A vinyl pool in Texasl

[mcleod]

Rural location with an inground vinyl pool. New vinyl was installed this summer. The current storm has dumped a lot of water and the sides of the pool are poofing out. One, is this typical? Two, what, if anything, should be done and when? Three, how might this be prevented going forward?

Happy January from east Texas.

McLeod

 

[PoolStored]

Poofing out is not typical.

Can you post some pictures so we can see what we are dealing with?

 

[mcleod]

Poofing out is not typical.

Can you post some pictures so we can see what we are dealing with?

 

[PoolStored]

Can you post some wider shots so we can see the whole pool?

 

[PoolStored]

The most likely answer is that your pool level got above the bead track, and you got significant water behind your liner...which floated and shifted your liner.

The best course of action is to contact the installer and give you an assessment if they can save the liner.

Prevent it in the future by not allowing the water level to get above the skimmer mouth. You can use a sump pump.

 

[mcleod]

Can you post some wider shots so we can see the whole pool?

the vinyl has pulled away from all sides to some degree or another

 

[mcleod]

The most likely answer is that your pool level got above the bead track, and you got significant water behind your liner...which floated and shifted your liner.

The best course of action is to contact the installer and give you an assessment if they can save the liner.

Prevent it in the future by not allowing the water level to get above the skimmer mouth. You can use a sump pump.

Pictures sent. The pool water level did not get above the track. The sump pump has been in use since yesterday before the rain began. The pool also drained to just below the normal level

 

[mcleod]

Could it not be hydrostatic pressure with groundwater moving against the sides? If that were the case then would not a french drain of sorts be worth considering?

 

[PoolStored]

Could it not be hydrostatic pressure with groundwater moving against the sides? If that were the case then would not a french drain of sorts be worth considering?

Yes. It would be a consideration. Talk to the pool builder and get options.

 

[Newdude]

If that were the case then would not a french drain of sorts be worth considering?

If the water came from above and couldn't be wisked away or drain through the ground fast enough, yes. You'd provide it a better path away from the pool area.

If the ground water table rose, no. That requires dewatering points/pumps and even then they can only do so much.

 

[Newdude]

Is the deck pitch away from the pool as good as the pics imply or is it an illusion ?

Before they laid my pavers, water was draining towards the pool on the slab and getting under the liner track and pushing the liner out.



Or it could be seeping in at the seams further back as it drains and doing similar.



How long have you been there without a problem ? Anything change in the yard since the last round of huge storms or was this a once in a generation-er ?

Are the house gutters clear and draining as they should ? A clog could have put tons of roof water the wrong direction.

 

[Newdude]

Hey !!! Me again.

Now I'm wondering if something changed before last summer and the issue overlapped before the liner replacement.

It was a no brainer to blame the liner poofing on the old leaking liner, but it could have been that *and* this. Then now with a worse storm, it's worse than it was.

 

[mcleod]

A break in the storm provides me a moment to ponder. The concrete slopes away from the edge, and in the few places where it might not be perfect, it would have little impact. Nothing's changed in the yard since we moved in about four years ago. This event did occur the first winter we were here. With dry weather that old vinyl returned to shape along with wrinkles and creases. This is the first winter with the new pool.

The water table is high in this neck of the woods and thus is a contribution to the issue. The contractor suggested this afternoon that a vacuum hose stuffed behind the vinyl to draw out the water would help. He hopes to come Monday. Do I speed things up and give it a try myself? I'm undecided and would worry that I'd still have creases to deal with. Further suggested by the contractor was the dewatering hole/pump idea. That is for later in the spring. If anyone has ideas or encouragement or suggestions, I'm all ears. A first world problem.

McLeod

 

[mcleod]

Hey !!! Me again.

Now I'm wondering if something changed before last summer and the issue overlapped before the liner replacement.

It was a no brainer to blame the liner poofing on the old leaking liner, but it could have been that *and* this. Then now with a worse storm, it's worse than it was.

Dude
The liner has returned to its installed shape. In a couple of places, the liner has jumped the track–an easy fix I presume. Since the bulging of the liner occurred around the entire pool to varying degrees, I'm going to guess it has something to do with the water table levels. The pool is on flat ground. The PC suggested dewatering holes and pumps tho it may not be a complete remedy. I'm wondering about a professional consult, a hydrologist, or some other type. Any thoughts are always appreciated. @Dirk

McLeod

 

[JamesW]

Typical ground water issue.

You probably need dry wells to monitor the ground water and keep it low enough to prevent the problem in the future.

You can see water standing in the background.

 

[JamesW]

 

[Newdude]

the liner has jumped the track–an easy fix I presume.

Massage it back into place from the ends towards the middle. The friction from your fingers will help make it more pliable. Hopefully it's all close enough to go back in place.

Then you want liner lock. It's about $30 for 120ft and it's a rubber like wedge to keep the liner hook it inside the track edge. It should push in the hole way around in minutes.

I'm wondering about a professional consult

Ironically the pool builder will have the most pool specific experience with it, but it certainly can't hurt to bring in an engineer.

 

[Dirk]

Do I speed things up and give it a try myself?

Massage it back into place from the ends towards the middle.

Be careful when doing any of this yourself, in terms of how that might affect your warranty, if in fact this type of problem is covered by warranty. Especially considering the installer has already told you he'll come and take a look (which is great).

What you don't want to do is give the installer an excuse (legitimate or otherwise) to walk away. Let the pro do his thing before you do, especially if it won't cost you anything (covered by warranty).

 

[mcleod]

Thank you one and all.

McLeod