We know you love your vinyl liner pool–it’s attractive, strong, and durable. Vinyl liners are designed and produced to last a long time.  But, for it to last and look as beautiful as it did when you first installed the pool, you have to maintain it properly. At Prestige Pools, we specialize in vinyl-lined pools. We know how important your pool is to you and what you need to do to take care of it. In this article, we want to share some tips on how to care for your vinyl liner pool. By following our guide, you can trust that your pool is in tip-top shape and will last for years to come!

Keep a Proper Chemical Balance

Your vinyl liner benefits from keeping a proper chemical balance in the water. When your pool water is not in balance, you can have calcium scaling, wrinkling and puckering, and accelerated aging of the liner. Furthermore, maintaining the proper chemical balance also protects the heater, pump, and other system components from damage. Check the chemical levels weekly during the swim season, mid-April through September. We recommend testing on the same day of the week for consistency. During the off-season, October 1 through March, check every other week.

Keep these levels in your pool water:

• chlorine levels between 1 and 3 ppm
• total alkalinity between 80 and 120 ppm
• calcium hardness between 200 and 400 ppm
• pH between 7.2 and 7.6

What to Do if the Chlorine Isn’t In Balance

If the chlorine isn’t in balance, you can adjust the amount of chlorine going into the pool by moving the dial on the chlorine feeder up to increase or down to decrease, then test again in a week. At the beginning of the season, it is recommended to shock the pool water with an above-normal dose of chlorine. This can cause the chlorine level to be a bit higher than it should be. If the chlorine level is too high, you can also try these methods to lower it:

• Stop adding chlorine–switch off the chlorine feeder, remove the chlorine floater from the pool, remove chlorine tablets from the skimmer
• Use the sunshine by uncovering the pool and taking advantage of a sunny day
• Heat the pool water to 90 degrees Fahrenheit
• Dilute the pool by partially draining it and then topping it up with fresh water
• Use hydrogen peroxide to oxidize
• Use a chlorine neutralizer product or sodium thiosulfate

If the chlorine level is too low, simply add more chlorine from chlorine tablets, granular chlorine, liquid shock, or powder shock. Start with a small amount to avoid over-chlorinating. Test your levels after the addition to see if you need to add more.

What to Do If the Alkalinity Isn’t In Balance

Test the alkalinity before testing the pH. The reading should be in the range of 80 to 120 parts per million (ppm). If you need to increase the alkalinity, add an Alkalinity Increaser 2 pounds at a time. Then, recheck it after 24 hours. If you need to decrease it, add sodium bisulfate.

What to Do If the pH Isn’t In Balance

After you are sure the alkalinity is at a normal range, test the pH. If the pH is below 7.0, your pool water is acidic. If the pH is above 7.0, the water is alkaline. Use sodium carbonate to increase the pH and sodium bisulfate to decrease the pH.

What to Do If the Calcium Hardness Isn’t In Balance

Calcium hardness is the measure of how hard or soft your pool water is and measures the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium in your swimming pool. When the water is too soft, it becomes corrosive. When the water is too hard, it becomes basic and over time the water becomes cloudy. With hard water, particles will cause the water to scale in and around your pool equipment which can clog and block the flow of water in and out of the pool. This can cause damage to your pool equipment. To raise the calcium hardness level, add a calcium hardness increaser like calcium chloride. To lower the calcium hardness level, partially drain or completely drain the water and replace it with fresh water.

Keeping the Pool Clean

Keeping your vinyl liner pool clean is critical to maintaining the pool in top shape. It is a given constant that you should always run your Kreepy Krauly. Here are additional steps to follow:

Weekly:

• Empty the skimmer and pump baskets
• Brush off steps and sidewalls
• Skim surface of pool water
• If the waterline is dirty, use dish detergent and a soft cloth to clean the liner

Backwash the filter every 4 – 6 weeks. Use 10 lb increase in filter pressure. To backwash the filter:

1. Turn the pool pump off.
2. Turn the valve on top of filter to backwash.
3. Turn the pool pump back on and run for 60 to 90 seconds.
4. Turn the pool pump off.
5. Turn the valve on top of the filter to rinse.
6. Turn the pool pump back on and fun for 10 to 15 seconds.
7. Turn the pool pump off.
8. Turn the valve back to filter.
9. Turn the pool pump on.

IMPORTANT: Never turn the backwash valve with the pool pump on!

Mustard Algae

Mustard algae is a chlorine-resistant form of green algae that often looks like dirt or sand on the bottom and sides of your pool. It can also attach to pool equipment, toys, and bathing suits. It contains compounds that act as a defense mechanism against the oxidation efforts of sanitizers, so it can survive even in highly chlorinated water. If you see signs of mustard algae in your pool, contact us at Prestige Pools as soon as possible.

Pool Equipment

Pool Pump

Run the pool pump for 12 hours each day during the swim season and run it for 6 hours per day during the off-season.

Kreepy Krauly

The Kreepy Krauly operates when the pool pump is on. Remove it from the pool when the water temperature is below 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pool Light

Set the time to activate the pool light to come on during the evening hours.

Pool Heater

Use the heater when you think it is necessary to heat the pool.

1. Push pool on the pad.
2. Push the Up or Down symbol on the pad to the desired temperature. 78 degrees F to 82 degrees F is considered ideal temperature.

Keep the temperature as low as possible to save fuel costs. The heater typically raises the temperature of the pool one degree per hour. If you intend to heat the pool for an extended period of time, consider using a solar cover.

The heater has to be turned on and off manually. It cannot be set on a timer. Therefore, if you do not turn it off manually once you have turned it on, it will run continuously.

Contact Prestige Pools for your Vinyl Pool Installation

If you are interested in an in-ground vinyl pool installation, please call us at 919-779-1033 or contact us through our easy-to-use form below.