Know when your liner has passed its peak
Most pool liners need replacing after 10 years.
A pool liner replacement costs $1,200 to $2,500.
Tears, cracks, wrinkles, leaks, and stains are signs you need a new liner.
Balancing chemicals and covering your pool can increase a liner’s lifespan.
Spring is the best season to replace a liner.
The typical pool liner lifespan is around 10 years, but it depends on various factors—and maintenance is one of the most important. Replacing a pool liner can be a costly job and not one you’ll want to do before you need to. However, using a damaged liner can cause even more troublesome and expensive repairs because of the long-term damage it can do to the pool's structural integrity. Here’s a closer look at how long pool liners last and when you’ll need to replace yours.
Pool liners last an average of 10 years, and most types of liners have a lifespan of between 5 and 15 years. There are many factors that affect how long your pool liner will last, including the quality and thickness of the vinyl, how often you use your pool, how much sunlight the vinyl is exposed to, and more. You can inspect your liner for physical damage twice a year to stay ahead of wear and tear, but having a professional inspection might be required to determine how much life it has left.
Over time, all vinyl pool liners deteriorate—after all, they have regular exposure to strong UV rays and pool chemicals. There are various signs that your pool liner could be reaching the end of its usable lifespan.
As your liner ages, it dries out and becomes more brittle, putting it at greater risk of developing cracks. This is especially true for any areas of the vinyl that are above the water level and are exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods. If you see a crack or a tear appearing in your liner, even if water levels in the pool aren’t dropping, it isn’t something to ignore.
Once a crack appears, it will only be a matter of time before it becomes larger. If the liner is relatively new, it may be possible to patch up a tear or crack. For older liners, the vinyl might be too brittle, and bonding the crack together is more of a challenge.
Cracks and tears in your liner can lead to leaks. Depending on how severe the leak is, it may be possible to patch the pool liner to give you a few more years before you’ll need to replace the liner altogether. However, if it’s a serious leak or one that’s difficult to locate, replacing the liner may be the best or only option. Seeping chlorinated water can damage pool walls and affect their structural integrity, and constantly having to refill your pool will gradually cost you more and more on your water bills.
If a hole isn’t obvious, watch out for dropping pool water levels. Although pools naturally lose water due to evaporation and splashing, if levels drop by more than an inch a week and you can’t locate a leak, consider calling in a local pool maintenance specialist to find the leak and come up with a plan to fix it.
Staining and discoloration of your pool liner are inevitable over time because of its exposure to intense chemicals and UV rays. You also need to keep rust stains and algae buildup in check, as they can be challenging to remove and make your pool look less attractive. Although these problems don’t affect the liner’s integrity most of the time, if there’s major fading or lots of stains, you may decide to replace the liner for a more pleasing aesthetic.
Fading can also signify that your liner is turning brittle, which leads to cracks and tears.
Most modern, high-quality liners contain UV inhibitors and have stain-resistant qualities. If you notice lots of fading or staining after just a few years, this could be a sign of inferior quality, and it may need replacing sooner than the average liner.
As your liner ages, it will lose some of its pliable elasticity. Beading, wrinkling, bumps, or slipping out of the pool coping track are a possibility at this stage because the liner is stretching.
When the liner pops out of the track, if you apply heated water, you may be able to put it back into place successfully. If the problem happens repeatedly, it can eventually damage the track—and deck integrated coping tracks, in particular, are expensive to replace.
Problems with the shape of your liner are typically a sign that a replacement is needed soon. If neglected, water can seep into the structure of the pool, causing more serious issues.
A variety of factors can affect whether your liner lasts for 15 years or starts to break down after only 5. Here’s a look at what can lengthen or shorten the lifespan of your pool liner.
UV rays from the sun are harmful to vinyl pool liners and will weaken and break them down over time. You may start to notice the vinyl fading from sun exposure, and eventually the vinyl will lose its plasticity. At that point, it’s more likely to crack.
If your pool is shaded by trees for a good portion of the day, the vinyl is likely to last longer than if the sun is constantly beating down on it.
Most vinyl pool liners come in thicknesses between 20 and 30 “mils,” which, contrary to popular belief, doesn’t refer to millimeters. A “mil” is equal to 1/1000 of an inch, so a 30 mil pool liner is around 3/4 of a millimeter thick.
Thicker vinyl costs more, but, provided the pool liner is installed properly, thicker liners will last longer than thinner ones. That’s mostly because they stand up better to physical wear from feet, pool toys, tree branches, and dog claws.
There’s no guarantee that a 30-mil liner will last for the full 15 years and a 20-mil one will only last for 5 years, but there is a positive correlation between liner thickness and longevity.
High-quality liners tend to last longer, while also costing more. Aside from the thickness, a pool liner’s quality depends on the following:
Vinyl quality. High-quality vinyl is made with reinforced PVC and uses virgin plastics that have better flexibility than recycled vinyl.
Seam strength. The quality of the seams plays a major role in how well your liner stands up to the test of time and resists leaks, especially if it sees frequent use.
UV inhibitors. Reputable manufacturers include UV inhibitors in their vinyl liners to help the product resist degradation when exposed to sunlight for extended periods.
Pool liners that see a lot of use will tend to age more quickly and will likely have a shorter lifespan. If you have multiple people using your pool every day, it’s more likely to get scratched and punctured, especially if those swimmers are accompanied by four-legged friends.
The quality of the installation can have a surprising impact on how long your pool liner lasts. A reputable installer should take the time and effort to make sure your liner fits into your pool structure properly, conforms to all sides, and isn’t bubbled, folded, or pinched in any areas. Any imperfections will be at greater risk of physical damage.
Additionally, mistakes made when installing the beading can damage the coping track, which can, in turn, damage your liner and necessitate replacement.
UV light from the sun is most likely to degrade your vinyl pool liner, but the harsh chemicals in your pool water can also affect the lifespan. Chlorine in particular can wear away at the vinyl over the years and weaken it, eventually leading to drying and cracking. Test your pool water regularly to make sure any chemicals used remain within the ideal ranges.
Vinyl expands as the temperature rises and shrinks as the temperature cools. Some fluctuation throughout the seasons is normal, but if you live in an area with extreme summers or winters, the vinyl will stretch and shrink more than it’s meant to. Over time, the constant changes will weaken the vinyl. Therefore, vinyl liners in extreme climates tend to have a shorter lifespan.
Finally, how often and how diligently you clean your pool can affect how long your pool liner lasts. If you go a long time without cleaning, algae and debris are more likely to build up on the liner and stain it. This will require more aggressive cleaning, which can be tough on your liner.
Keeping up with regular pool maintenance is a good way to keep your liner looking new for longer.
No homeowner wants to lay out money for a new liner, especially since the cost to replace a pool liner averages around $2,400 and can climb as high as $5,500 or more. Luckily, there are some things you can do to extend the life of your liner.
Pay attention to the chemicals. The first step to maximizing your liner’s lifespan is properly balancing your pool chemicals. Letting your pool get to the point where you need to shock it again and again means you’re overexposing the liner to chlorine. Test your water two to three times a week and keep the levels in check on an ongoing basis to avoid this issue.
Select a high-quality liner in the correct size. High-quality liners are more durable, even if they cost a bit more than the most budget-friendly option. Opt for a manufacturer that provides a good warranty, has a good reputation, and has workmanship guarantees for the installation labor.
Establish a good pool cleaning routine. Pay particular attention to the waterline, where dirt, algae, and oils tend to build up. Gently scrub any affected areas with vinyl cleaner as soon as you notice debris. This will help keep your pool looking its best without the need for more aggressive cleaning methods.
Make minor fixes. Patch small cracks, tears, and leaks, where possible, as soon as they occur. Liner damage tends to get worse over time, so carrying out preemptive repairs is best practice to avoid replacement.
Cover your pool. Since UV rays degrade vinyl liners, cover your pool when it’s not in use.
Remove debris from the pool. Rocks, twigs, and other debris can tear your liner. Be diligent about skimming and keeping foreign objects out of your pool.
Avoid abrasive cleaning products. These can wear down your liner.
Mind your dog. If you allow dogs in your pool, make sure they have a proper entry and exit route and that they know how to use it. This will keep them safe and reduce the chances of their claws scratching or puncturing the sides of your liner.
Prevent groundwater buildup. This can seep under the liner and cause it to lose shape. You may need to install a pump beneath the liner to move excess water, or have an expert implement a drainage solution.
Avoid draining your pool completely. This can also result in a misshapen liner that's prone to rips and tears.
Only allow pool-safe toys. If a toy could rip your liner, don’t put it in the pool, particularly if it has sharp edges.
Consider a chlorine alternative. Since chlorine can degrade your liner, you might want to consider a chlorine alternative for your pool. Even something like adding an ionizer or ozonator to your pool—which still requires chlorine, but a lower volume of it—can extend the life of your liner.
Most pool liners come with some kind of warranty, which typically lasts between 5 and 20 years. The large majority of the warranties cover the welded seams but not the longevity or durability of the liner itself. This coverage is great to have and can help avoid leaks from broken seams, but they’re typically not enough to cover any and all damage that you might experience.
For example, damage from UV light, chemicals, algae, and punctures won’t be covered, and you’ll need to pay for the necessary pool liner repair costs or a full replacement yourself.
Some professional pool liner installers near you might also include a warranty for the installation labor, which can be massively beneficial, if for no other reason than they help guarantee that you won’t have problems with your liner due to poor installation technique.
If you start noticing some serious signs of wear, the best time to replace your pool liner is typically in the spring or early fall. Liners adhere the best when temperatures are warmer than 70 degrees—but if you don’t time it properly, a liner replacement can eat into peak pool time.
For most of the United States, April and May are the best months for liner replacement. It’s generally warm enough to get the job done right, but far enough away from pool season that your contractor isn’t swamped with pool maintenance and repairs. If the weather is too cold, you can wait until mid-May or early June, but it can take longer to hire a pool professional and get them out during peak pool season.
Repairing a pool liner is almost always going to be more affordable than replacing it entirely. A pool liner repair costs around $400, on average, and often ranges between $150 and $600. In contrast, a full replacement averages around $2,400 and can fall anywhere between $350 and $5,500, depending mostly on the liner’s size and thickness.
Unfortunately, a repair is not always possible or beneficial in the long run. This is usually the case when it comes to patching a leak or tear on an older liner. If the vinyl is damaged from the sun, chlorine exposure, or expansion and contraction due to temperature changes, then the patch may not bond properly and won’t last very long.
You should have a pool repair professional come out to assess your liner and see if a repair is possible. They should be able to help you decide if the repair is worthwhile or if a replacement will save you money in the long run.
Mariel Loveland contributed to this piece.
With careful pool maintenance, modern, high-quality liners can last an average of 10 years and sometimes up to 15 years.
Poorly balanced water chemistry, constant exposure to UV light, heavy use, and physical wear and tear can reduce your pool liner’s longevity significantly. In these instances, you may only get five to nine years from the liner before it becomes irreparably wrinkled and requires replacement. If the liner is of low quality to begin with, the lifespan might be even shorter.
You’ll know when it’s time to replace your pool liner because there will be visible cracking, tearing, fading, and/or staining. You may also notice that your pool liner has lost some elasticity, and it may even start to leak. It’s a good idea to call in a pool repair professional to see if a repair is possible and worthwhile. If it is, you might spend a few hundred dollars and get many more years of enjoyment out of your pool rather than spending thousands on a full replacement.
One of the most obvious signs your pool is leaking is water loss—but a small leak can take a while to noticeably lower the water level.
Keep an eye out for these telltale signs:
Unexplained soft, mushy, or wet spots in the yard
Cracks or falling tile
Higher-than-normal water bills
Dropping water levels
Algae growth or discoloration in your pool
Standing water at the pump or pipes
