Every pool owner knows that owning and maintaining a pool takes work. Since your pool liner represents a significant investment, it is vital to protect that investment. A safety pool cover is an important safeguard to preserve the liner when the pool is not in use. That said, there are a myriad of techniques to protect that pool liner throughout the season.

Taking the time to properly to clean and monitor the pool will protect the liner. First, check the pool water levels regularly to make sure there aren’t any leaks. Undetected leaks that go unfixed will cause large amounts of water to drain from the pool, which unfortunately will damage the liner. There is also a chance that the water line itself could stain or fade. Take a soft, non-abrasive sponge and wipe it down often.

Once the pool water is the proper level, check the water balance. Proper pH levels need to be maintained. If they are too high or too low, they can potentially damage the liner. Use a pH kit to regularly monitor levels.

It is also important to never drain or pump water out of the pool. Emptying the pool completely may cause the liner to shrink—resulting in wrinkles or tears. And, pumping dirty water out of the pool can also damage the liner. Clean the water rather than pump it.

Speaking of cleaning the water, be sure to use chemicals and equipment that are designed for vinyl-lined pools to protect the liner. There are pool brushes, cleaners, chemicals, and vacuum heads that are specific to pool care.

Take special care not to over-chlorinate the pool. Chlorine levels should be in the range of 1.0 to 2.0 ppm. If the levels are too high, the liner may start to become bleached. It’s a good practice to dissolve shock in a container of water, stirring it until mixed, and then pouring slowly into the pool while walking around the perimeter.

Practicing a regular maintenance schedule is also a must to protect your pool liner. Take the time to remove any dirt and debris from the water, skimmer, and basket. Jump in with a brush, and thoroughly brush the sides and bottoms to remove any stains.

Finally, when the time has come to cover the pool and provide the liner with the ultimate in protection, choose from a variety of LOOP-LOC pool safety covers. These covers meet and exceed ASTM standards for Safety Swimming Pools Covers F 1346-9. They have also undergone extensive outside testing through Underwriters Laboratories (U.L.) and earned the U.L. seal of approval for safety swimming pool covers. Since they do not permit gaps that anyone—or anything—could squeeze through, there is nothing that can damage the liner. LOOP-LOC mesh covers are made of super dense mesh to block virtually all sunlight, while still allowing rain and melting snow to easily drain through. This ensures that the cover does not buckle under the weight of the standing water, which could damage the pool liner.