LINER REPLACEMENT

In this section, we’ll spend some time explaining basic care for your vinyl liner, and tell you how Ashton Pools can give your faded and worn pool a facelift through our Professional Liner Replacement Services.

V.L.C. (Vinyl Loving Care)

There are a number of factors that affect the life span of today’s vinyl swimming pool liners. The original fit of the liner, water chemistry and exposure to sunlight can all affect how long your liner will last. While many manufacturers offer warranties of up to 25 years, you should reasonably expect to get 10 to 15 years of service from your liner. Minor leaks and tears can be repaired with a vinyl patch repair kit, but more serious problems will require the replacement of the entire liner.

Water Chemistry
Certain variables of water chemistry must be kept in balance in order to prevent premature wear of the vinyl. Water that is high in pH and Total Alkalinity encourages calcium to form scale deposits. Water in Waterloo Region is typically high in calcium and high in Total Alkalinity, meaning that it is necessary keep pH in balance and use a scale inhibitor on a regular basis so that scale does not form on the vinyl surface. Aside from the type of sanitizer to use, there are three main variables to be concerned with. They are:

pH	The ideal range for vinyl-lined pools is a slightly alkaline pH anywhere from 7.2 to 7.6. An acidic pH will allow for wrinkling and will cause the vinyl to become less pliable. A pH that is too high will encourage scale to form on the liner, which is nearly impossible to remove.
Total Alkalinity	Think of Total Alkalinity (TA) as a buffer for water. When maintained at proper levels, it will ensure that the pH stays within a respectable range. If the TA is too low, it will allow the pH to fluctuate excessively. If the TA is too high, it adjusts the pH to a much higher level than the ideal range. In either case, the possibility for liner damage is inevitable. Maintain a TA level of 80 to 120ppm.
Calcium Hardness	Ideal Calcium levels in a vinyl pool range from 100 to 200ppm. If you suspect that your water is high in calcium, make sure to add scale inhibitor on a regular basis. These inhibitors bind to calcium and stop it from forming on pool surfaces and inside equipment. If the water is high in calcium, do not use calcium hypochlorite as your pool shock. That way, no more calcium is added to the pool water.

Sanitizers
There are many ways to create chlorine. Liquid chlorine is sodium based, for example, while granular chlorine can be calcium or lithium based (most commonly). Other forms of chlorine, such as trichlor and dichlor, are formulated for regular use in pools. For vinyl pools, it is recommended to use trichlor-based pucks for regular maintenance. However, trichlor is said to be too weak to deal with high bather loads and algae problems, so you should also shock the water regularly. Nonetheless, it serves as an excellent day-to-day sanitizer for vinyl pools.

During hot summer months, many pool owners will shock their pool once per week or more. It is recommended that vinyl pool owners use calcium hypochlorite (cal-hypo) to shock their pool unless the water in their area is already high in calcium. If such is the case, the best alternative to cal-hypo is lithium hypochlorite or dichlor shock. Like cal-hypo, these are both very potent granular shock treatments. However, they do not add any calcium to the water and therefore reduce the likelihood of scale forming on the pool walls. Vinyl pool owners should be careful when using liquid chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) in their pool because liquid chlorine can concentrate itself in one spot and cause bleaching of the liner. Damage caused by bleaching is irreversible.

Lastly, be sure to brush the walls as often as possible. This will reduce the amount of dirt and grime buildup, and prevent the dirt from drying out on the liner and becoming a permanent stain. Vinyl is a porous material and will allow algae to penetrate through it, so treat algae as soon as possible to prevent permanent stains.

Liner Replacement Service

Ashton Pools offers full liner replacement services at competitive rates. You’ll be smiling once we make your old and faded pool look as if it were brand new. After we receive your deposit, one of our pool professionals will be out to measure your pool for your new liner and help you choose from one of many beautiful patterned finishes.

Manufacturing times for vinyl liners can vary based on the time of year. During the pool season, liner manufacturers tend to be busy, thus extending manufacturing time. These times range from 5 days to 5 weeks. By ordering your liner replacement in late winter or early spring, we can ensure that your liner will be installed quickly and without interrupting your pool season.

Our liner replacement includes draining the water from your pool, and then removing your old liner. We also perform some minor bottom repair—smoothing over any rough surfaces that will cause liner wear; patching over any cracks or divots; and treating the wall base to protect against corrosion. New gaskets for your skimmer, returns and main drain will be installed if needed. After the pool has been prepared, your new liner will be installed. The pool is left to fill with water overnight. We will return the next day to make sure the liner is set, and to cut in your returns and skimmer. It’s as easy as that.

Weather will affect when a liner can be installed. Ideally, your new liner will be installed on a hot, sunny day. Direct heat on the vinyl makes it more pliable, and allows for better stretch and fit. Liners installed on cold or overcast days do not stretch, and make for a difficult (often wrinkled) fit.