Draining A Vinyl Liner Inground Pool

Draining an inground vinyl liner pool for the winter.

Draining a vinyl liner inground pool.

This procedure is mildly dangerous and potentially very costly if not performed properly wit. I learned a few things doing so and wanted to pass those along. If you have an inground vinyl liner swimming pool then you have a minimum safe water level that you must observe at all times. If you have an above ground pool with a vinyl pool liner drain the pool to about 1 inch below the bottom of the skimmer mouth.

It s acceptable to drain the pool a few more inches below that if you live in an area that gets heavy precipitation during the winter months. Draining a vinyl lined inground pool can be difficult because the liner is fragile and can tear or rip easily. This is a plastic dam which holds out the water from the skimmer allowing you to leave the water level up for the winter. The liner can also become hard and brittle.

In ground concrete swimming pools can also crack when the temperature is above 70 75 degrees and the surface of the swimming pool doesn t remain wet. Your dealer or builder should have told their customer this but sometimes they don t and of course many people end up with a pool when they buy the house. You must keep at minimum a few inches of water usually six to 12 inches is safe covering the floor of the shallow end of the pool at all times. In addition your vinyl lined pool walls may not be strong enough to.

Draining and refilling an inground swimming pool. If you drain your pool you can cause your vinyl pool liner to shrink and upon refilling if the liner has lost its elasticity it can cause the liner to rip or tear. This will help in supporting your cover and also help keep the liner from floating on the water s surface. Another option for vinyl liner pools is to put an aquador over the mouth of the skimmer.

Draining a pool is a potential risky business for even gunite or plastered pools but it will usually be a disaster on a vinyl liner pool. This instructable is based on my experience refilling my in ground swimming pool. The older the vinyl material is the more likely this is to happen. Cracked liner from draining a swimming pool.