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While you can perform some repairs to a pool liner without draining the pool, you’ll need to empty it to remove the old liner and install a new one. Since most pools don’t have a main drain, you’ll need to use a submersible pump or pool cover pump to drain the water. If you are installing a new liner, be sure to assess and repair the pool walls and floor to ensure a good installation for the new liner.

Both above ground and inground pools can have pool liners. Inground pools made of gunite don’t need pool liners, and you’ve probably walked along an unlined pool and felt the ripples and ridges on the floors and walls. But adding a liner over gunite or other pool types helps protect the wall panels from algae growth.

A high-quality vinyl pool liner can last 10 to 15 years with proper maintenance. However, factors like poor water chemistry, constant UV exposure, heavy use, or harsh weather can reduce its lifespan to as little as five to nine years. You should consider replacing your liner when you notice significant fading, discoloration, wrinkling, cracking, or multiple tears. If the liner is heavily damaged, it's best to have a professional inspect it.

How long a pool liner lasts depends on the type of pool. Most in-ground pool liners last between six and 12 years, while aboveground pool liners last anywhere from six to 10 years. You can extend the life of your pool liner by maintaining proper pool chemistry, adding chemicals individually to avoid staining the liner, using a pool cover to protect it from the sun, and keeping sharp objects away from it.