Installation & Construction | Pool Maintenance | Swimming Pool FAQs | Vinyl Liner Pool Information
Liner wrinkles are part of owning a vinyl liner pool. A liner is very thin, and when it’s initially installed, it’s not uncommon to have some wrinkles in the pool. Wrinkles can also develop slowly over time, which is unfortunately true for both pools and people.
Wrinkles are separate from divots, dents, and bumps that can also form under vinyl liners, but the issues could occur together.
Liner wrinkles don’t usually cause serious problems, but they can be difficult to remove. Your best option is to catch them as the pool is being filled and keep your pool water in good condition—but if they do show up later, we’re here to help you clear them up.
What causes pool wrinkles?
Wrinkles can show up for a variety of reasons.
The most common reason is heavy rainfall or otherwise excessive water in the soil around the pool. Having a high water table can cause the liner to lift from the floor of the pool like a balloon. When the groundwater recedes, the liner doesn’t go back to the same position as before, so wrinkles develop.
Incorrect water chemistry can cause it too. Low pH can cause the liner to absorb water, which stretches it and leads to wrinkles. (Poor water chemistry causes plenty of other issues as well. It’s a lose-lose situation.)
How to prevent wrinkles in vinyl pool liner
If you contract reputable builders to construct your pool, you should operate under the assumption that they want to provide you a good experience and a quality product. You’re both working toward the same goal. They don’t benefit from an upset customer. Assume the best of them and know what you need to contribute to make this project a success.
If you read your warranty carefully, you'll almost certainly find that wrinkles are not covered. In this case, if the builder does install your liner incorrectly and you find wrinkles, they will not be obligated to remove them, although they should.
When filling the pool, it's okay to monitor the liner for wrinkles and point them out to the builder. They may not appreciate this, but better safe than sorry. If a builder ever instructs you to remove wrinkles in a pool they are installing, you've likely picked the wrong company. Consequently, you may want to ask if this is standard practice before signing an agreement.
When the builder presents paperwork for you to sign off on the liner installation, read the paperwork, discuss it, and know that you’re satisfied with the job before you sign off on it.
To prevent high groundwater, install a dewatering system around the pool. You can do this both during and after construction.
Maintain your water chemistry. You may be able to avoid wrinkles in addition to scaling, cloudy water, eye and skin irritation, faded and thinned liner, calcium deposits, algae...Look, you could probably solve poverty. Just take the time to test your pool water every week and adjust as needed.
How to get rid of existing wrinkles in your vinyl liner
One temporary solution that may help with small wrinkles is to use a toilet plunger. (I suggest a new, clean one. Just in case.) This is time-consuming but less expensive than a full drain and refill.
- Carefully press the plunger beside the wrinkle.
- Gently pull the plunger up and in the direction you want the extra folded liner to go.
- Flatten out any residual wrinkle.
For large pool wrinkles, you’ll definitely need to remove water from the pool.
- Drain the pool until there is between one and four inches of water on the liner.
- Pull the liner to the sides of the pool, which pulls the floor of the liner tight.
- Refill the pool.
Caution: after a vinyl liner has been installed for three or more years, it rapidly shrinks and becomes brittle once water is removed. We’ve seen cases where people have drained a pool to remove wrinkles and the liner split and became so brittle you could crack it like glass.
If you’re going to attempt to remove wrinkles from an older vinyl liner, we suggest doing it very quickly at temperatures above 70°F (21°C). The warm temperature helps soften the liner. Drain the water, get the wrinkles out, and refill the pool as quickly as possible.
Liners need to be replaced every 5–9 years, so if yours is getting old, it may be more time- and cost-efficient to replace the whole liner.
Alternatives to vinyl liner pools
If you’re in the market for a new inground pool and the idea of fighting wrinkles and other liner issues sounds like more trouble than it’s worth, maybe you should consider a fiberglass pool as an alternative.
Fiberglass pool shells are incredibly durable, look great, and have no liner to maintain. If you’d like to learn more, our free ebook provides an in-depth comparison of fiberglass, vinyl liner, and concrete pools.
At River Pools, we manufacture and install fiberglass pools for customers across North America. Take a look at our catalog of pool models today, and browse our gallery to see what we can do for your swimming pool project.
Wondering how much that fiberglass pool might cost? Contact us to request pricing, and try out our fiberglass pool pricing calculator below for a fast estimate:
Want to see about how much that cost will be with all your favorite pool accessories?
Use our Design and Price Tool to walk through your options and approximate price!
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below.
Up Next:
How Long Do Vinyl Liner Pools Last?
What Is the Life Expectancy of a Fiberglass Pool?
A Guide to Inground Swimming Pool Size, Costs, and Prices: Everything You Should Know