Vinyl swimming pool liner staining
Staining and Discoloration of the Vinyl Below the Water
Line
The most common cause of staining and discoloration of
your liner below the water line is secretions by
micro-organisms. As these micro-organisms feed, they
secrete dyes, which can be one of many colors that stain the vinyl.
Although these stains are unsightly, they in no way degrade the
performance of the vinyl. These dyes are compatible with the
plasticizers in the vinyl, causing the stains to go all the way
through the sheet. There is no proven method for removing these
stains. They can, however, be prevented. By applying an growth
inhibiting barrier to the walls and bottom of the pool before
installing a liner, you can prevent the stains from occuring. Stain Barrier is
the only product available that is proven to prevent the growth of
microorganisms without damaging the liner.
There is a common misconception that the microbial
resistant additives used in pool liners will kill the
micro-organisms in the area adjacent to the liner. Many
people believe that there is a "protective zone" near the liner
that will not support life. This is not the case. The additive in
the vinyl prevents the vinyl from supporting life but in no way
does it prevent life in areas adjacent to the liner. Extreme care
must be taken during installation to insure that there is nothing
behind the liner that may become a food source for these
organisms.
There have been cases of stains forming in pools soon
after the installation of a replacement liner when there was never
a problem with the original liner. Although there is no
way that we can say for sure what has happened behind that new
liner, it is believed that when the environment behind the liner is
exposed to light and oxygen a "rebirth" or micro-organisms takes
place. If the bottom and sidewalls of the pool are not properly
treated, there is a chance that problems may arise.
There can also be changes in the ground water that
introduce organisms into an area that had not been previously
exposed. Extended periods of heavy rains will often cause
significant changes in the microbiology of the ground water.
Whenever there is a change in the environment around your pool,
there is an opportunity for micro-organisms which hitherto were not
present to move into the ground water, thereby creating the
possibility of staining.
