How To Patch An Above-Ground Pool Liner

An above ground pool.
  • 2-4 hours
  • Beginner
  • 5-20
What You'll Need
Pool patch kit
Vinyl patch
Vinyl glue
Hose
What You'll Need
Pool patch kit
Vinyl patch
Vinyl glue
Hose

One of the problems with the above ground pool liner is that it has a tendency to rip after a few years of use. The constant use, sun exposure, and chlorinated water will eventually wear out certain parts of the liner, causing it to fail. When this happens, the water will begin leaking out, and the tear will get larger if not taken care of. Patching a tear in an above ground pool liner is very easy to do, but does require some time to complete. Here are some steps to take to patch the liner in your above ground pool.

Step 1 - Determine Where the Leak Is

If you know that your pool is losing water, you will need to find the leak to know where the repair is needed. The tear could be on the side or on the bottom of the pool. Do some looking around to determine where the patch is needed. Once you find the area where the patch is needed, continue looking to make sure there are no more leaks.

Step 2 - Drain the Pool

Unfortunately, in order to effectively repair the pool, you will need to drain it down to a level that is at least below the tear in the above ground pool liner. Connect your hose to the pool and let it drain into an area where the water will not interfere with the rest of your landscape. As the water continues to drain out, look for other areas where you may need to repair the liner. Once the water level drops enough you can stop the draining and start to patch the liner.

Step 3 - Use Pool Kit Patch

When you purchased the pool you would have been given a pool patch kit. This small kit is great for small repairs to the above ground pool liner. For larger tears, you will need to use a different type of patch. It is also important to keep in mind that the kit included with the pool is thin and may not hold up to the activity in your pool.

Step 4 - Buy Individual Items

If the tear in your pool liner is larger, or you want to have a more heavy-duty pool liner patch, you can buy the items you need individually. For the most part, a piece of the thick vinyl patch will work great for your pool liner. It does not matter the color, but a clear patch will help you know where the liner has been repaired already.

Step 5 - Patch Pool Liner

Using either the kit or a piece of vinyl that you purchased yourself, you can now begin to patch the liner. Dry the surface of the liner and make sure it is clean. Make sure that the patch will cover the entire tear and also leave about an inch all around the tear. Spread the vinyl glue over the patch and press it onto the liner. Use the palm of your hand to keep the pressure on the patch. Clean up any glue that comes out from under the patch. Once it is dry you can refill the pool and begin using it again.