How to: Above-Ground Swimming Pool Liner Replacement

Changing the liner in your above-ground swimming pool will keep you swimming for years to come.

Installing an above-ground swimming pool on your property can provide your family with hours of cool, wet fun on hot summer days. An above-ground pool is a cost-effective alternative to digging an in-ground pool, although an above-ground pool requires just as much maintenance as its more expensive in-ground counterparts. Replacing an above-ground pool's liner is necessary when it becomes worn or damaged. You can replace an above-ground pool's liner without professional assistance.

Things You'll Need

• Garden hose
• Submersible pump
• Wet/dry shop vacuum
• Scissors
• Screwdriver
• Duct tape

Instructions

1. Attach a garden hose to the outlet spout on a submersible pump and drape the hose over the side of the pool, dropping the pump into the deepest part of the pool. Let the pump run until the water is too low to draw out any more water, then vacuum the pool dry with a wet/dry shop vacuum.

2. Cut the old liner away from the pool walls with a pair of sharp scissors. Trim around the fittings, and pull the old liner out once it is free of the walls.

3. Loosen the trim with a screwdriver and pull out any remaining pieces of liner. If there is a liner strip between the pool wall and the trim, set the liner aside to reuse after inserting the new liner. Scrape the upper and lower tracks with a flat screwdriver to remove stuck-on debris, and suck out loosened debris with the shop vac.

4. Seal any gaps or cracks along the inside of the pool wall with duct tape. Tear a small strip of tape from the roll and press firmly over the crack. Smooth the tape down with your fingers to remove air bubbles.

5. Remove all face plates and fittings from the wall, setting them aside for refitting over the new liner. If any seals under the fittings are torn or cracked, replace them with new seals when replacing the fittings.

6. Unroll the new liner and drape it over the top of the pool. Turn the liner until the pre-cut hole for the skimmer and pump line up over the fitting area of the pool wall, and push the liner down into the pool with your hands. Use caution not to poke or push at it with anything sharp to prevent rips or tears in your new liner.

7. Take off your shoes and climb into the pool, pressing the edges of the liner into the track along the bottom of the wall. Slide the top edge of the liner down inside the top track, and reinsert the lining strip to hold the liner securely in place.

8. Insert the end of the vacuum hose approximately 18 inches inside the skimmer and turn the vacuum on. This will suck air out from between the pool wall and the liner to create an airtight seal. Press out any air bubbles with your fingers so the liner makes even contact with the pool wall, then turn off the vacuum and remove the hose from the skimmer.

9. Refill the newly lined pool with roughly 2 feet of clean water, then replace the main drain fittings, using a screwdriver to carefully tighten the hardware over the new liner. Reinstalling fittings prior to weighing the new liner down with water increases the chances of wrinkling around the hardware. Fill the pool halfway with water and reattach the remainder of the fittings.Fill the pool until the water reaches the level specified in the pool's instruction manual.

Tips & Warnings

• It can take upward of 30 minutes for your vacuum to remove all the air from the liner.

• If you're comfortable with the procedure for replacing the liner, contact a professional pool company for assistance.

• Never wear shoes while stepping on the new liner. There may be rocks or other sharp objects lodged in the treads of your shoes than can tear holes in the delicate plastic.

References

• Ameri-Brand Products, Inc.: Pool Liner Installation Instructions
• Poolcenter.com: Vinyl Liners