If your pool has a vinyl liner, you will need to replace it eventually. You can increase its lifetime with good maintenance.

Good Maintenance

• Good water quality is essential so test the pH levels regularly and sanitize.
• Check for leaks, holes and algae buildup.
• If you think there is a leak, call in an expert to scan the liner and locate tears and holes.
• Patch holes. This can be done in a number of ways, but as the liner ages, it becomes more brittle and the repairs are less likely to be effective.

Signs of Trouble

• Discoloration or fading
• Gaps appearing between the pool wall and the liner
• Wrinkles
• Brittleness
• One too many holes
• Leaking

Replacing the Liner

The best time to replace the liner is when the temperature is warm because the vinyl is more elastic and easier to work with. If there are holes in the liner, you may want to replace it before winter. Leaking water over the late fall to early spring can cause extra damage to the pool floor.

Your pool will need to be drained and the old liner removed. Next it is measured precisely and the walls are prepped. Any degradation to the pool walls and floor will be repaired. The new liner will be snapped into place and the pool refilled.

The best way to maintain your pool is to do regular checks on it, note any problems, and handle them as soon as possible.

While many people hire a pool company to oversee general maintenance of the pool, you can keep an eye on things yourself if you know what to look for. Key areas to check are:

1. Keep the area clear of debris using surface skimmers. ;eaf nets and hand help skimmers. Prune back any plants growing nearby or overhead.
2. Check the skimmer baskets and strainer basket every week.
3. Wash down the patio with a garden hose and a non-abrasive cleaner designed for the pool area. Household cleansers tend to foam and can affect the pool chemistry.
4. Check the chemical levels in the pool on a regular basis. If your pool is a busy place or you keep the water very warm, you may need to shock the water weekly.
5. Watch for algae build up. These can appear as yellow, green or black blotches and they should be scrubbed away asap, or apply an algaecide.

You should regularly

• skim the pool surface
• remove leaves and debris from the water
• vacuum

You will want to check the skimmer baskets and strainer basket on you pool pump to clean them of debris.

You should also brush down the water line and clean the stairs of stains and grease.

Q: What can I use to clean my pool?
A: To clean around the water line and stairs, using any non-abrasive pool cleaning chemical.

Q. When should I clean my filter?
A. Filters should be cleaned annually and can be cleaned with a cleaning solution, following the directions on the label carefully.

Q. There are air bubbles shooting out of my jets. What is wrong?
A. The most common cause is a dirty filter that needs to be cleaned or backwashed. Other problems could be a loose pump lid, bad lid gasket, improperly tightened pump frost plugs, or debris in the pump impellor. If the problem persists call your service company.

Q. I noticed sand in my pool in front of my jets. What’s wrong?
A. A large amount of sand could mean there is a problem internally with your filter, either in the tank or filter head. Call a service technician.

This is what you will need to close your pool.

1. Remove the ladders.

2. Clean your pool filter.

3. Lower the water level to just below jets a-2.

4. Add the pool closing chemicals. This typically includes

• non chlorine shock
• stain and scale
• algicide
• DO NOT add anti-freeze

5. Completely drain all the water from your pool equipment including the pump and filter.

6. Turn your filter to the winterize setting.

7. Remove the filter cap, pressure gauge and site glass. Then remove the drain plugs from the pump and filter.

8. Remove the “eyeballs” or directional fittings from the returns in the side of the pool, the strainer and the skimmer baskets.

9. Blow out the return lines and fit the plugs in. DO NOT add anti-freeze.

10. If applicable, drain your heater then disconnect it.

11. Remove the pressure switch.

12a. If you have a chlorinator systems, disconnect it.

12b. If you have a salt system, drain the water from it and remove the cell. Clean with a cell cleaning solution of muriatic acid and water.

• 4 parts water, 1 part muriatic acid.
• Never add the water to the acid. Always add the acid to the water.

13. Store all the fittings, pressure gauge, plugs, etc. in the skimmer basket.

14. Put on the pool cover. There are 3 types:

• A water bag cover held in place by vinyl bags filled with water
• A beaded lock in cover attached to the coping
• A safety cover fastened with straps and attached to the pool deck with springs and anchors.

As summer draws near, pool owners think about opening the pool. Here are some tips to help you.

1. The water that typically accumulates on the surface of the pool cover gets very dirty over the winter. Be careful to avoid dumping that water into the pool below as you remove the cover. Use a submersible pump if you have o.

2. If you have one, remove the safety cover from the pool and place it somewhere to dry. If the cover is dirty, wash it with a pressure washer or garden hose and let it dry before storing it in the storage bag provided.

While the water level is low, this is a good opportunity to brush the floor and water line as well.

3. Remove the anchor bolts and wash them free of dirt. Check that everything is in good shape. Then clean out the sockets and replace the bolts in their summer position. DON’T grease the anchors since this attracts dirt and can make them difficult to remove in the future.

4. Replace all the plugs that were removed when you winterized the pool . There should be:

• 2 plugs on the pump
• 1 filter plug
• 1 or more heater drain plug
• 1 chlorinator plug on chlorine pools

5. Replace the pressure gauge being careful not to cross thread.

Now is the time to check all the other equipment: pumps, filters, and heaters.

6. If you have one, reconnect the salt system to the plumbing.

7. Replenish the water levels. Then prime the pump with a bucket of water. (Never let the pump run dry.)

8. Remove the winterizing plugs from the wall jets.

9. If your skimmer has a plug that allows a bottle to be screwed into it for ice expansion, remove that as well.

10. Check the lines for foam. If you are in any doubt, start up the system before you insert the eyeballs (directional fittings).

11. If your pool has them, remove main drains and plug in the skimmer.

• If you have a separate line for the drain pump, the skimmer will not have a removable plug.
• The hole closest to the pool in the bottom of the skimmer is usually the main drain.
• Please note: If there is a separate line to the pump for the main drain(s), consult your pool professional. You will need either a “safety vacuum release system” (SVRS) in place or you must disconnect the line. These safety standards are there to prevent you from being hurt so consult your pool professional to be safe.

12. Replace the skimmer and pump baskets and start up the system to check for leaks.

• Note: If you use a safety cover, make sure the water level is at the top of the pool.
• If you use a beaded or water bag cover, use the manual vacuum hose, pole and vac head to run the system.

13. Connect the vacuum head to the pole and hose. Prime the hose and plug it into the skimmer.

• Leave the garden hose in the skimmer so the pump can’t suck it dry.
• You can choose to start the system when the water level is at the proper height, about halfway up the skimmer.

12. Test the water and add opening chemicals only after the system is up and running. Typical chemicals used at opening are

• non-chlorine shock
• algicide and
• stain and scale prevention

Read all the labels on the containers before using and apply only according to the instructions.

I have no suction from my Kreepy Krauler.

There are 3 areas you should check:

Check the pump basket for debris.

Check the backwash filter and all the hose connections.

Tighten the lid on the pump.