Vinyl pool liners are easy to clean, relatively inexpensive, nonabrasive, and easily customizable. Just like other liner materials, however, vinyl pool liners do not last forever. Here three examples of vinyl liner damage to expect:

1. Cracks and Tears

Cracks and tears occur due to various reasons, such as these three:

• Deterioration—Normal wear and tear occurs due to multiple reasons, such as ultraviolet radiation from the sun and action of chemicals on the liner. Deteriorated vinyl is brittle and easily cracks.
• Animal damage—Animals' claws or even hoofs can damage the lining.
• Swimmers—The more you have people swimming in your pool, the more likely it is for the liner to tear. Normal swimming may not cause much damage, but be sure to keep hard or sharp objects out of the pool; these can tear the liner.

Some cracks and tears may be too tiny for you to notice; the best way to detect them is to monitor your water level. If it falls too much, then your liner is probably damaged, and you need a replacement.

2. Fading or Staining

Liners fade as their materials deteriorate with time. Pool chemicals (poorly mixed) and sunlight are some of the common causes of fading, but uncontrolled algae growth may also be to blame for fading. Here are some of the measures to reduce the rate of fading or staining:

• Cover the pool when not in use
• Monitor and balance your pool chemicals; there are even automatic monitors and dispensers that control the level of dissolved chemicals.
• Control the level of algae in your pool. Do this by maintaining your pool's hygiene, maintaining the required pH level, ensuring efficient water circulation, and filtering your pool water properly. If your pool already has algae, superchlorination treatment usually works to get rid of it; contact a pool contractor for the treatment.

3. Wrinkling, Slipping, and Stretching

Another common problem involves the top edge of the liner slipping out. If you find it difficult to slip it back into the track, then your liner has probably stretched. This happens if the vinyl loses its initial elasticity due to deterioration. A complication of this problem is that the liner sags and allows water to drain from the swimming pool. You should suspect that this is what is happening if the pool fittings have become loose. Contact your pool contractor to see whether you can repair the liner or if you have to replace the liner.

For information about swimming pool repair, go to sites of repair services in your area.