Can it get one more season? Is it time to replace the liner?

[Shruggs85]

Hey folks! Hoping you all can help offer some guidance.

We moved into a house where the pool hasn't been used in 5+ years. Thru this site I was able to get the swamp cleaned up, and have some crystal clear water for 2 seasons (although both seasons we have had our fair share of fixes/issues with electrical - thats another story another day!).

The pool has some small tears in the corners near the deep end. Last year I put some rubber tape to cover between the opening/cap, but curious all your thoughts on if its able to go another season, or better to have the liner replaced.

If we can get another season, and use that fund for some indoor projects, then thats great, but if this is going to potentially only create more cost down the road, then we'd rather replace it out now. Also if we are going to replace, I would rather get someone out now to schedule it up, vs attempting to get scheduled when opening season starts.

I 100% know it needs to be replaced. Just trying to see if 1 more season is available or time to bite the bullet.

Live in NJ. Pool is currently covered. Attached are some pics of the tears.

Thanks all!

 

[Dirk]

I can't offer any advice about how much longer you can get away with patching. Hey, if it holds water, it's a pool!

I just wanted to share this. We are in a pool seller's market right now. COVID has driven up pool prices and extended wait times. If our experts think your pool can make it, then I'd say wait as long as you can. I think pool prices are going to come back down. And I have a theory that because a lot of folks jumped on getting a pool right now, instead of waiting the year or two they might have (without COVID), that that will result in a short "backlash" depression in the pool building market, because all those people will already have gotten their pool. If that makes sense. Maybe there will be a sweet spot, when contractors will all be scrambling for business, right before the market stabilizes, and where they will be hyper-competitive and offer reduced prices to claim their share of available business. Just an uneducated guess. Point was, I think waiting a year, if you can, will save you some money...

That's assuming your pool doesn't explode and take out your yard and your neighbors'!!

 

[Dirk]

Hmm, just looked at the pics. Our @kimkats might have a different opinion about this than me...

 

[ajw22]

Your pool is on borrowed time.

Do you want to select the time to replace the liner or will you let Mother Nature make the choice for you?

 

[Shruggs85]

I can't offer any advice about how much longer you can get away with patching. Hey, if it holds water, it's a pool!

I just wanted to share this. We are in a pool seller's market right now. COVID has driven up pool prices and extended wait times. If our experts think your pool can make it, then I'd say wait as long as you can. I think pool prices are going to come back down. And I have a theory that because a lot of folks jumped on getting a pool right now, instead of waiting the year or two they might have (without COVID), that that will result in a short "backlash" depression in the pool building market, because all those people will already have gotten their pool. If that makes sense. Maybe there will be a sweet spot, when contractors will all be scrambling for business, right before the market stabilizes, and where they will be hyper-competitive and offer reduced prices to claim their share of available business. Just an uneducated guess. Point was, I think waiting a year, if you can, will save you some money...

That's assuming your pool doesn't explode and take out your yard and your neighbors'!!

Kind of what I was thinking too. I know calling in someone they will say "replace now" because they want the cash. I can't necessarily see the pool "exploding" and its held water this long, so what's one more. Just don't want any high risks that will cause bigger headaches come June....

 

[Dirk]

Kind of what I was thinking too. I know calling in someone they will say "replace now" because they want the cash. I can't necessarily see the pool "exploding" and its held water this long, so what's one more. Just don't want any high risks that will cause bigger headaches come June....

Well, let Kim tell her tale before you make that assumption...

 

[kimkats]

You rang? Yeah it needs to be replaced. If/when that liner goes it is going to take the sides and bottom with it. When the liner goes all of the water will go out the hole taking everything in it's path.

Yeah I know you have an inground pool BUT it is not concrete. It has something thin for the walls and probably packed sand for the bottom. When the water rushes out it will wash the sand/floor out and could cause the walls to collapse.

In the middle of the night my above ground pool wall gave way from unseen rust. It took the whole pool with it Water may be getting behind the liner onto the walls and causing rust.

In the long run it will be cheaper to replace the liner now as all they will have to do it take out and replace the liner. If you wait for it to go then they will may have to replace and reshape the bottom.

My vote=replace now.

Kim

 

[zea3]

You are lucky the liner hasn't already given way. The last photo looks like there is a vertical tear behind the tape. Tape or a vinyl patch won't be strong enough to stop it from tearing more. Less expensive to replace it now than for the liner to completely fail and cause damage to the structure of the pool.

 

[TheRaven]

You are going to get a wide range of answers on this. We can't possibly have any idea if it's going to make it. So you have to weigh the risks. I did pretty much the exact same thing you did - inherited a neglected pool with a really nice house. I brought it back to life and had a liner that really needed to be replaced. Ran it that way for three seasons. I did this because we had already decided that we were going big when replacing the liner (we wanted a bigger pool and the entire pool area needed major work), so we wanted to make sure we had the money to do what we really wanted to do. But my rationale was this - I knew it was a big risk to hold out on replacing the liner, but we went into each summer knowing that if the liner failed in an unrepairable fashion, we were going to have to either suck it up and order/replace it ourselves, or just drain the pool and be without a pool until next season when we could get a builder in to do what we wanted.

The season before the big project started, the liner developed a hole right at the most compromised spot, and of course this was the second week of July (thanks Murphy). We figured this might be it, but it really turned out to be no big deal. I had to drain down pretty far to figure out where the hole was, but once I found it, I patched it, refilled and it was fine for another entire year until we ripped it out for the reno. So I think you can continue on with your current liner, I mean it actually looks better than mine did. Just know what you are signing up for and be ready to drain and live without a pool for awhile. I also would try to get some bulk vinyl and vinyl adhesive to shore up those corners a bit better.

 

[Newdude]

Sorry to add another puzzle piece to consider. If the liner is allowing any moisture behind it, the long term rust might far outweigh the short term gains by waiting. Right now you need a liner. Next season it could very well be the whole pool.