By Carl Flieler

The addition of water treatment chemicals can also damage a vinyl liner if they are not sufficiently circulated in the water. For example, chemicals such as chlorine can settle in the pool’s deep end and bleach the liner if the water is not circulated for several hours before the pool is closed for the season.
Spot bleaching can also occur if calcium hypochlorite (Ca[ClO]2) particles or other slow-dissolving sanitizers are allowed to settle on the pool floor. This can be easily prevented by dissolving sanitizers in a bucket of pool water prior to adding them to the pool. After the sanitizer has dissolved, pour it into the pool using a sieve.

Read the full article: Dealing with Vinyl Liner Stains

By Carl Flieler

Pink blotches, which can appear on vinyl liners of all colours, are typically caused by an indelible pink dye excreted by bacterial micro-organisms. Photos courtesy Canadian General-Tower Ltd.

Pink blotches, which can appear on vinyl liners of all colours, are typically caused by an indelible pink dye excreted by bacterial micro-organisms. This dye can easily migrate through the entire thickness of the liner as it is highly soluble in the plasticizers used in flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pool liners.
Bacterial micro-organisms can grow on either side of the pool liner. For instance, growth on the water side of the liner may occur if free chlorine levels are allowed to fall below 1.5 ppm at the same time organic matter and bacteria have been allowed to accumulate in the water. At this stage, super chlorinating will rid the pool water of the contamination and bleach the portion of the dye that is exposed on the liner’s surface. However, if the dye has already penetrated the liner’s surface, staining will tend to linger indefinitely.

Read the full article: Dealing with Vinyl Liner Stains

By Carl Flieler

This vinyl liner has staining on the pool wall and pattern loss due to excessive chlorine exposure on the pool floor. Photo courtesy Canadian General-Tower Ltd.

Black staining on vinyl pool liners can originate from a number of sources, which primarily fall into two categories: metal staining and black algae. Depending on the type of stain, different treatments are required to correct the problem.

Metals such as copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) will form oxides in chlorinated pool water and can precipitate out of solution, resulting in stains that are generally black, brown or grey. If the stain cannot be removed from the liner by treatment specified, it is likely due to an organic source such as black algae. Black algae are tenacious organisms with a chlorine (Cl) resistant coating and appear as a series of small black spots.

Read the full article: Dealing With Vinyl Liner Stains

By Carl Flieler

Chlorine can bleach the liner if the water is not circulated for several hours before the pool is closed for the season. Photo by Rudy Kral

Vinyl pool liners, which are protected by special additives and coatings, can withstand the extremes of sunshine, heat, cold and constant exposure to chemically treated water. However, even the highest quality liner is still subject to staining, discolouration and other unsightly symptoms if proper water balance is not maintained, debris is allowed to remain in the pool and if water treatment chemicals are used improperly.

Pool professionals are often plagued by black and pink staining, blemishes from discolouration and bleaching, and byproducts commonly known as ‘pool tar.’ This article will help pool professionals identify the source and cause of various vinyl liner stains, as well as provide tips for removal and how to avoid them in the future.

Read the full article: Dealing With Vinyl Liner Stains