Replacing your above ground pool liner.

I set out to replace our pool liner this year. The old one has been deteriorating, and only held about a foot of water through the off season. I figured if I wanted to save on my water bill, I’d have to spend the money in a new liner.

So I set off to do this on my own, since the local pool stores had contractors on hand to do that for you for the low low price of 400 dollars. I figured I’d pay that, only AFTER I tried and failed.

So I bought a new liner for less than 200 dollars from an online pool products warehouse.

I then began to work on pumping the yucky old water out, (what was left) and removing the old liner. This wasn’t too hard. I cut it into 2 pieces, wrapped a tarp strap around each piece, and lifted them out of the pool. Heavy, but doable.

I then started throwing in some fresh sand. There were a couple of low spots, and I wanted to try to level it off some.

Rule #1. Be sure to tamp the sand down really well. No, the water will not just press it down evenly like you might think it would.

So, after bring the sand level up in spots, I then put the new liner in. I got it all arranged nicely, which was easier than I thought it would be. So I started putting it on the walls, and clipping it down.

Rule #2. Remember to figure the amount of wall clips….you figure CIRCUMFERENCE, not diameter.

So I started spacing my clips out…and then began the process of filling it with water, and then getting all the wrinkles out as it fills. This is a tedious, but doable process.

After I got all the wrinkles out of the bottom, I noticed that I didn’t like the flap that was next to the seam. If one of us or something caught on it, it could tear. I then realized something:

Rule #3. Although a pool liner doesn’t come with a “this side up” the little flap off the seam means “this side down”…. It’s best to figure this out before getting all the wrinkles out of the bottom.

So, I pumped all the water out, added more sand to the low spots (see rule #1) and I flipped the liner over, and repeated the process of getting wrinkles out of the bottom as it filled.

Note: It takes awhile to fill the bottom enough to get the wrinkles out, but don’t let it get TOO full before you start de-wrinkling, or it will be really HARD to get the wrinkles out. Just trust me on this one.

SO after buying more clips, we finished up the clipping of the liner, and let it fill, pretty much without incident.

Oh, but if you are going to do this… make sure it isn’t windy. And you might want a nice supply of bungies, just in case your really old pool wall begins to want to fall in on you. Until the water gets high enough, there isn’t anything keeping the pool walls up really….

Of course, it’s also helpful that the day after you begin, isn’t somehow the WINDIEST DAY OF THE ENTIRE YEAR.

Anyhow… we’ve got a new pool liner now. I should have taken some pictures, but you aren’t thinking “wow, I should take bloggable photos while I get really aggrivated and do everything wrong the first time” while you are getting really aggrivated and doing everything wrong the first time.

Now if I could just figure out how to overcome rule #4

Rule #4. Do your best to not let ANY sand get on the inside of your liner. (very helpful if you don’t install it upside down first) Sand is heavier, and doesn’t vacuum up as well with your normal pool vacuum.

At least the water is nice!!