Above ground pool lost significant amount of water

[diyguy1]

As the title says, my pool lost a lot of water after closing it on Saturday

A few weeks ago I threw the cover on when the leaves started to fall. I did not fully close then because of the air temperature. Everything was fine

This past Thursday I heavily shocked the pool with liquid chlorine in anticipation of.closing. 2 gallons. The pool is 8600 gallons

This Saturday, I lowered the water level up below the return jet and pulled all the the pool plumbing to close the pool

There was some water on top, so I started a siphon with my cover siphon pump. This is the same set up i had last winter.

Today (Monday) I noticed that my water level had dropped significantly. Like a foot. The pool is 18 round

My first thought was that the cover siphon was removing pool water. This is the second year I am using this cover. It has definitely become permeable, yet there is still water sitting on top from the rain last night

So I removed the siphon pump and added some water with the hose. I took a .measurement of the level with a stick. 4 hours later the water had dropped half an inch and there is some pooling around the side of the pool.

My liner is old. I don't know how old. I bought the house last summer and fro. What I've found around this house the previous homeowner was not up on their maintenance. The liner was definitely faded, and I knew I would have to replace soon but i was hoping to get through the winter

All that being said, what are my options here? I know I can't let the pool.empty. its already closed and many.of.the liner installers around me are closed for the season.

Any one experience anything similar to this? Is it common for such a significant leak to develop so suddenly?

TL;DR

My pool is leaking and I am worried about it over the winter. What are my options?

 

[wireform]

Not much to do now but possibly see where the water stops would be where the problem is. Don't add water and watch it.

 

[VinnyinNJ]

Older liners may just give out for no reason. Our last pool was about 20 YO with the original liner and one day there was a tear in it from nothing happening to that area. It was under the water line by about 2 feet, near the ladder, no young kids using the pool - and it just appeared. The walls were faded, the swirl laminate floor was mostly gone but it held water until that day.

 

[diyguy1]

Older liners may just give out for no reason. Our last pool was about 20 YO with the original liner and one day there was a tear in it from nothing happening to that area. It was under the water line by about 2 feet, near the ladder, no young kids using the pool - and it just appeared. The walls were faded, the swirl laminate floor was mostly gone but it held water until that day.

It seems like that would be the case. I pulled the cover back near the skimmer and didn't see anything, but ill have to take the whole thing off and look around

My feeling is that this is the original liner for this pool as well, which would put it over 20 years old

 

[wireform]

As you said you suspect the liner to be 20 years old then the thought about the walls comes to play. Are there any visually bad spots. I wouldn't worry too much if the wall condition isn't great since the pool had a long life and may be on its last leg, just a thought. If it were the case then throwing in the towel and getting a new pool may be the best way to go.

 

[VinnyinNJ]

It seems like that would be the case. I pulled the cover back near the skimmer and didn't see anything, but ill have to take the whole thing off and look around

My feeling is that this is the original liner for this pool as well, which would put it over 20 years old

When I ripped out the liner my walls were rusted and I was going to use the screwdriver test and if the rust spots passed take care of them. But once the liner was out I saw the bottom track was gone so it was time to take it down. I wasn't going to invest in a liner with a pool with no bottom track.

 

[diyguy1]

As you said you suspect the liner to be 20 years old then the thought about the walls comes to play. Are there any visually bad spots. I wouldn't worry too much if the wall condition isn't great since the pool had a long life and may be on its last leg, just a thought. If it were the case then throwing in the towel and getting a new pool may be the best way to go.

This is my gut feeling. New pool. There is rust visible around the bottom edge in a few spots around the pool. The previous homeowner let the gutter empty right into the side wall

Im starting to feel that it's likely not worth the time or money to put a new liner in this pool

 

[diyguy1]

When I ripped out the liner my walls were rusted and I was going to use the screwdriver test and if the rust spots passed take care of them. But once the liner was out I saw the bottom track was gone so it was time to take it down. I wasn't going to invest in a liner with a pool with no bottom track.

There is visible rust around the pool where it meets the ground. My gut feeling is this will be my decision as well

 

[diyguy1]

When I ripped out the liner my walls were rusted and I was going to use the screwdriver test and if the rust spots passed take care of them. But once the liner was out I saw the bottom track was gone so it was time to take it down. I wasn't going to invest in a liner with a pool with no bottom track.

I took the cover off today and there was a 6 inch gash in the bottom of the pool by the skimmer. I think it happened when I had the pump in there to drain it. Im thinking I'll patch it for the winter, new pool in the spring