Leaks in an Above Ground Pool

Failure to repair a leaking swimming pool liner can cause damage to the ground around the pool and possibly the swimming pool. Always make repairs to your above ground pool as soon as possible to prevent further damages.

Finding a Hole in the Liner

Finding a hole in the swimming pool liner can be done in a number of different ways. The easiest way is to simply look for the hole with your eyes. If you cannot see the hole in the liner by just looking at the pool then the next step would be to get into the pool. If you have a pair of water goggles they will be able to help you see under the water. This step will only work if your swimming pool is clear. If your swimming pool is green, you will need to clean before you can jump in and look for the leak.

Once you are in the swimming pool you will want to completely visually inspect the liner’s seams first to see if you have a torn seam. This is common with above ground swimming pool liners. If you cannot find a leak in the seam you will now want to start looking for holes in other areas of the pool liner.

You can also detect a pool leak using testing dye found at your local swimming pool supply store. If one is not available, you can use also basic food coloring to help you find the leak in your above ground pool. Be sure to use a dark colored food coloring and place it into a small eyedropper or syringe. While you are in the pool squirt a bit of food coloring out of the syringe towards the area of the pool liner that you think is leaking and if it is, you will see the food coloring get sucked out of the pool.

How to Properly Patch the Hole in the Liner

Once you have found the leak in the swimming pool, you will want to make sure you know how to properly patch it. You will need a piece of the liner or a pool liner patch kit, some pool liner patch glue, and also a pair of scissors. You will of course also need to know where the pool liner is leaking.

1. Measure the area of the swimming pool liner that needs to be patched. 
2. Make sure that the patch you’re cutting is at least 2″ inches bigger all around then the hole in the liner.
3. Once you have cut the square or rectangle piece of pool liner 2″ inches bigger than the hole in the pool, you will want to round off the edges of the swimming pool patch – cut the patch into a circle if possible. The reason for this is that so there are no edges that can get caught or lift off once the patch is installed. A circular swimming pool patch will be less disturbed over time.
4. Apply the vinyl adhesive that came with your patching kit on the rough side of the patch. Apply the adhesive evenly and ensure that the entire patch is covered with adhesive.
5. Fold the patch in half, sticking the adhesive sides together. Because the adhesive dries quickly, folding the adhesive sides on top of each other helps to keep the adhesive moist until you actually apply it over the hole in the pool liner.
6. Unfold the patch material and place it over the hole in the pool. If the hole is under water, wait until you are near the hole to unfold the patch. Once the patch is unfolded, position it over the hole and gently smooth out all of the air bubbles. Smoothing with two much pressure may cause the patch to slide off the hole.
7. Maintain direct pressure on the patch for approximately five minutes. Be careful not to apply pressure from an angle, as it may cause you to shift the patch out of place.