If you have an inground pool with a vinyl liner, you have probably dealt with the problem of wrinkles in the liner in the past. The time of year when vinyl pool liners are most likely to develop wrinkles is during the wintertime. What can you do to repair wrinkles in your vinyl pool when you open it for the new swimming season?
When a vinyl pool is constructed, the hole that is dug is slightly larger than the actual pool, and the disturbed earth surrounding the pool is only slightly compacted. The result is that groundwater can stand around the outside of the pool liner for a brief time before being absorbed into the earth. The ebb and flow of this exterior water can cause wrinkles in a vinyl pool liner.
One way to avoid this is to be certain that all water runoff (e.g. from rain gutters, lawn watering, rain and snow) is diverted away from the pool area. Another is to be certain that your vinyl pool is always properly filled. While some people like to drain the pool in the wintertime, this is really not advisable because it causes the liner to shrink, shift and become brittle.
Nonetheless, in the event that you do drain your vinyl pool for winter, the first thing you should do when you open it for the season is check for wrinkles before filling the pool with water. If you see wrinkles, you can correct them while you fill the pool. Using a long handled brush or pole with some sort of padding at the end, you can gently press and smooth the wrinkles. You must be very careful not to tear your vinyl pool liner.
If you notice small wrinkles after the pool is the filled, use a plumber’s helper (plunger) to apply suction to the areas around the wrinkle. This may help smooth it out. For larger wrinkles, you must call a pool service professional. If the wrinkle is so large that it is folded over, you will definitely want to consult a pool service company because this is one instance in which you’ll probably have to drain your vinyl pool. This should only be done by a professional.
Regardless of whether you have a concrete or vinyl pool, another problem that could complicate opening your pool in the springtime is having an errant swimming pool cover. If your pool cover falls into the pool during the winter, you may have a very big mess on your hands. It can take a long time and a lot of sweat to clean up your pool if your pool cover has fallen in. This is another instance in which you may be much better off calling a pool maintenance company than doing it yourself.
If you want to try to make this a DIY project, you should first clean up on top of, and around, the fallen pool cover. You can do this using a leaf rake (skimmer equipped with a net) to pull the debris out and scoop it up simultaneously.
Use a trash can with holes punched in the bottom of it, or a large planting container with drainage holes, to collect the debris. Set it off the pool deck so that water that drains from the debris will drain directly into the ground without staining the pool deck.
When you have cleaned the surface of the cover and the area around the cover, it will be much easier to remove the cover from the pool. After checking to be sure the pool cover is not damaged, lay it out to dry. When dry, store it for use next winter. Remember to sweep leaves and debris off the pool cover regularly next winter, to avoid this problem in the future.
Examine your swimming pool to see just how much dirt and debris has collected in it during the winter. If the pool has been drained for winter, you may have a mucky mess at the bottom to clean out. If it has been filled during the winter, you may have murky water.
If the water isn’t too bad, you might be able to simply vacuum and move on. If there is severe contamination, this is probably an instance in which a professional pool service company will be very helpful. Companies such as Sun Valley Pool Service in the Dallas /Fort Worth area use a professional Hammerhead vacuum which does not connect with your pool filtration system. This saves a lot of wear and tear on your pool filter and pump.
If there is a great deal of dirt and debris in the pool, and you cannot see the bottom, you will probably have to drain your pool and start over again. In this instance, you are always better off calling a professional swimming pool service. A good swimming pool maintenance company will have everything that’s needed on hand to take care of any problems that may arise. This will save you time and money in the long run.
Another option with very dirty water is to try to clean it with intensive vacuuming and scooping, and a great deal of testing and work, to balance your PH levels and chemical levels. This can be extremely time-consuming and tricky, and is better left to the professionals.