How to repair a torn liner

First, find the damage

A hole in the liner is not always visible. If the water level drops more than evaporation can explain, search methodically:

• Use a mask to look at the steps, corners, the bench and any spots where people stand or objects rest.
• If the level stops dropping at a certain height, the hole is usually at that height.
• With the pump off and the water still, release a little dye next to the suspect spot: if there is a hole, the dye will be drawn in.

If you find nothing on the membrane, the problem may be at a fitting, in a pipe or in the plant room. The steps for that case are in pool leaks.

Underwater patch, step by step

For a tear of a few centimeters on a flat surface, away from seams and fittings:

1. Get a PVC pool repair kit with an adhesive that works underwater and, if possible, an offcut of the same membrane.
2. Cut a patch that covers the tear with a margin of a few centimeters all round, and round off the corners, because sharp corners are the first to peel.
3. Gently clean the area with a soft sponge to remove the slime.
4. Spread the adhesive on the patch, fold it in half with the glued side inward, and submerge it like that so the adhesive doesn't wash off.
5. Unfold it over the tear and press from the centre outward, pushing out the air bubbles.
6. Hold it pressed for a few minutes and keep the pump off for as long as the adhesive instructions say.

Above the waterline the approach is the same, except that the spot is dried first and the repair is done dry.

If the liner is still covered by the written 10-year guarantee, contact the pool builder first, before attempting any repair yourself.

When you need a technician

• The tear is on a seam or runs along it.
• The damage is next to a skimmer, return inlet, light or drain, where watertightness depends on the gaskets and face plates of the fittings.
• The tear is large, in a corner or on the edge of a step, where a patch won't sit flat.
• There are many small holes, or the membrane has hardened overall.
• The patch you applied is peeling or the water level keeps dropping.

On a reinforced membrane, when the spot can be dried by lowering the water level locally, the technician hot-air welds a piece of the same material so that it becomes one with the membrane. On the floor, where the pool is not drained, the solution is usually a carefully applied underwater patch. When repairs start to multiply, it is time for a liner replacement.

How to prevent tears

• Pets: their claws scratch the liner when they try to climb out; an exit ramp helps, as we explain in pools and pets.
• Objects: sharp toys, metal furniture and umbrella bases stay out of the water.
• Tools: vacuum heads and brushes with worn or metal parts should be replaced in good time.
• Chemistry: correct pH and chlorine keep the membrane supple, while hard, tired material tears more easily.

Questions

See also