Our pool liner is just 3 years young. We discovered a massive leak 2 seasons ago, and this year I finally got a leak detection company out to find it. The good news is it wasn’t our return lines like we thought, it’s the liner instead.
The exact problem is, according to the leak co tech, that the liner was installed incorrectly and is folded on itself under the stair gasket preventing a water tight seal. It’s a 12” section at the bottom (horizontal) left of the stairs. We have fiberglass stairs, and I have noticed that the second to bottom step, which has a “seat” for enjoying the spa jets (that don’t work) is kinda soft. I’m assuming that since that’s where the leak is, we’ve probably lost some of the supporting material under that step due to erosion caused by the leak.
The leak tech claimed that it’s a “wicked easy repair” that can be done with the pool full. He explained I just need to remove the strip covering the screws, loosen the surrounding screws, remove the ones in the 12” area, smooth out the liner, and reinstall screws/strip. Methinks it’s more complicated than that though. Won’t there be holes in the liner where the screw penetrated it twice? Maybe I’m not picturing it properly.
I felt very unqualified for and unsure of this operation in general so I spent the rest of the summer calling pool/liner installation companies and I got nowhere. A few companies just don’t “service in my area” which is frustrating since I’m only 25-35 min away (in RI, that’s like “wicked fahh”) but most just won’t service a liner they didn’t install. I was referred to my installer over and over.
My liner installer has serious health issues and is extremely unreliable. I’m not even going to waste my time. Even if I can get him to answer or call me back, and agree to come, he probably won’t. I’ve been stood up more times than I can count.
I coincidentally spoke to the company that installed my pool in 1999. I got some more history of my pool that is very interesting, but they too will not fix the liner nor service in my area in general, besides installations (but only bc they subcontract here.) However-the owner of this company told me that I should be careful of anyone willing to do this work bc it’s unlikely my liner will survive.
I was told the liner cannot be repaired the way the leak tech described (which is not surprising-he did say he is a plumber/leak detector by trade, not pool builder.) I was informed the pool would have to be drained otherwise it would be too difficult to move the liner at all bc of the water pressure, even just to “smooth it out” and that yes, the holes in the liner would be an issue. Draining the pool that much-down to less than 8” in the shallow end-would also compromise the rest of the liner. It would pull away from the wall and potentially tear everywhere it was attached to the wall (returns, skimmers, etc) but removing them wouldn’t help bc it would be nearly impossible to get it back in place due to stiffening of the vinyl after 3+years of chlorine, sun, and pressure.
And, there is the issue with the stairs. That would take a complete removal and back fill to reinforce the stairs and restore support/proper drainage damaged by the leak.
Does this sound right to you all here who have way more experience than me? This pool co owner seemed like she was trying to help. They don’t install liners and don’t service this area of the state and know the mess of a pool we took on when we purchased this property. She also knows all about my crazy liner installer and that I can’t call him. She told me we should just hang with the leak for 3-4 more years until we can justify replacing the liner. It’ll be cheaper she said to perhaps have to get a top off from a water truck once or twice than risk having to replace our liner prematurely bc it tears during an attempted repair.
So-should I keep looking for someone to fix the liner? Should I attempt it myself with guidance from this wonderful, knowledgeable community? Or, should I just start saving for a new liner and stair replacement/repair in 2026/27? (By then I might forget how much we paid and suffered for our existing liner, and be able to find someone to do the darn work.)
Also-I have considered that if we go with the wait and replace option, I will have to block off the side of the stairs where the leak is so it doesn’t crack under someone’s foot. I’ll be looking for some creative suggestions for that!
The exact problem is, according to the leak co tech, that the liner was installed incorrectly and is folded on itself under the stair gasket preventing a water tight seal. It’s a 12” section at the bottom (horizontal) left of the stairs. We have fiberglass stairs, and I have noticed that the second to bottom step, which has a “seat” for enjoying the spa jets (that don’t work) is kinda soft. I’m assuming that since that’s where the leak is, we’ve probably lost some of the supporting material under that step due to erosion caused by the leak.
The leak tech claimed that it’s a “wicked easy repair” that can be done with the pool full. He explained I just need to remove the strip covering the screws, loosen the surrounding screws, remove the ones in the 12” area, smooth out the liner, and reinstall screws/strip. Methinks it’s more complicated than that though. Won’t there be holes in the liner where the screw penetrated it twice? Maybe I’m not picturing it properly.
I felt very unqualified for and unsure of this operation in general so I spent the rest of the summer calling pool/liner installation companies and I got nowhere. A few companies just don’t “service in my area” which is frustrating since I’m only 25-35 min away (in RI, that’s like “wicked fahh”) but most just won’t service a liner they didn’t install. I was referred to my installer over and over.
My liner installer has serious health issues and is extremely unreliable. I’m not even going to waste my time. Even if I can get him to answer or call me back, and agree to come, he probably won’t. I’ve been stood up more times than I can count.
I coincidentally spoke to the company that installed my pool in 1999. I got some more history of my pool that is very interesting, but they too will not fix the liner nor service in my area in general, besides installations (but only bc they subcontract here.) However-the owner of this company told me that I should be careful of anyone willing to do this work bc it’s unlikely my liner will survive.
I was told the liner cannot be repaired the way the leak tech described (which is not surprising-he did say he is a plumber/leak detector by trade, not pool builder.) I was informed the pool would have to be drained otherwise it would be too difficult to move the liner at all bc of the water pressure, even just to “smooth it out” and that yes, the holes in the liner would be an issue. Draining the pool that much-down to less than 8” in the shallow end-would also compromise the rest of the liner. It would pull away from the wall and potentially tear everywhere it was attached to the wall (returns, skimmers, etc) but removing them wouldn’t help bc it would be nearly impossible to get it back in place due to stiffening of the vinyl after 3+years of chlorine, sun, and pressure.
And, there is the issue with the stairs. That would take a complete removal and back fill to reinforce the stairs and restore support/proper drainage damaged by the leak.
Does this sound right to you all here who have way more experience than me? This pool co owner seemed like she was trying to help. They don’t install liners and don’t service this area of the state and know the mess of a pool we took on when we purchased this property. She also knows all about my crazy liner installer and that I can’t call him. She told me we should just hang with the leak for 3-4 more years until we can justify replacing the liner. It’ll be cheaper she said to perhaps have to get a top off from a water truck once or twice than risk having to replace our liner prematurely bc it tears during an attempted repair.
So-should I keep looking for someone to fix the liner? Should I attempt it myself with guidance from this wonderful, knowledgeable community? Or, should I just start saving for a new liner and stair replacement/repair in 2026/27? (By then I might forget how much we paid and suffered for our existing liner, and be able to find someone to do the darn work.)
Also-I have considered that if we go with the wait and replace option, I will have to block off the side of the stairs where the leak is so it doesn’t crack under someone’s foot. I’ll be looking for some creative suggestions for that!
