dealer that allow you to repair the liner underwater, without having to drain the water. Water Testing Tips Water samples should always be taken no less than one foot below the water line. Stay away from return outlets to ensure that the samples are taken from the main water body. Before checking these samples, make sure that all the testers are clean and functional and that chemical testing reagents are fresh. Results obtained from defective equipment and reagents can themselves be defective, leading to the addition of wrong chemical dosages and inadvertent damage to the liner. The bottom line is that these vinyl pool liner care tips that we have provided will help you achieve your liners best life. From Kathy (The Owner), at Merodynamic Pools Q&A Blog
