Replaced the liner, question about the old one?

I bit the bullet and replaced the liner. Before i pulled the old one i went under it to find the leak that has been a thorn in my side for two years, now i know why i couldnt find it. Because it was not one, but many, 20-30 + small pin hole, size, maybe a bit bigger, around the cove area of the pool, right where the wall meets the floor. They were spread out over one side and one end for the most part. This pool is only 3 years old. What could have caused that?

Could part of the problem be that the old liner was too tight along the cove? In some places i believe the liner did not touch the sand or wall. I think they had too much sand in the middle, and not enough along the cove, there was always a noticeable mound in the center.


Other wise the sand looked great, no roots or rocks. I leveled out the center better and moved more sand toward the cove. The beaded liner went in great, with no noticeable wrinkles, i just hope i didn't need more sand around the cove if that caused the problem with the old one.

I wish everyone would do what you did. Going under a liner like that is such a learning experience. A very high percentage of leaks are caused by small holes at the top of the cove. They are caused by cleaning equipment. The vacuum head would be my first guess if you hand vacuum. Always keep the vacuum head at least six inches from the edge of the pool and this will not happen.

It is less common but I have seen automatic cleaners to the same thing. The holes are slightly different and usually in an isolated area. The trick here is never leave an auto cleaner left unattended unless you have it so well trained it will always stay in motion. I have never been so lucky, but I still don’t hand vacuum. I just keep the cleaner under a watchful eye.

Let us know if any of this pertains to your cleaning habits. Hopefully your next liner will last ten years.

Dennis

Could very well have been the cleaning. Leak started after the first year. The first year i hand vacuumed, often hitting the cove and running along the cove while cleaning. I usually vaced from one side and slid the vac over to the other until it hit the wall.

On my IG I had a few slits open up at the cove in the deep end a couple years ago. A real dog to find. Think it likewise could have been the vacuum brush maybe catching a sharp stone or something. Just a suspicion. No robotic. I usually only get fine dust or something like that in these areas so I vacuum the big stuff, bugs and the like, from the center and rigged the vacuum brush on the filter outlet to blow. I use that to kick up any dust and fine stuff into suspension then let the filter get it. Also great for blowing spots of algae which I soometimes get on the stairs and ladder rungs. With the volume of water coming out you never have to contact those areas with the brush.
Al

Just another thought, but my neighbor had a similar issue, but when the diver came out he said ants had eaten the liner. I guess they are very tasty things for the ants.

Just a thought.

Jean