Shop Vac or Not? Install question

[5galspools]

When installing a new liner, should a shop vac be used to "suck out the air" or is it ok to let the water "push out" the air? Thanks for responding.
18X36 inground 41/2 ft deep no deep end

[CarlD]

Welcome to the Forum!

Personally, I've never heard of a liner being installed without a vacuum being used.

[5galspools]

Thanks for responding. I have never seen it either. I had installed a new liner; that liner had a bad seam. After a big headache with the liner company, the local pool company (where I bought the liner) came to install yet another new liner. The first day, they had a vac hooked up to the skimmer, but it was not sealed off. The liner was across the steps but the molding was not installed, I have no idea what the vac was supposed to be doing. The pool company assured me that the liner would "go into place" by the force of the water. It does fit well, no creases or anything on the bottom, but the top above the water line seems a bit loose. I guess time will tell. I mainly wondered if anyone had ever seen this method.

[CarlD]

Lots of pool "installers" have no idea how to properly install a liner. I'm replacing my liner after this season and I cannot WAIT to correct all the mistakes they made. At night, when the lights are on in the pool, you can SEE the workers' footprints 12 years later! Wrinkles, the bottom looks terrible, just a rotten job. The first installers actually did a good job but the liner split on a seam after 10 days and these were the warranty guys. Kept whining to me that I shouldn't use sand, should use vermiculite. I should have listened and found another installer (who knew how to work with sand).

[5galspools]

I sometimes wonder how pool stores/installers stay in business. The store I'm dealing with is trying to say that the liner company doesn't reimburse them for labor when doing warranty work!!! I ain't stupid. I'm waiting now to see the settlement from the liner company, who REFUSED to send me anything in writing as to how they reimburse on warranty work. Keep in mind the line was installed Memorial Day weekend (this year) took me until July 4th to locate the seam that was coming unglued. Who would think the seam was bad in a brand new liner.
I'm lucky I have some good sense when it comes to dealing with mechanical things and can think for myself. I feel sorry for women who could be charged through the nose by pool companies for leak detection, etc.