Many pool owners around the country use inground vinyl pool liners to add a beautiful aesthetic to their swimming pool. Vinyl pool liners offer many benefits, like: vibrant color options, smooth surface and easy maintenance. That being said, vinyl pool liners need special attention that differs from plaster pools.
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Does Water Chemistry Matter?
Yes! Most pool liner problems can be traced back to the misuse of pool chemicals – either too high or too low. Improper chemical levels may lead to excessive water absorption, which creates wrinkles in the pool liner. The leading cause of excessive water absorption is from high levels of pool sanitizers, whether chlorine or bromine.
pH and Cyanuric Acid (CYA) levels are also important because they control the activity of the pool sanitizer. Therefore, pool owners will need to maintain proper water chemistry to avoid any wrinkling of the vinyl pool liner. Keep in mind – wrinkles that develop from excessive water absorption are not reversible.
Basic Water Chemistry Guide
pH Level: 7.2 ppm to 7.6 ppm
Free Chlorine: 1.5 ppm to 2.5 ppm
Total Alkalinity: 80 ppm to 120 ppm
Calcium Hardness: Minimum of 200 ppm
Stabilizer (CYA): 20 ppm to 50 ppm
Other Inground Pool Liner Care Tips
When applying new chemicals to the pool, allow each to circulate throughout the pool before adding the next. Some combinations of pool chemicals at high concentration may cause bleaching of the liner.
We recommend that pool owners do not cover the pool if chlorine levels are 2.5 ppm or higher. This may cause wrinkling may occur. If you use a solar pool cover each day, we recommend that it is removed on a daily basis to allow chlorine concentration build-up to dissipate.
Last but not least, make sure to use a pool vacuum or pool cleaner that was designed for vinyl pool liners. This also goes for the pool brush.
Closing a Vinyl-Lined Pool for the Winter
- Start off by testing the water and balancing the chemical levels. HERE is a quick guide to testing and balancing pool water.
- Next, we recommend circulating the pool water for several hours after adding winter closing (winterizing) chemicals. If the water is not circulated properly, chlorine may settle in the deep end and bleach the inground pool liner.
- Now, the no-brainer: clean and vacuum your swimming pool from top to bottom. Don’t forget to spot clean the hard-to-reach areas of your pool (steps, coves, etc.)
- Adjust the water level per the pool manufacturer’s recommendations.
If using a winter pool cover: tightly seal the pool cover around the perimeter of your pool to prevent dirt and debris from getting in the pool during the off-season.
