Girl swimming in a pool
A leaking swimming pool bottom is most likely going to happen with a vinyl-lined pool. It would take something pretty dramatic to cause a concrete pool to crack and leak at the bottom, whereas a vinyl pool liner over time will dry out, become brittle and be more susceptible to cracks. Unlike concrete pools, finding a leak in a vinyl-lined pool can be a difficult task. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Finding Out if You Have a Leak
1. Adding water constantly to your pool is a good indicator that you have a leak. A good rule of thumb is, if you need to add 2 inches or more a week, you probably have a leak.
2. Determine if your leak is from an area other than your pool bottom. If it leaks only when the system is running, that likely indicates a plumbing leak. However if the pool leaks all the time, it's more likely to be a leak in the liner.
3. Walk around your pool and look for wet, mushy areas on the ground or areas where the grass is greener than surrounding areas. Either of these can be indicators of a leak.
4. Check inside your pool for any apparent cracks or sinkholes that might have been formed by water leaking out the bottom. Pay special attention to corners and the areas around steps where the liner may have been stretched tighter and be more likely to leak.
5. Look near the water line. If you live in a cold weather area, ice breaking up in the spring could cause a cut in the liner. An animal falling into the pool then clawing at the walls could also cause a cut in the liner.
6. Putting on a mask and snorkel may be necessary to find a leak right near the bottom. There may be small air bubbles coming from the leak. Or, since any water leaking will draw dirt in the water towards the hole, you should be able to see the leak.
Fixing the Leak
7. Patching a cut or split up to a couple of inches long or a small hole in a vinyl liner is relatively easy, once you've actually found them.
8. Buy a patching kit at your pool store. This kit will contain a piece of colored vinyl liner and plastic cement that will work underwater or above water.
9. Cut a patch to cover the hole, rough up the back of the patch with sandpaper, spread cement on the patch and place it over the hole (even if it is underwater).
10. Smooth out any air bubbles and leave the patching cement to set up.
11. Alternatively, a nitrile rubber-based sealant is available from some pool supply stores. With this product, you simply spread the sealant over small vinyl leaks without even using a patch. Even underwater it will set up and seal small slices in the liner. As an added bonus, it's often available in a blue color to match the liner itself.
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