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You don’t need to drain the whole pool to patch a pool liner, but be prepared to dive in with your swimsuit and goggles to patch a leak below the water level. By draining the pool, you can actually expose the liner to more harsh conditions, like wind and sunlight, that cause the tears to worsen. It’s best to use the ink test and waterproof patches or tape to identify the leak and patch it up.

Pool leaks most commonly occur at joints or where different materials meet. The most frequent leak spots include:

• The Pool Skimmer: Where the plastic skimmer meets the pool's liner or shell.

• The Pool Liner: Tears can develop in vinyl liners, especially those between 5 and 20 years old. Leaks also occur around the liner's edge.

• Fittings and Accessories: Areas around return lines, the main drain, and pool lights are common culprits.

• Pool Equipment: The pump, filter, and filter housing can also leak.

While leaks in underground pipes are less common, they can be costly to fix. It's usually best to check the more common spots before investigating the plumbing system.

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.

Yes, you can DIY a pool liner, with careful planning, measuring, adherence to a step-by-step process, and a few helping hands to get the job done. Keep in mind that the type of pool liner you choose could impact how easy it is for you to install. For example, beaded and J-hook liners hook to the edges of the pool either via an allotted bead receiver or hook. Overlap liners don’t use clips and can easily drape across your pool frame without an exact fit.