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Pool Leak Detection

Guest Blogger — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:29:48 +0000

Hey Gang, guess what.. it’s Friday again. Sept 18th… This month is going fast. I’m holding out on closing my pool, and I hope you are too. We had to many lost days this year, especially in the beginning of the summer. We can actually tell that people in general are holding out longer this year before closing their pools as the closing season has started late this year. Anywho, lets get down to our article topic which is pool leak detection.

Of course as we all know, pools loose water via evaporation. Adding 1/2″ to 1 1/2″ of water is normal, but when you have to add more than 2″ of water per week, you may have a leak.

Leaks can happen through any of the sealants that are used to secure any joints or fittings. Pools over years can and do settle causing possible leaks. Even though you may suspect your pool leaking and it may not be by much, you should take a look into repairing as any water that leaks underground can wash away the structures securing your pool.

A great resource for pool leak detection can be found at PoolLeak.info. Here is some info that they provide,

“It’s hard to keep water in a pool. Every swimming pool, spa, or landscape pond is probably going to start leaking at some point in its useful life. These pesky problems can be more than just an inconvenience. An un-repaired hole the size of a pencil tip can result in hundreds of gallons of water lost per day. In addition to the replacement cost of the water, leaks in your pool will increase chemical demands, and may lead to more serious structural and mechanical problems. Fortunately, effective pool leak detection and leak repair solutions are available.”

“By far the most common indication of a leak is that the water level is dropping faster than what is normally attributable to evaporation or splash-out. Often leaks are big enough that excess water loss is obvious. If you wake-up to find that your pool has dropped several inches overnight you know you’ve got a problem. The bigger challenges are the smaller, yet just as serious, leaks that may develop slowly. In these cases it is important to determine what is “normal water loss” and thus avoid wasting time looking for and worrying about a leak that really isn’t there. A simple way to account for evaporation and confirm a leak is to do a Bucket Test, or for more accurate results to purchase and use a Check-A-Leak System.”

Pool leak detection is a specialized area of our industry, and if you don’t feel comfortable then it is time to get an expert to help. You can find such a company from the www.poolLeak.info.

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Replacement Swimming Pool Liners.. Changing Them Late in the Season….

Guest Blogger — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:58:33 +0000

Many of us will need a pool liner this year. A majority pool owners choose to replace it in the early spring before the season starts. Thats because of course that is in a period of down time, right before we really start using our swimming pools. But you can also consider replacement swimming pool liners in the fall time, before you close your pool..

What I want to talk today about is above ground replacement swimming pool liners. How to know what you have and how to choose them. First you need to determine what type of liner you have.. beaded or overlap. A beaded liner fits into a groove where an overlap liner lays up and over the top ledge. The only other variation to this is if you have a variable depth liner. If your pool is deeper at one end or the middle then you definitely do.

I have given you basic instructions on change them in previous post Vinyl Liner Replacement on replacement swimming pool liners, so I won’t do it again here. Depending on your skill you may or may not want to install it yourself. If not hire a reputable swimming pool company to do the job.

Here is The Sports News Survey’s take on replacement swimming pool liners in there article titled: Types of Swimming Pool Liners,

“If you have a swimming pool then without doubt you want to be swimming in it rather than worrying about the liner. For this reason it is vital that you get the swimming pool liner sorted out as soon as possible so that you can get on with the serious business of having fun swimming!

One of the types of liner you can buy is the beaded liner. These go onto a track which runs around the edge of the pool and then fix into place with beads giving the name.

f you don’t know how to fit the liner then it is really important to hire someone who does. in the end it is only going to waste your money and time if you try and fit the liner yourself and get it wrong, so don’t take that chance.

Get the liner sorted and the pool becomes as fun as you want it to be, so don’t try and buy the cheapest liner, get one that you know will do the job and that will do it well! Paying a little bit extra upfront will make your life easier in the long run.”

Thanks for your patronage this year, and if you need any help with replacement swimming pool liners, let us know.

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Vinyl Liner Replacement

Guest Blogger — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:26:06 +0000

In the Northeast where we are situated, most of the in ground pools are of the vinyl liner type. Instead of Gunite (concrete) the pools have a vinyl membrane that seals in the water. They mostly have metal or thermoplastic walls around the perimeter, and underneath that is usually sand or thin cement type layer floor. These types of pools are easier to install, much more inexpensive in price. As with all pools, here are some tips with regards to servicing your inground pool liner or above ground pool liner.

Does your Vinyl Liner Look Faded?
Vinyl liners will fade in color over time due to the Sun and Pool Chemicals. The sanitizers remove properties in the liners that exhibit their resiliency. Liners made today are much more resistant to these situations because of the modern chemical makeup of them.
Liners today typically come in at around 20mil in thickness. Because vinyl can stretch a lot, they are defiance to poking a hole through them is pretty good, but not impossible. If a small hole is made, you can usually patch it up with a dry or wet patch kit. To tell if you might have a leak, not how much water you have to add and its frequency. If it is more than an inch a week than you can suspect a leak.

How to tell if your Swimming Pool Has Sprung a Leak.
It is advisable not to drain your inground pool if equipped with a vinyl liner. The water holds the liner tight against the walls and if removed the liner has to be reset. This no water condition can lead to large wrinkles that can form, thus requiring a vacuum to remove. Also water can be allowed to seep behind the liner causing the backside of the sand to wash out. Walls can also collapse because of the difference in pressure with the water being out, so consult a profession pool technician if you have to go this far with your pool.
Pool Vinyl Liners come in all sorts of colors and styles today as apposed to limited patterns of yesteryear. Thickness, size and shape will determine you cost, but expect to pay anywhere between, $800 to $1600 for your average Vinyl Liner.
If liners are not centered or sized to small for you pool, the liner bead can come out of the track. The coping track is located at the top of your liner right below the coping. What you can do is stretch the liner to place it back in the bead track. Many times you have to use a heat gun or hot boiling water to heat up the liner to make it more pliable. This procedure will take a lot of strength on your part, but with patience and perseverance, it can be accomplished.

Swimming Pool Vinyl Liner Installation
Inground pool liner replacement can be installed by the DIY. It can be tricky, but the technicians at 1800Pools.com can help you. Call us at 800-890-8185 so we may assist you. Installing an above ground pool liner much easier and this can be totally tackled by the DIY.
First make sure you measure the length, width and depth carefully making sure you measure from the wraps around the wall. Remove only the necessary bolts. Of course make sure that you empty the water first. Remove the Liner Lock that clamps down the liner. Cut, remove and please make sure you recycle the liner appropriately.
Smooth out the sand floor making sure there are not any big rocks or pebble. Replace any sand that is contaminated with algae or sand that has washed away. If vegetation exists treat with a herbicide or algaecide to prevent any further growth. Scrape and smooth out the walls and any rust or rough spots. If you prefer a soft floor, install Floor Padding at this time.
Drape new liner over the pool making sure to leave a little slack so it can b stretched tight to its final spot. Do not drag it across the floor abruptly making sure to keep it as smooth as possible and make sure there enough slack for proper stretch and then clamp down the Liner Lock. You can use a shop vacuum to remove the air behind the liner ensuring a tight smooth fit. Fill with water smoothing out any wrinkles that form while doing so. Turn off the shop vacuum after the pool has filled up by 1 foot. Cut in all wall fittings after the pool is filled.