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Pool liners are put on the pools to protect them from outside elements. They are glued down to the pool’s surface to prevent punctures and tearing while improving the aesthetic appeal of the pool. If you use it for your swimming pool, then you should know how to fix the pool liner pulling away.
Tip: Use a pool liner repair kit
For most repairs, you will need a pool liner repair kit. It comes with patches and plenty of adhesive to fix tears and pulled away edges. Remember to allow 4 to 7 days for the adhesive to fully dry.
Pool liner repair can be an easy and cost-effective project. If you find your liner is pulling away, here are some steps to fix it!
Why Do Pool Liners Start Pulling Away?
First things first, it is necessary to find out why a pool liner started to pull away to choose the right repair solution. Here are the most common reasons why liners come off the track:
- There’s excess water and air between the pool shell and liner, necessitating liner pull. That usually implies leakage around the area.
- Your pool liner comes out of the track. If the liner is too taut, it can start to pull out from the wall.
- The liner has shrunk. This typically happens in newer models during the cold days over the winter. Also, it may occur when the pool liner begins to age.
- The liner is starting to fail. Pool liners tend to warp and stiffen with age. Any sign of discoloration may point to this problem.
- Sometimes this happens if the pool liner is not installed properly. As a result, it can start to pull away.
How to Fix Pool Liner Pulling Away with Boiling Water
Regardless of the type of pool liner, the repair process is almost identical when it comes to fixing liners pulling away. The key is to warm your liner up to do the job correctly. Boil it!
Step 1: Clean Out the Liner Track
Give your liner a quick clean-up using an air filter or a vacuum. A popsicle stick can also be used for this purpose. With these tools, you can remove dirt, grains of grit, ants, dried-up mud, and other items from the track.
While cleaning the liner track, inspect it for any missing pieces and cracks. If you find it’s cracked, try to fix the cracks with epoxy or super glue. However, chances are the track is in good shape without any holes or tears, so nothing more than cleaning will be required before moving on to the next step.
Step 2: Drain the Pool
While the pool shouldn’t be drained completely, it can make the job a whole lot easier. Consider draining your pool to the point where the looseness is visible against the corner or wall.
You also need to check if there’s water or air caught in the area between the wall and liner of your pool. It should be removed and dried off with a wet vacuum to prevent rust and water damage.
Step 3: Heat Your Liner with a Hot Water
- Take a kettle or a watering can and boil some water, making sure it is very hot.
- Then slowly pour boiling water across your pool liner below the top edge. This will make the vinyl liner more pliable. As a matter of fact, the heat can make it easier for you to pull your liner back up by allowing it to stretch.
Alternatively, you can hit your liner using a hairdryer or by exposing it to the sun in the heat of the day. That can make it stretchy, so it can easily be molded to the desired shape and size. This comes in handy when putting the pool liner back in the track.
Let’s check out these alternative methods!
Warm up Your Pool Liner by Blowing Dry It
If you choose this method of warming the pool liner, you will need a hairdryer and an extension cord. You may use a heat gun instead of a hair blow dryer. It can also heat up the vinyl liner pretty well.
Be careful! While this method is quite effective, it could be dangerous if you don’t pay close attention. You may end up melting a hole through your pool liner if you hold the blow dryer too close.
With that in mind, keep the hairdryer/heat gun moving while holding it at an angle so that it’s at least four inches away from the liner surface. This will prevent you from overheating and burning your liner.
Expose It to the Sun on a Sunny and Warm Day
Keep in mind that this method only works during the hottest part of the day in summer. As sunlight shines on the liner, it warms up gradually. You are advised to wait until it’s at its warmest
Once the vinyl gets enough stretch, you can pull it up and proceed with the repair. If the weather is cold, then use either a hairdryer or hot water from your kitchen tap.
Step 4: Pull the Liner Up
Let’s assume that you have picked a method with hot water. If so, wait until the liner cools down so that you can touch it with bare hands without getting burned. Once the vinyl becomes stretchy and cold enough, you will be able to pull it up and place it back into the bead track.
Here’s how to do it:
- Firmly pull the liner up by grasping its top edge and pinching it along with the track using your fingers.
- The goal is to pull the whole edge up so that the liner is slightly over the track when released.
- Pull it up while pouring the boiling water at the same time to make this task easier. Depending on the liner size, it may take a few kettles/cans.
Step 5: Get the Liner Back in the Track
Lastly, you will need to re-track your pool liner. To make sure it’s guided into the bead track correctly, apply pressure all the time while stretching it manually.
Start on one end. Push the bead with your fingers while twisting the upper edge firmly until it slips into the V-shaped groove of the track. Do it with great caution to avoid ripping your liner.
If the vinyl does not stay in, use a liner block like a retainer strip. A wooden, large paint stirrer will also serve the purpose of holding it in place. It will come in useful while you’re pushing and pulling the liner up.
Once done, use a few plastic short jamming pieces to secure your vinyl liner in place. Insert them between the rim underside and the top of the track. Now your pool is ready for use again!
FAQs About How to Fix Pool Liner Pulling Away
How to Stretch a Pool Liner?
If you want to stretch and adjust your pool liner, you should first pump the water out. Take a shop vacuum and put its hose into the skimmer box hole. Fasten the return hole and openings with duct tape before turning your vacuum on, and viola! Your pool liner will start to stretch itself.
Are Liner Wrinkles Bad?
In addition to diminishing your pool’s aesthetic value, liner wrinkles may bring about premature failures like cracks and holes. That happens because a wrinkly liner tends to rub the wrong way, which results in wear and tear. Furthermore, it’s more difficult to keep a pool clean because dirt easily accumulates near wrinkles.
Takeaway
That was how to fix a pool liner pulling away. If you are an owner of a vinyl-liner pool, then this guide will help you put your liner back in its track. This will ensure that your liner stays flush with the pool walls.
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