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Sara Oliver

What Causes Wrinkles In Your Inground Pool Liner?

Updated: Oct 23




So, you’ve got this swanky inground pool, and everything’s going great until you observe something.


Wrinkles in the Pool liner! Ugh, it’s like finding creases on a perfectly pressed shirt right before an important meeting.


But hey before you dive headfirst into the panic model, let’s discuss the causes of the wrinkles.


Causes like water wobble, the miserable shifty soil, overfilling in the pool and temperature changes.


Did you know these were the changes? No. GREAT. Now, you know and let’s discuss how you can mitigate them


The Water Wobble: Unbalanced Chemistry 


One of the main culprits behind those pesky and irritating wrinkles is your pool’s water chemistry.


Specifically, we’re talking about low pH and alkalinity levels. When the water in your pool gets too acidic, it starts playing games with the liner, causing it to stretch and you guessed it right, wrinkle up.


Think of it as the water giving your liner a little too much love, like a tight hug that never lets go. 


To avoid, keep an eye on your pool’s pH levels. The sweet spot is usually between 7.4 and 7.6.


If it dips too low, it’s time to break out the alkalinity increase before things get wrinkly. It is stressed to not just keep AN eye on the levels. But both eyes. 


The Shifty Soil: Ground Movement 


You know how sometimes the earth just shifted a bit? Well, your pool liner feels that too.


Ground movement, whether from natural settling or minor seismic activity can cause the liner to bunch up in places. It’s like mother nature decided to shake things up, literally!


This kind of shifting is more common in areas with a high water table of loose soil.


While you can’t exactly control the earth’s movements, ensuring proper drainage around your pool and maintaining a stable foundation can help keep things smooth. 


Soak and Stretch: Overfilling The Pool 


Here’s a cause, you might be missing. Overfilling your pool can lead to wrinkles. 


When there’s  too much water, the liner can stretch beyond its limits, leading to those annoying creases. Images trying to squeeze into jeans a size too small.


The results? You guessed it right. Wrinkles everywhere!


Always be mindful when filling your pool, and stop once the water reaches the appropriate level.


Not only will this save you from dealing with wrinkles, but it’ll also prevent water from splashing out during your epic cannonball dives. 


The Temperature Changes 


Just like how your skin wrinkles, when it’s too cold, pool liners can do the same when they’re exposed to extreme temperature changes.


Vinyl liners, in particular, are sensitive to fluctuations in temperature. When it’s too cold, the liner contracts, when it’s warm it expands.


If this happens too quickly or frequently, you end up with a crinkled liner. To minimize this, try to keep your pool covered during off seasons and avoid drastic temperature changes.


This will keep your liner snug and smooth all year round 


Poor Installation 


Sometimes, the root of the problem isn’t nature or water chemistry, it’s human error.


If your pool liner wasn’t installed properly, wrinkles can start showing up sooner rather than later.


Whether it’s not stretching the liner correctly during installation or failing to smooth out the base, poor installation practices can lead to a wrinkled mess. 


How To Smooth Out Those Wrinkles 

Here are some of exciting ways to smooth out the wrinkles:


Warm Water Massage


If the wrinkles are minor, try using warm water to soften the vinyl. Then, gently smooth out the wrinkles with your hands or a soft brush. It’s like giving your pool a relaxing spa day. 


Plunger Power


Yes, you heard that right! A toilet plunger can be your best friend when it comes to smoothing out small wrinkles. Just make sure it’s clean and use it to push the wrinkles towards the edge of the pool. 


Weighted Roller


For more stubborn wrinkles, a weighted roller can help. Carefully roll over the wrinkles, pushing them towards the nearest wall or corner.


This method works best for larger areas that need more attention. 

Call in the pros


If all else fails, don’t hesitate to call in a professional. Sometimes, those wrinkles need expert hands to smooth them out. 


Wrapping it up 


Wrinkles in your inground pool liner are definitely a nuisance, but they’re not the end of the world.


By keeping an eye on your water chemistry, being mindful of pool fill levels, and ensuring a proper installation, you can keep your pool looking as smooth as glass.


And if wrinkles do pop up, now, you’ve got a few funky tricks up your sleeve to smooth things over!


Wrinkles or no wrinkles, it is encouraged you hire the services of dream pool spas. They are not only the masters of installation. Rather, they would guide with a budget friendly opinion.

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