Frequently Asked Questions

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Pool Liner Information

Pool wall foam protects the pool liner from damage caused by wear and tear. It acts as a barrier between the pool wall and the liner, helping reduce friction. It also shields the pool liner from damage caused by corrosion on steel pool walls.

Bathtub ring is residue build-up at the water line, that can weaken the vinyl and lead to premature liner failure. This is caused by the combination of sunscreen, lotions, body oils, and airborne pollutants. Over the course of time, bathtub ring can destroy the clear coat finish of the liner, which provides protection against UV radiation and harsh chemicals.

To get rid of bathtub ring, you should clean your tile line regularly, especially after heavy use, with an approved vinyl liner cleaning product.

A darker liner may help heat the pool water, by a very small amount. However, the key factors for heating a pool are exposure to sunlight, use of a solar blanket and a pool heater.

To ensure that the liner fits your pool, it should be measured by a pool professional beforehand. It is important to note that the liner will be stretched to create a smooth and taut finish. Stretching the liner too much can cause serious damage.

If your pool liner in leaking, you need to patch it. To patch the leaking, you need a piece of the liner or a pool liner patch kit, some pool liner patch glue, and a pair of scissors. You should know where the pool liner is leaking. Follow the steps below to properly patch the leak in your pool liner:

1. Measure the area that needs to be patched.
2. Cut the area at least 2″ inches bigger than the hole in the liner.
3. Round off the edges of the swimming pool patch by cutting the patch into a circle.
4. Apply the vinyl adhesive on the rough side of the leakage.
5. Fold the patch in half by sticking the adhesive sides together.
6. Unfold the patch material and place it over the leakage in the pool. If the leakage is under water, wait until you are near the leakage to unfold the patch.
7. Put direct pressure on the patch for approximately five minutes.

Good quality thick liners can last between five to eight years. Cheap and thin liners will last only three to five years on average. In most cases, an average in-ground pool liner will last 6-12 years and an above ground pool liner will last 6-10 years.

Pool liners can be easily damaged if they are not treated properly. It is very common to find damages caused by children pole-vaulting with a vacuum pole, or from using the pole as a spear. Set rules about what can be used in and around the pool

Pool liners can be easily damaged if they are not treated properly. It is very common to find damages caused by children pole-vaulting with a vacuum pole, or from using the pole as a spear. Set rules about what can be used in and around the pool.

Wait until the water is just below the fitting before re-attaching the new face plates and gaskets. This will allow the vinyl liner material to stretch into place. Make sure that the gaskets are firm and the screws are tight to prevent any leaks. Once the face plate and the gaskets are re-installed, cut out the vinyl liner inside the faceplate.

Different factors affect the longevity of a vinyl liner such as water chemistry, the pool chemicals, UV exposure as well as geography. Vinyl pool liners can last up to 10 years or longer with proper chemical levels and routine use and maintenance.

Pools FAQs

To ensure that the liner fits your pool, it should be measured by a pool professional beforehand. It is important to note that the liner will be stretched to create a smooth and taut finish. Stretching the liner too much can cause serious damage.

Gunite Pool Information

A gunite pool is a concrete pool where the water is added as the cement is applied. The gunite pool uses a rebar framework that is sprayed with a concrete and sand mixture. The sprayer unit combines a dry, gunite mixture of concrete and sand with water just before spraying. There are a variety of finishes including all-tile, pebble, granite, and colored plaster. Gunite pools are durable and can be built in any shape and size.

A gunite pool should be resurfaced proactively. If left too long, damages on the pool surface can lead to leaks and cracks in the pool structure. A cement/plaster pool will need to be resurfaced every 3-7 years. However, a fiberglass pool is far more durable and can last 15-30 years between resurfacing.

Gunite pools can be customized to complement your home and your backyard. The method of construction of a gunite pool creates little restriction on the size or shape of the pool and allows endless pool designs and variety of finishes. The surface of the new pool can be finished with tile, pebble, granite, colored plaster or glass. The endless possibilities for the designs of gunite pools make them a top choice for many home owners today.

The length of time it takes to complete installing a gunite pool can vary depending on the size of the pool. It takes approximately six to eight weeks to install a gunite pool. Constructing the pool takes 14-21 working days. This includes the time allowed for other sub-contractors involved (electricians, masons, landscapers, plumbers, etc.), to complete their work on the pool. Concrete requires approximately one week drying time. However, actual time taken may vary from case to case.

* Test the pool water with a swimming pool test kit for algae, mold or germs.
* While the pump is on, apply shock to the pool for about 8 hours.
* Apply algaecide to fight algae growth in the water.
* Set the pump to backwash the water so that it cleans the pump and the filter.
* Drain out water from the pool to about 6 inches below the skimmer.
* Using a shop vacblow out the water from the pool hoses.
* Cover the pool with a durable pool cover.

To clean a stained gunite pool, follow the steps below:

- Identify the location of the stain(s). They are usually found near the top edge or just a few inches below the water line.
- Drain water out of the pool to expose the stains.
- Prepare muriatic acid solution as instructed in the container. Apply the muriatic acid - solution thoroughly into the spot.
Scrub the stains by using a polyester-nylon blend bristle brush.

Yes, a cracked gunite pool can be repaired.The following steps describe how to repair a cracked gunite pool:

- Dry the pool and sweep any loose dirt form the cracked area.
- Use a grinder with a diamond blade and under low setting place it in the crack. Move the grinder around the crack until it is a few inches deep and wide.
- Use a rag to wipe out dust.
- Wet the area with the hose.
- Mix three parts cement and two parts white sand with one part water in a bucket.
- Use a putty knife to line the walls of the crack with the mixture.
- Fill the crack entirely with the mixture.
- Smooth the top using a trowel.
- Once dry, complete the plaster coat over the surface.

- Pools with white plaster—light blue, light gray and medium gray.
- Quartz pool plaster—red, beige and soft green, to multiple shades of gray and blue.
- Aggregate pool finishes—medium blue, light blue, black, dark blue and medium gray are the most popular aggregate colors.

Gunite pools use a rebar framework that is sprayed over with a concrete and sand mixture that makes the pool exceedingly durable.

Tips

If a pool is properly winterized, it can easily be reopened come swimming season. Most importantly, don't remove the pool cover until you've cleaned the area around the pool. Sweep or hose away debris to prevent it from getting into the pool. Next, use a garden hose to fill the pool to its normal water level. Reconnect everything that was disconnected. Water will need to flow through the circulation system, so open the skimmer line valve. Test the water for its pH level, then shock the pool. It'll take a week or more before the pool gets balanced and becomes swimmable. Leave the pump running 24 hours a day, and reduce the run by only an hour or two each day until the water is balanced.

Where you live determines whether or not you should winterize your pool. If your location experiences temperatures that drop below freezing, you'll need to take steps to ensure that your pool stays healthy. Residual pool water left in pipes can freeze and cause damage. To prevent this from happening, use an air compressor to blow water out of the pool's plumbing when swimming season is over. Also, drain as much water as possible from the filter and heater. Any remaining water can be eliminated using nontoxic antifreeze (caution: this is different from antifreeze for vehicles). Disconnect the heater, pump and chemical feeders, the latter of which should be cleaned and stored.

Sometimes it's difficult to determine if low water levels are due to evaporation or a leak. You can discover leaks in your pool by conducting a simple bucket test. Fill a plastic bucket three-quarters full of water. On the inside of the bucket, mark the water line. Place the bucket in the pool, then mark the water line on the outside of the container. (If the bucket has a handle, remove it to allow for better stability while floating.) Let it float for two or three days. If the water inside and outside the bucket has gone down the same amount, your pool is losing water due to evaporation. However, if the pool water level has gone down more than the water inside the bucket, your pool has a leak. That's your cue to call a professional to have it patched.

Organic contaminants like ammonia or nitrogen build up in a pool over time. Massive amounts of such contaminants can interact with a pool's chlorine to form chloramines, which give off that potent chlorine smell that many people associate with pools. To get rid of this harsh odor, it's necessary to superchlorinate -- or shock -- pool water back to normal chlorine levels. While it may seem counterintuitive, adding a large amount of chlorine to a pool can make the undesired odor go away. Some pools should be shocked once a week, while others can go a significantly longer time. Follow manufacturers' instructions before superchlorinating your pool to get the best results.

Pool water should be tested regularly to make sure it's clean and healthy. The pH scale is a measurement of acidity or alkalinity that runs from 0 to 14. A reading between 7.2 and 7.8 is ideal; this range is safe for swimmers and helps sanitizers work at top efficiency.

You can monitor your pool's pH level with a testing kit. There are many kinds of testing kits available; however, most homeowner versions are either reagent kits or test-strips. Reagent kits aren't too difficult to use. You take a sample of pool water, then add liquids or tablets to it. The water changes color, indicating its chemical balance. Test-strips work differently. When you submerge them in the pool for a few seconds, dyes they contain cause them to change color. Next, match up the strip to a color chart to determine the pool's pH level. Use this information to gauge what kind and how much of the chemicals your pool needs.

A lot of water will be lost throughout the swimming season largely because of evaporation and normal wear and tear, such as swimming, splashing and exiting the pool. When you remove debris with your skimmer throughout the week, that's also a good time to check the water level. Ensure it doesn't fall below the level of the skimmer, otherwise the pump could be damaged. If the water is low, use a garden hose to bring it up to safe levels.

If you drain your pool to perform maintenance or once the swimming season has passed, be careful to not let the pool sit empty too long. As a general rule, it's best to leave water in a pool throughout the winter because the weight of the water counteracts with forces from the ground pressing up against the pool from below.

Pool heaters typically require the least maintenance of all pool equipment. Gas heaters can work fine without being serviced for a couple years, and electric ones can last even longer. Consult your manufacturer's manual for specific care instructions. Sometimes, calcium scales build up inside the tubes of a heater and restrict flow, preventing the water from heating adequately. If this happens, recruit the help of a professional because the heater may need to be disassembled and have its tubes cleaned out with a wire brush or acid. Hiring someone to service your pool can cost $100 or more per month, depending on the maintenance your pool requires.