In this section of above ground pool faq I will talk about topics like how to level the ground and finding instructions for your above ground pool. I will discuss steel pool walls and dirt blowing out of the discharge hose into your above ground pool. For a complete list of questions about above ground swimming pools visit the questions index page. Visit the ask the pool pro section to ask any question you may have about above ground pools.
54. Why is my liner pulling down from the pool wall?
55. Can I convert my beaded liner pool to an overlap liner?
56. Should I level the pool area with sand or dirt?
57. Why am I loosing my filter pressure when I hook up my vacuum?
58. Where can I find instructions to help with an above ground swimming pool installation?
If you know the pools manufacturer sometimes you can download instructions from their web site or ask them to mail you a set. I have never liked manufacturer instructions because they seem to leave out so much helpful information and the little diagrams are tough to follow. By early spring I hope to have my own set of generic instructions ready for their first downloads, until then check my pool e-book page or my pool directions page. They will be complete with real pictures of actual installations.
59. Can I leave my old liner in the pool and put a new one over it?
I don't usually recommend this. When a pool is emptied the old liner shrinks and starts to wrinkle. Any wrinkles or folds in the old liner will show through when the new liner is installed. It is very difficult to get an old liner to lay smooth and flat enough for a new liner to look nice installed over it. The other drawback is this, when changing liners it is a good idea to make sure the sand or pool base is smooth and free of foot prints. This would require removing the old liner. There are times when grass or roots are a big problem that I may remove all the sand, put down the old liner, and reinstall the sand, before installing the new liner.
60. I let my pool sit empty and my liner shrank, what can I do?
If the liner is older than a few years I would replace it. If it is relatively new you could try waiting until the hottest part of the day and start filling the pool. Watch closely as the pool fills for any signs of the wall caving in or of the liner pulling out from the top. If it pulls out from the top it can usually be reset. Above ground pools should not be left empty unless you plan on changing liners.
If it is time to replace the old liner here is good place to look for great prices.
Pool Liners
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61. Why does dirt come out of the return when I am vacuuming the pool?
Sand and cartridge filters do a great job of trapping the dirt. It is very important to clean the filter before and after vacuuming. You will have a lot more suction with a clean filter. Sometimes it is necessary to stop vacuuming and clean the filter before you can finish just to keep the suction up. There is no point in vacuuming a pool with no suction at the vacuum head. If you are following these steps and still have dirt blowing back into the pool it is probably an algae problem, not a filter problem. Certain types of algae will flow through the filter and settle back to the bottom of the pool and 30 minutes after you vacuum it looks the same as before you started. The best remedy I have seen for this is vinyl shock treatment added to the water and vacuuming the algae off the bottom in the vacuum to waist mode. It is also a good idea to run the filter nonstop until the problem clears up.
62. What do you recommend, steel walls or aluminum walls?
In Arizona we have a lot better luck with a well coated steel wall. The aluminum walls don't rust the way steel walls do, but they do tend to corrode and within a couple years I have seen this type of wall with hundreds of little holes all over it. The steel walls will usually start rusting at the bottom where they come in contact with dirt. This is normal and the walls should still last many years. Two other points to remember about making a pool wall last longer, if the liner leaks, patch it or replace it. The more expensive the pool is usually means the wall is better coated and will last longer.
For more above ground pool questions and answers visit these pages.
AGP Pool Help - Everything on this site about Above Ground Pools
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