Floating liner recurring issue

[Watermom]

So sorry that nobody replied to your post. We got behind on processing all the new members' registrations that a few slipped through the cracks and unfortunately, yours was one of them.

Let us know if you are still around and would still like some help and hopefully someone can try and assist you.

Welcome to the Pool Forum!

[PoolDoc]

membership upgraded.

There are 3 solutions to your problem -- after the repairs are done:

1. Keep the water level in your pool higher. The liner won't 'float' if the water pressure INSIDE the pool is greater than the pressure OUTSIDE the liner.

2. Improve the drainage around your pool, so that the ground water level around the pool stays lower.

3. Arrange to have shaman do an effective anti-rain-dance, any time the ground starts to get saturated.

#3 above may not be practical. #2 is likely to be expensive, and may involve permanently installed pumps and sump pits. #1 is usually the best option. Keep in mind that you must keep the water level high in BOTH summer and winder.

Good luck!

[mpoulin]

I am currently looking into adding drainage to my yard. Not neccasarily next to my pool but upstream from it. I'm hoping to capture the water before it gets to the pool. I ended up lowering the pool water to about 6 inches of depth in the shallow end. This allowed me to pull some of the wrinkles out of the liner. It's not perfect, but it's significantly better. I then refilled the pool. Unfortunately, as the pool was refilling, I had some additional rain. This time the wrinkles returned, but not as badly as before. Using my pool brush, I basically swept the wrinkles to try and manage them. I pulled back the corner my liner and pumped out the water (I also did this when I initially drained the pool). This worked really well. Again, I still have some wrinkles but it's significantly better than before. I had a hard time getting the liner back in place and internationally left a little bit (3-4 inches in a corner) out of the track in case I need to pump again. I just sealed it with duct tape. I know its tacky but I want easy access until I get some drainage installed. It has rained twice since I pumped out the water. I haven't had the issue return yet. It hasn't been raining as much lately either.

[mpoulin]

Each time this happened to me my pool was already full of water.

[PoolDoc]

Each time this happened to me my pool was already full of water.

Yes, I've seen that happen, too. But "full of water" usually doesn't mean "full to overflowing", but rather 'at the proper level'. Unfortunately, this usually means 6 - 12" below deck level.

The water level in the pool needs to be HIGHER than the water level in the ground, or rather, higher than the hydrostatic pressure of the water around the pool. It's possible for water pressure UNDER the concrete deck to be higher than the deck, if water is flowing under the deck, along grade lines.

But, the odds are, you can stop the liner from floating, if you keep the pool 'full to over flowing' during periods when the ground is saturated. This won't damage most pools, but will unfortunately prevent the skimmer from operating properly.

[mpoulin]

It's possible for water pressure UNDER the concrete deck to be higher than the deck, if water is flowing under the deck, along grade lines.

I think my deck is part of the problem too. It isn't concrete, it is wooden. Water easily passes through it. It is also in terrible shape. I plan on replacing it soon with concrete. Hopefully this will also help.

[PoolDoc]

Actually, I doubt that it is a problem. Concrete deck could retain water, and allow pressures under the deck to exceed that of water on bare ground. A wooden deck cannot do so.

That being the case, I suspect that a short-term solution may be to simply overfill your pool any time the ground is saturated.