freaking out over frozen water level

[rajung]

Here in Iowa this has been a brutal winter with temps for extended times 30 below with windchill 50 below and plenty snow.

+ Doughboy 16x32 above ground about 1.5 years old with the best liner they had.
+ Always removed snow off of winter cover with roof rake if more than 4 inches accumulated,maybe more often than need.Last year it was cold but not like this year.
+ I always lowered water level to 6" below return.

Just out of chance, today I decided to look at the cover and cond. of cover since the temps have been in the upper 30's /40's.
I freaked out when I noticed the pool cover down further than before in the center,tapped around the wall and felt like it was empty,able to push in on the wall.
I loosened the cable,pulled away some of the cover to look inside pool and noticed the frozen water almost like a ball and sunk down in the middle, kind of like a doughnut.
Totally dis-configured frozen water.

Temps have been near 50 off and on for a day or 2 before re freezing for the last 2 weeks.

Just returned from Florida after a week, so I dont know for sure what may have happened.
With the center down further than were I originally set the water level to, it is stretching the cover on the ends and caused some separating of the material which cause an open hole. Last year the water froze flat accross with no issues.

Any ideas?
thanks

[rajung]

Well ,I took off the winter cover.

Called the pool co. that installed, and lucky me, 4 hrs later I ran an errand and someone showed up while I was away for 1 hr. But my security cameras didn't show them going to look at the pool. Coming back next week.

I did however take some pictures that I sent to them this morning.
Anyone know on a 16x32 where the seams are?

Pictures taken looking straight down the wall,appears there are a few spots that resemble seam separation running horizontal, about 4 inches or so above the foam cove area.

[PoolDoc]

Your pictures:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wAmCeRfsKp8/UzgPBIZVSyI/AAAAAAAAGcY/ZhbJLTpZkZs/s640/5.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-g64kboRMDrA/UzgPBMyvi9I/AAAAAAAAGcc/2N-poDg6qy8/s640/4.JPG

[PoolDoc]

I'm not an expert on AG pool construction, but what I'm seeing in the photo of your pool wall is warping that is unsightly, but probably not a risk for pool failure.

The photos yo sent showing the liner edge (I posted one) should be patch-able, once things warm up a bit.

[rajung]

the warping look, actually isn't warping.

The walls curve in at each support,not perfectly straight. the one pic posted with the slight flap loose, there are about 3 more about 4 inches long in areas I can see.

I just don't know if its extra material at the edge of seam that wasn't fully bonded.Wish I knew how much material overlay they used to seam.Never thought about it when the pool co. installed.

[CarlD]

Is the liner torn or merely stretched? Otherwise the ice along the wall and the slight bowing at the walls around the uprights looks normal to me.

[rajung]

Here is a video clip I sent to the pool co. that installed. First 30 sec or so don't show much since I almost needed 3 hands to get something put together.

Definitely a leak. One of maybe a few. I found where the seams are. 3 along bottom length wise,1 on a long side, bottom to top edge and one around parimiter slightly above bottom edge above cove.Seams fused together about 1/2 over each section and there is a 1/16 inch extra not fuzed.

Not sure where this will end up and have a feeling doughboy will do all they can to avoid warranty since they really brag about seam leaks not happening.

Already waiting on excuses! Anyone else have seam leak issues after 1 full swim season with the top grade liner from someone?


http://youtu.be/PYYL-VTklAY

[PoolDoc]

Please don't pre-judge Doughboy. There are plenty of reasons to actually dislike some of the pool companies, without needing to dislike them BEFORE they've done something wrong.

Please do not post any more about Doughboy, till you've actually made contact.

I would STRONGLY recommending peeling the cover back, and getting into the pool with waders, so you can take some better pictures or videos to show Doughboy. The angle you're shooting at, and the instability of the video, makes it very difficult for me -- much less Doughboy -- to interpret those images. I'm not arguing for Doughboy: I'm just arguing for accurate communication and for not pre-judging the situation.

I'm removing your other Doughboy post, for now. If later you have relevant actual data on your warranty, your situation, and Doughboy's response, THAT will be the time for posts on how Doughboy deals with warranty claims.

[rajung]

Getting back about the leak.
I was contacted 2 weeks ago by the Pool store that installed the pool.
They said Doughboy would warranty the liner,I was told that occasionally its possible that when the seams were fit,the machine doesn't get it quite right.
They don't cover labor though.The pool store did say they would discount labor 30% and warranty labor for 2 years.
Sound reasonable to anyone?

[CarlD]

Yes, that's actually not a bad offer. The warranty os on the liner, not the install. I had a similar situation when my liner was 10 days old...catastrophic seam failure. I had to fight to get the install even partially covered.