Repairing Guides

how to repair a leak in an above ground pool

by Ben Schultz Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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With your the above ground pool’s leak located, you’ll need the following to fix your leak:

  • Scissors or box cutter.
  • Liner vinyl Cut off an extra piece if you have an overlap pool liner or visit your local pool store for a sample piece. ...
  • Heavy duty vinyl liner glue. Look for a glue that can be applied underwater, that way you won’t need to drain the pool any further.

Part of a video titled Above Ground Pool Liner Leak Repair. Finding and Fixing the ...
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Just cut your little piece of that liner off that you can use for some patch it's the same line orMoreJust cut your little piece of that liner off that you can use for some patch it's the same line or you have in your pool.

How do you repair a leak in a pool?

Repairing Your In-ground Swimming Pool Main Drain Pipe

  • Diagnosing Leak In Main Drain. First thing you need to do, is verify that your main drain line is leaking. ...
  • Repair Difficulty Level. This is an easier repair than you might think. ...
  • The Most Common Reason For Leak. ...
  • Finding The Leak. ...
  • Repairing The Line. ...

How do you fix an above ground pool?

Types of Patches

  • Slap Some Tape on It. There are a lot of different types of waterproof tape on the market and most will work well enough for small holes or rips.
  • Stickers For the Win. Sticker patches are exactly what they sound like. ...
  • Patch Kits. There are whole patch kits that come with a cover and adhesive. ...

How to find and fix a leak in your pool?

Some of the easiest and most common repairs include:

  • Using reinforced concrete along the walls
  • Bonding and fixing any loose parts or tiles together
  • Installing an aluminum inner layer which prevents water from seeping through the walls.
  • The use of expoy resins when the crack/leak is caused by heat or shrinkage issues

What to do if my pool is leaking?

Pool Leak During The Winter

  • Don’t Use A Pool Cover If your Pool Is Leaking. You can see this pool on the left, what happened here is this, the water froze, then the water leaked ...
  • Above-Ground Pool Leak Concerns. Hopefully your above ground pool does not completely empty. ...
  • In-ground pool Leak Concerns. With cement or gunite pools, you probably don’t have to worry. ...

How to fix a leak in a pool?

What Happens if You Don’t Fix the Leak in Your Above Ground Pool?

What happens if food dye is sucked through a pool?

How to tell if pool liner is leaking?

How to find a leak in a pool liner?

How to apply vinyl glue to a patch?

What to do if hose leaks?

See 2 more

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How do I fix a leak in my pool without draining it?

1:344:03Pool leak repair without draining your pool DIY - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThen you can still use this just make sure you're in covering the entire rip. The other thing youMoreThen you can still use this just make sure you're in covering the entire rip. The other thing you need is something soft put on top of the patch after. This is if it's at the bottom of your pool.

Can you patch an above ground pool with water in it?

Yes, of course. Patching a pool with water in it is a simple process. The first thing you need to do is identify the area of the leak. Next, find a patch material that matches the shade of your current liner.

How do you find a leak in the bottom of an above ground pool?

Put on some goggles and grab an applicator filled with either leak finder dye or red food coloring, and again, make sure the pool pump is off. Swim to the bottom and get up close to the bottom of your pool's walls and floor. Look closely at those valleys and divots you saw earlier or if you see any holes.

How do I fix a hole in my above ground pool liner?

1:544:10How to Fix a Hole in Vinyl Swimming Pool Liner Underwater RepairYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWith your patch cut apply bonding cement to the underneath side of the patch. And lightly fold inMoreWith your patch cut apply bonding cement to the underneath side of the patch. And lightly fold in half so the glue is on the inside. Be sure to use a liberal amount of glue.

Does Flex Seal Spray work on pools?

It's inconvenient and pool liners can cost hundreds (sometimes thousands) of dollars to replace. That's why we recommend keeping Flex Tape or our Pool patch and repair kit nearby. The next time you find yourself with this problem, just use Flex Tape and your pool leak will be repaired in a matter of minutes.

Does Flex Seal tape work underwater?

It's adaptable! Wet or dry surface, doesn't matter. Flex Tape® works instantly on both. In fact, you can use it underwater too.

Where do most pool leaks occur?

Most pool leaks are not in the underground plumbing, although it's every pool owner's worst fear, a large backhoe coming in and ripping up the pool deck. It does happen occasionally, that a leak occurs at a pipe connector under the pool deck, or beneath the skimmer, but repair rarely involves a backhoe.

What can cause an above ground pool to leak?

Pool Liner Liner tears often develop from sharp objects cutting into the pool edges or floor. A stray rock, tree branch, broken toy or glass shard are all small enough to create more than one tear if left in the pool for an extended period of time. Vinyl liners usually don't require total replacement for small tears.

How do you find a leak in an above ground pool with food coloring?

Add a couple drops of red food coloring. When the water quiets, place a drop or two of colored water into the pool. Start near the steps and work your way around the pool. Water follows the path of least resistance, so if there's a leak, you will see the colored water leaving the pool as it flows out of the leak.

What is the best way to patch an above ground pool?

2:383:26How to patch and repair a leaking pool - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipApply it over the affected. Area. Here's where the rift was leak has stopped and I'm supposed toMoreApply it over the affected. Area. Here's where the rift was leak has stopped and I'm supposed to allow that 24 hours to dry without monkeying with it.

Do you patch a pool from the inside or outside?

Apply one patch inside of the pool surface, smoothing the patch from the center to the outer edges. Repeat the process with the second patch on the outside of the pool surface. Allow the patched area to sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then repeat the smoothing process to ensure a tight bond.

Does Gorilla Tape work on pool liners?

Found a tear in your pool liner? At 4" wide, Gorilla Waterproof Patch & Seal Tape can be used to patch holes, cracks, gaps and tears, even underwater!

How do you fix a hole in a pool that has water in it?

Place the patch on a smooth surface and spread cement or waterproof epoxy on the underside of the patch. Fold the patch and submerge it underwater at the location of the tear. Press it over the tear and use your fingers to smooth it from the center out.

Do you patch a pool from the inside or outside?

Apply one patch inside of the pool surface, smoothing the patch from the center to the outer edges. Repeat the process with the second patch on the outside of the pool surface. Allow the patched area to sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then repeat the smoothing process to ensure a tight bond.

What is the best way to patch an above ground pool?

2:383:26How to patch and repair a leaking pool - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipApply it over the affected. Area. Here's where the rift was leak has stopped and I'm supposed toMoreApply it over the affected. Area. Here's where the rift was leak has stopped and I'm supposed to allow that 24 hours to dry without monkeying with it.

Will Gorilla tape patch a pool?

Found a tear in your pool liner? At 4" wide, Gorilla Waterproof Patch & Seal Tape can be used to patch holes, cracks, gaps and tears, even underwater!

How to fix a leak in an above ground pool?

It may be by tightening loose components, patching up holes, or replacing broken-down parts or the problematic equipment itself.

How to check if pool is leaking?

To determine if your pool is actually leaking or just losing water due to evaporation, the easiest way to do it is via a bucket test. For this, you will need the following materials: 1 A plastic bucket. 2 Painter’s tape, waterproof crayon, or any waterproof marker 3 Stones or any heavy object that can prevent the bucket from toppling over

Why does my pool pump leak?

When air, not water, gets into the pool pump, leaking occurs. Leaking can also happen along the return or intake lines if there is too much pressure, which happens when air also enters those lines. These instances will also affect the filtration of water in the pool.

How long do pool liners last?

To give you an idea, here’s a list of where leaks usually happen: Pool liners – vinyl liners can last as long as more than a decade, but they can also last less than a year. They can be quite fragile; any sharp object, such as tree branches, can cause puncture holes and tears on it.

Why is my pool liner ripping?

If you are not sure what exactly caused the damage to your pool’s liner, especially if the hole or rip is quite big, you should also get it checked out. It may not just be because an object hit the liner, but it may be related to your pool itself, like wrong installations. A professional can trace the cause of it.

When to replace pool liner?

Catch it early, and it may still be repaired. But if it’s too late, you’ll have to replace your pool liner entirely.

How to measure water loss in pool?

Note that this amount would vary, depending on your location. Mark the inside of the bucket to indicate its initial water level. Do the same for the pool. Leave it alone for at least an entire day, then measure how much water is lost inside the bucket and the pool.

What to do if your above ground pool leaks?

As stated above, if an above ground swimming pool has a leak, ninety percent of the time, it’ll be at the skimmer or return fitting. Look closely where the skimmer and return meet the pool’s wall for any moisture.

What happens if you leak water in a pool?

Often times, if there is a leak somewhere in the wall of the pool or around the wall bottom, water will leak out around the bottom track. Make sure the bottom track of the pool is completely visible all the way around and closely inspect for moisture.

How to get a pool liner on the outside?

From the outside of the pool, reach in and press your hand against the inside of the pool’s wall about a foot below the water level. Press and feel the liner against the wall in areas all the way around the pool.

Can you add water to a leaking pool?

This is really your last option. Well, you could just keep adding water to your leaking pool, but when it comes to an above ground swimming pool, that’s never a good idea.

Is it important to know what to look for when you have a leak?

This is an important beginning step so don’t skip it. The bigger the leak, the easier it will be to find, so it’s important to know what you’ll be looking for or even if you have a leak at all.

Can you have an above ground pool partially sunk in the ground?

Having an above-ground swimming pool partially sunk in the ground has become a very popular option. Gold Residence ~ Boerne, Texas Digging the hole and installing the pool in the ground...

First Stop: Equipment Checks

Some leaks may not be as apparent as others, so you can’t expect to find the area where the leak is automatically. You will need to check the pool liner and equipment thoroughly if you suspect a leak in your vinyl liner.

How To Find Leaks in the Vinyl Liner

If you have already carefully checked all of your pool equipment for leaks and have not detected anything, then it is time to move on to checking the liner itself. This is a more complicated task, and there are a few different methods that I would recommend for finding the location of a leak in your pool.

What To Do When You Find the Leak in Your Pool

Once you have located the leak, you need to patch it or risk further damage to your swimming pool. Depending on the size of the leak, there are a few different methods you can use to patch up the leak.

Bottom Line

If your above ground pool seems to be losing water faster than usual, you may have a leak on your hands. Although it can be a time-consuming task to find the location of the leak, repairing the hole itself is pretty easy.

How to fix a leak in a pool?

When you can’t find the leak from the outside, you’ll need to get in the pool. Put on your goggles, take a deep breath, and work your way up and down from one side the pool to the other.

What Happens if You Don’t Fix the Leak in Your Above Ground Pool?

Trying to decide whether or not to fix that leaky pool liner? Hopefully this section will convince you to do so.

What happens if food dye is sucked through a pool?

If the food dye is sucked through and disappears, you’ve found your culprit. When you still can’t find the leak, you can allow the pool to leak out until it stops. Once the water stops going down, you’ll know the hole is somewhere above the water line .

How to tell if pool liner is leaking?

How to Know if Your Pool Liner Has a Leak. If your above ground pool is loosing water or you’re noticing a gradually dropping water level – it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a cause for alarm. It’s perfectly normal for water in your pool to evaporate. This can be accelerated by extra hot temperatures or constant winds.

How to find a leak in a pool liner?

To find the leak in your above ground pool liner: First, you’ll need to thoroughly clean the pool. Run the filter, run the vacuum, skim the top, and brush the bottom and walls. A clean pool with make locating the hole much easier. Next, take a slow walk around all sides of your pool. Run your hand from top to bottom.

How to apply vinyl glue to a patch?

Apply vinyl glue all over the backside of the patch and fold it in half as you enter the water.

What to do if hose leaks?

When the leak is happening at the hose fittings, you can try tightening them or replacing the clamps. If the hose itself is worn, you should replace the hose altogether.

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