It’s that time of year again — the days are longer, the temperatures are rising, and if you own a pool, you’re probably counting down the days until you can open your pool for the summer. If you’ve had your pool for several years, you might be noticing some signs of age. For instance, the majority of pools have a vinyl liner that over time will start to show signs of wear and tear. This is something to watch out for as you’ll want to replace your liner before it no longer performs as it should.

In today’s blog from S&R Pools, we’re going to talk about some of the common signs that it might be time to replace your pool liner. If any of them sound familiar, please give S&R Pools in New Jersey a call to schedule pool liner replacement.

The Importance of Pool Liners

Owning a pool requires a lot of upkeep, but when you’re relaxing in the summer sun on a pool float, you’ll agree that it’s definitely worth the effort. Pool liners serve an important purpose for your pool. Their primary purpose is to keep all of the water inside of your pool while providing a clean and inviting appearance. Liners are made of durable vinyl, but over time can become more prone to punctures and tears. Keeping the water in your pool properly balanced can also help to extend the life of your liner as water that is too acidic can age a liner faster.

When pool liners become worn or damaged, leaks may occur, which can create a big problem for the pool owner. Small leaks can slowly wash out the supporting backfill and cause your pool to collapse. It can also lead to corrosion of the pool walls and create sinkholes below your pool.

How To Know It Time To Replace Your Pool Liner

If you notice any of the following, it’s a possible sign that you may need a new pool liner. Don’t wait too long to act here — the longer you wait to have it replaced, the more long-term damage you could be doing to your pool.

Cracks or Tears

If you’ve had your pool for several years, or it’s been a while since you had the liner replaced, eventually you’ll start to see normal signs of aging such as cracks and tears. Pool chemicals, the sun’s UV rays, and normal wear and tear will take a toll on your liner and it will become brittle, causing it to be more susceptible to cracking and rips.

Fading

Most pool liners are engineered for durability — especially when they are subjected to the damaging rays of the sun day after day. However, no pool liner is completely indestructible, and over time, the UV rays will start to cause fading. A faded liner is a good sign that it’s probably becoming brittle and will start to crack or tear. Before this happens, it’s a good idea to replace your liner.

Water Loss

Sometimes cracks and rips aren’t easy to spot, especially if they are below the surface of the water. However, if you notice the water level in your pool is dropping and you have to add more water to it regularly, you might have a leak that you just can’t see. Keep in mind that pools will naturally lose water due to evaporation. However, if you’re noticing that it’s losing more water than usual, it probably has a leak.

Stretching and Wrinkles

Vinyl liners can lose some of their elasticity over time, causing them to wrinkle or even slip out of the track at the top. When this happens, your liner may sag, causing water to drain from the pool. If you notice the liner beginning to slip out of the track, you can try to pop it back in, but chances are this is going to be a recurring problem so it’s best to schedule pool liner replacement before your pool sustains significant damage.

How To Extend the Life of Your Pool Liner

Replacing your pool liner is sometimes necessary, but not something that you’ll want to have to do very often. The following are some tips that you can follow to help extend the life of your liner.

Keep Your Water Balanced

Water that is properly balanced is not only important for your safety, but it’s also necessary to extend the life of your pool liner. That’s because water that is too acidic will eat away at your liner causing it to weaken and fail prematurely.

Patch Small Leaks

You should frequently be keeping an eye out for small rips and tears in your liner. If you notice one, be sure to patch it immediately to prevent it from getting worse.

Keep Sharp Objects Away From the Pool

Sharp objects may not only be a safety hazard for people around the pool, but they can also damage your pool liner if they land in the pool.

Invest In a Good Pool Safety Cover

Covering your pool with a good winter cover will help protect it from the sun’s UV rays and keep debris out that could cause damage. But, a pool safety cover goes one step further by helping to also protect your family and pets since it is more durable and secured in place. If you’re interested in getting a safety pool cover this year, don’t forget that S&R Pools can help you with that as well. Visit our Homeowner’s Guide To Pool Safety Covers to learn more.

Schedule Pool Liner Replacement Today

If you live in New Jersey and are looking for a trusted company for pool liner replacement, we encourage you to give S&R Pools a call. We’re a Top Rated Local® company and provide installation of pool liners and custom pool covers to pool owners in Hainesport, Eastampton, Columbus, Cherry Hill, and beyond. Contact us today to discuss pool liner replacement and let us help you enjoy your pool for many years to come!