How to Fix a Swimming Pool Leak

If you own a vinyl swimming pool, there will probably come a time when the vinyl develops a tear or causes a leak. Through age and use, vinyl pools can develop cracks or simply dry out and break because of the constant exposure to the sun. Locating and fixing a leak in your swimming pool is not as difficult as it may sound. Here are some ideas on how to repair your damaged pool and keep it ready to enjoy any time you want.

Things You'll Need

  • Flashlight
  • Patch kit
  • Cement glue
  • Sandpaper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Inspect the liner of your swimming pool for any signs of wear or leakage. Locate the exact area that the leak is coming from. You can identify an area that is leaking by walking around the pool to see if there are any wet or soft spots on your lawn or in the area around the pool.

    • 2

      Look at the inside of your pool to locate any signs of cracking or settling of the pool liner. Areas around corners or steps are especially susceptible to cracking. To get a better picture of what is going on, use a flashlight to help inspect the pool liner.

    • 3

      Trim a piece of liner from a patch kit or leftover piece of liner so that the patch is about 1 or 2 inches larger than the tear. Use enough to cover the tear or hole without being excessive. Using an overly large patch will prevent you from achieving a good solid seal over the hole.

    • 4

      Sand the back of the patch with a piece of sandpaper to rough it up so that it adheres to the liner better. Spread a layer of cement glue on the roughed-up side of the patch and even it out so that the glue covers the entire side of the patch.

    • 5

      Place the patch over the tear in the liner and smooth out the patch so that there are no creases or bubbles. Cement glue works under water as well as out of water, so there is no need to drain the pool. Allow the patch to dry.