Does a Vinyl Pool Liner Patch Kit Really Work (Vinyl Pools)?

They do! But it depends. If you’re searching for a vinyl pool liner patch kit or a vinyl pool liner repair kit online, you likely can appreciate the value of a vinyl pool liner.

With that being said, even the most easy-to-install, customizable, and durable vinyl pool liners meet their maker at some point. Alas, a vinyl pool liner will eventually leak or, worse yet, tear.

But here’s the good news: knowing how to patch a vinyl pool liner with a vinyl pool liner repair kit can keep your pool — and wallet — in great shape.

You can save money and stress by choosing a repair kit that helps reduce the chance of flooding, unnecessary equipment changes, wasted water, and excessive chemical use.

Join Kayden Manufacturing’s 20-plus-year veteran pool experts as we dive into the deep end of how to repair a vinyl pool liner with a patch and/or repair kit.

In this article, we’ll discuss:

The difference between vinyl pool liner water leaks and water evaporation
When to replace versus repair a vinyl pool liner to get the most life out of your vinyl pool liner
How to replace vinyl pool liners with repair kits
Pro tips when it comes to using a vinyl pool liner patch kit
Frequently asked questions about vinyl pool liner repair kits

7 steps to repair a vinyl pool liner

Clean the area around the rip or tear
Cut off a piece of the tape or patch to fit the size of the tear
Add adhesive to the back of the patch
Stick the patch on the leaking space
Apply pressure to the patch (at least 24 hours)
After 24 hours, check if a double patch is needed, and apply if needed
Clean the area around the patch

Vinyl pool liner water leak or water evaporation?

Often preceding a vinyl pool liner repair, homeowners notice a decrease in their vinyl liner pool’s water level. Not to worry: this phenomenon is common during hot summer months.

Fiberglass, gunite, and vinyl liner pools often lose at least ¼ inch of water per day due to evaporation from the heat.

But, you should start to worry if you notice that the water level decreases an inch or more each day. One or more inches a day of water loss indicates a leaking pool.

You can confirm leaks with a variety of methods, one of which is called the water bucket test.

Try the helpful water bucket test

To rule out evaporation as the cause of the leak, we like to use the water bucket test. To conduct the water bucket test, follow these fast four steps:

Place a 5-gallon bucket on a step in a pool
Fill the bucket with water so the water level in the bucket matches the water level in your pool
Turn your pool pump off, and let the bucket sit on the step or in the shallow area of the pool for 24 hours.
Once 24 hours is up, compare the water level of your pool against the water level of the bucket.

If the pool and the bucket’s water level are equal, your pool is likely losing water due to evaporation. But, if the water level in the bucket is more than the water in the pool, you likely have a pool leak on your hands.

In the latter case, you’ll want to locate the leak and determine next steps.

Locate the leak and plan for next steps

After you’ve located the leak, you’ll want to determine if the leak is small or large.

Large leaks tend to be easy to spot; they usually make themselves known through wet spots around the pool or the equipment near the pool.

Smaller leaks are more challenging to find. You might need to start looking around the pool and do some sleuthing to find the source of the leak.

For example, sometimes damaged areas bubble inward toward the pool, as water seeps behind the tear. Once you figure out the area of a liner rupture, you will want to use a leak detector dye to determine the exact location of the leak.

To find the source of the damage, follow these two simple steps:

Turn off your pool pump, and allow the pool water to settle
Next, squirt a few drops of dye into the area of the tear. Keep your eyes on the dye, as the dye should gravitate towards the inside of the tear.

Next steps: repair or replace a vinyl pool liner?

Once the source of the leak has been found, the natural question is: do you repair or replace the vinyl pool liner?

To better answer this question, we need to know a little bit about the age, condition, size, and severity of the tear.

For example, if the liner is brand new — and you have a small, minor tear, a vinyl pool liner patch or repair is all that’s needed.

But, if the liner is older — and the tear is significant — it might be time to part ways with the liner. Replacing the old liner with a new liner is likely the best option.

Of course, if you’re not comfortable with do-it-yourself patching and/or vinyl pool liner replacements, you can always hire a pool contractor to install your new liner.

You can save money, time, and stress by having an experienced pool expert nip the leak in the bud with a handy vinyl pool liner patch repair kit.

Fixing vinyl pool liners with repair kits

If you go the do-it-yourself route, you can patch a vinyl pool liner with a quality vinyl pool liner patch kit.

The size of the tear will determine what type of patch and repair kit you need for the job.

For smaller rips and tears: use waterproof tape or peel-and-stick patches.
For larger rips and tears: use a heavy-duty repair or patch kit that uses waterproof adhesives. Vinyl pool liner patch kits tend to be more durable than peel-and-stick patches.

And good news! If you decide to go the do-it-yourself route, you don’t need to drain a pool to give it a proper patch. All you need is a swimsuit, goggles, and a willingness to, well, dive in.

In fact, draining a vinyl liner pool will damage the lining, as the vinyl liner will be exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays to a greater degree than if the pool had water in it.

Once you have your swimsuit ready, all you need is to gather your supplies.

Gather supplies for the vinyl pool liner repair kit

If you decide to patch a pool yourself, make sure to gather the following supplies and tools.

Waterproof adhesive and/or tape
Peel-and-stick vinyl patches
A vinyl pool liner patch/repair kit
A pool brush
Scissors
Goggles
A swimsuit
A heavy weight (to place on top of the patch to help it seal)

Keep these items handy — and buy multiple — for potential leaks that could occur in the future.

Follow these 7 steps to patch a liner

Once you’re toolkit ready, follow these seven simple steps to patch and repair your pool liner.

Clean the area (including dirt and other materials) around the tear using a soft nylon pool brush.
Trim the patch or tape to fit the size of the tear; ensure you cut the tape or patch a little larger than the leak to ensure the patch covers the full tear.
Add adhesive to the back of the patch.
Stick the patch on the leak spot. Press the patch over the leak, and ensure no air bubbles or bumps exist. Smooth out the area to ensure the leak is sealed.
Place a heavy weight on top of the patch for 24 hours. Depending on where the patch is, you may want to tape the heavy weight to the leak spot. What’s most important about this process is that the weight creates a leak-proof seal around the leak spot.
For larger leaks or tears, patch the leak spot once more. Use a larger piece of adhesive and tape for peace of mind.
After 24 hours, check the leak, and remove the weight to reveal your newly patched vinyl liner pool.

Kayden’s Quick Tips

If you’re wondering whether you should replace your pool liner, look for signs of deterioration, stretching, and fading.

What’s more, since skimmers, gaskets, pool lights, and plumbing junctions are all prime suspects for a pool leak, consider reaching out to a professional for a second opinion on fixing a leaking vinyl pool liner.

Get help patching vinyl pool liners with expert advice

A vinyl liner pool patch kit is a wonderful solution for fixing leaks and tears in a vinyl liner pool. If the vinyl pool liner tear is small — and the pool is new — a vinyl pool liner repair kit can help with the repair work.

But, if the vinyl liner tear is larger, the pool is older, and you don’t have the supplies or time to follow the seven steps to repair a vinyl pool liner, you may want to reach out to a pool professional.

Pool professionals have years of experience with vinyl liner installations and avoiding water waste in the process of a liner replacement. If you’re looking for a local pool professional, repair team, dealer, or sound advice about pool liner replacements, don’t hesitate to reach out to us today.

We’d be more than happy to connect you with the right resources for your pool needs.

FAQ about vinyl pool liner repair kits

Do I really need a vinyl pool liner repair kit?

Maybe — but maybe not!

We say that because a vinyl pool liner repair kit can be helpful for vinyl pool liner tears that are relatively small and for pools that are relatively new.

But, for larger tears on an older pool, a vinyl pool liner replacement may be just what the pool doctor ordered. With the swimming pool liner market on the rise (DataIntelo, 2024), a pool professional knows the market well enough to make a solid pool liner recommendation for your needs.

You can always reach out to a pool contractor for their advice and expertise. Pool professionals are equipped with vinyl pool liner patch kits that can nip leaks in the bud fast.

What other options exist for patching a vinyl pool liner?

If you don’t have a pool patch kit, you can always patch a pool leak with the following:

Waterproof tape (a quick, temporary way to fix a vinyl pool liner leak)
Silicone sealant (for those do-it-yourselfers out there looking for a temporary solution)
Using old pool liner pieces for patching (Recycling anyone?)

Probably the most professional, reliable method for patching a vinyl pool liner is to call a pool contractor and installer. A pool patch kit is really no substitute for a team with decades of experience mending backyard pools.

Where can I find a vinyl pool liner repair kit?

Your local pool supplies store carries pool liner patch kits. Alternatively, you can create a pool liner patch kit by shopping for pool repair patch kit supplies through popular e-commerce websites like Amazon.com.

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