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New member here - aloha.
Who has successfully repaired tears in their flexible liner? Or what failures can you share so I can avoid those? [
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Finding shockingly little info on 'net. Any useful links?
If my liner is 30 yrs old, is it likely PVC/EPDM/polypropylene or polyethylene? (Am currently tracking this info down from former occupant...)
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I should clarify - not a leak...yet.
The liner has one sizeable (14" across) horizontal tear well above the current water level, and another small (2") tear further around the top lip.
The future will likely bring further tearing as downward pressure of additional water pulls what is now an untethered lip of the liner down...
Has anyone patched with glues appropriate to the liner material?? Used a hot air welder gun??
Has anyone managed to somehow clamp that untethered edge of the tear & secure it from further downward motion??
These are the directions my mind is going...
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The first thing you need to do is secure your liner. Ours is secured with a length of cable attached to a turnbuckle, they sell them in Home Depot in the same aisle as the ropes and stuff, as you turn the screws it tightens the cable, they are also used on cable rails and barbed wire fences (thanks MarkP). That will stop your liner from sinking and further tearing. As far as the current rips go, our old neighbor used to fix rips in his above ground pool with duct tape. I didn't ask how he made it adhere under water, but upon briefly pondering the question I'm guessing he probably drained the pool to where the tear was and taped it dry.
Good luck and please let us know what you come up with.
ETA: Turnbuckle (thanks MarkP)
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Waterworks and others sell repair cement. Worked great on our vinyl pool liner.
David
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Thanks for the input. We will likely pursue the patch'n'glue. Shall keep you posted.
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Today we noticed water coming from the steel seams. Looks like we have a leak. I haven't taken the cover off yet but stopped by Island Catchment and they sold me a pool liner patch kit which consisted of a above/under water adhesive and a vinyl patch but since the included vinyl was 'crap' they gave me a generous sized piece of the same type of vinyl that is in my tank.
After some discussion it seems that finding a small hole is really difficult. Does anybody have any suggestions? Fortunately the leak seems to be coming from closer to the top of the tank.
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The tried and true method is to let it leak until the level stops lowering, then examine along the water line for the leak. At least then you are only dealing in one dimension.
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Putting several drops of food coloring every few feet, and then watching where they flow to might help. If close to the top as you think, the color should be pulled toward the lower pressure of the leak.
