What kind of liner do i have?

[matt4x4]

Pics would really help!

I have a J mold liner, the way that works is that a heavier gauge white vinyl upside down J or V is welded to the liner, it overhangs the top of the wall, a groove in my top channel (resin) fits over that to help hold it in place.

A beaded liner would actually have a bead that clips into the receiver, I believe the bead is a harder milk jug type plastic and has burred edges to keep it in place, it just clips into to the C shaped receiver that is hung from the top edge of the wall.

Sounds to me like you got a J mold liner and they used the beaded liner receivers as clips to hold the J on.

Questions regarding the hole that may help us narrow down it's location:
- You said it was there since last year - how much did your water level drop over the course of the winter? Usually, your pool will drain to the height of the hole or within an inch of it. Now you only have to search at that height around your pool.
- do you have drop in steps? - reason I'm asking this si many people poke a hole or two in the liner when removing the steps, so looking in/around the area of where your steps are is another good starting place. Even non drop in steps can damage liners just from the rubbing they tend to do.

If the pool store allready ordered a liner and you're pretty determined to just replace it, the beaded liner should match your existing bead receiver

[hrsdennis]

I think BK has the same liner as you Matt, I have just heard it called a v bead.
Anything else just pulled over the wall would need coping strips, and there would be more than 1/2" overhang on the outside. Since you have the bead reciever the beaded liner should work just fine. If it is to big, pull it over the wall and hold in place with coping strips and then the reciever over the coping.

If you really want to find the hole go under the liner. You will find one or a hundred but you will find something. This is a last resort. The liner will shrink and depending on age it may not refill. The trick is to drain by 10:00 and be refilling by 11:00 on a sunny day. It has worked for me in the past.

I tend to disagree with the leak til it stops leaking theory. A pool with one foot of water in it may completely stop leaking because all of the pressure is off the holes. The holes are still in the bottom however.

Best of luck, Dennis

[matt4x4]

I know what you mean with regards to the "1 foot off the bottom" Dennis, by if your pool is still 3/4 full, at least you know the bottom (floor) is likely not the issue, I've found most leaks within inches of the water level where it settles after the winter.
Mine had a small hole from me removing the stairs myself, after the winter, I noticed the level much lower than normal, sure enough, the hole was about 2 inches below the water level.
This spring, I kept filling up the pool over and over, finally found a hole right above my return jet - once again 2" below the water level (likely the aqualuminator fountain attachment that did that hole).
So I was going off my experiences with that suggestion since it seems to always work for me.

[bkwudz]

Here are some pics, thanks for your help guys.

[hrsdennis]

That is what I call a v bead liner. Muskin was the first company to use these and that's what they called them. There may be a more correct name. With that pool you could easily go beaded, v bead or overhang.

I do stand corrected as for draining till it stops to find the hole. This works well if you are lucky enough to have the hole on the side of the pool. They are the easiest to find and patch.

The liner pictured looks fairly fresh. I would spent some time trying to find the hole and maybe save the liner.

One quick note about changing a liner because you cannot find a hole. I strongly recommend going under the liner before you yank it out. You can tell a lot about your pool care history from the under side. If your cleaner is making pin holes under the ladder or if your steps are moving and causing pin holes you will know and be able to make adjustments for the next liner.

Later, Dennis

[matt4x4]

I've always known that liner as a J mold or J hook liner since it's an upside down J. That's also what it was sold to me as.
Those clips over the top of it aren't bead receivers, so a beaded liner would also require you to get the bead receivers.
I personally really like the J mold liners, yours has those plastic clip pieces to hold it in place there, mine doesn't because the upright and toprail structure of my pool is completely dufferent, I have blow molded resin pieces, they are solid but hollow, shaped with a groove to overlap the top of the wall and pinch the liner onto the wall - like a "built in clip".
I'd also be spending the time to find the hole....from what I'm seeing, your water is about 2 feet deep right now, it hasn't been dropping for a while (clean side above waterline) so it's relatively safe to say your hole is most likely within 4-6 inches of the water line. I'd dump in some bleach, stir it up with your leaf net, clear up the water, get in and start hunting from the water line down - start where your steps normally go, higher chance of the hole being there than anywhere else.

[hrsdennis]

After checking the Johnny W website I believe they call those receivers “Aluminum Coping Covers and Liner Receiver”.

I rounded up a couple pictures of bead receivers. The first is the one in question, the second two from different pool stores. I have seen a few versions of these but they are all similar.







I’m pretty sure you can install a beaded liner into that pool. I have been wrong before however. Any other opinions?

Later, Dennis

[bkwudz]

Some more info. It is confirmed, i have a j hook liner, it is different from the one shown at the pool store because i upgraded to 25 gauge liner when i bought the pool. The pool comes standard with a 20 gauge beaded liner. So Either liner will work with the pool i have now, the only question now is if its worth pulling all the rails to replace the liner with a 25 gauge or just go with the beaded liner and be done with it.

Beaded or j hook???

You guys have any opinions on padding for under the liner and foam cove??

Thanks for all you help.