How to Fix a Hole in a Pool Liner

Inspect your pool liner often for damage.

If you find yourself having to add more water than usual to your vinyl-lined pool, the liner may have a leak caused by a rip or tear. If not repaired, water can wash away the soil and sand that give your pool it's shape. It's easy to patch it yourself. Examine the bottom and sides of the vinyl, above and below the waterline, to locate the hole. If it's above the waterline, use a "dry" or "wet" patch kit. If the hole is below the water, use a "wet" patch kit.

Things You'll Need

• Nail polish remover or acetone
• Underwater repair kit

Instructions

1. Clean any dirt, scum or algae from the area around the hole. If it is above water, clean the area with some nail polish remover or acetone. If it's under the water, just rub with a clean cloth.

2. Cut the repair vinyl into a circle or oval shape 1/2 inch larger than the hole, but no less than 2 inches round. A circle or oval patch is much less likely to peel off like the corners of a square patch would.

3. Apply a thin layer of repair gel to the back of the patch. If the hole is above the waterline, also apply a thin layer to the area around the hole.

4. Fold patch in half, with the glue inside, if it will be an underwater patch. Wait three minutes.

5. Unfold the patch, if necessary, and immediately press it directly over the hole. Smooth out all the air bubbles from under the patch, working from the center to the edge; do not push so hard that the patch slides around. Be sure to rub all the way around the edge of the patch.

6. Wait 10 minutes and rub the patch again, in the same way ... first from the center to the edge, and then all around the edge.

Tips & Warnings

• apply a thin layer of adhesive to patch, too much adhesive will float in the pool water and could clog filter.

• Make sure you round the corners of the patch, square corners are more likely to lift up and eventually work loose

• make sure you clean the pool liner around the area to be patched before applying patch otherwise it will not stick and could still leak

References

• POOLCENTER.com: Surface Repairs