We just bought a 27' round above ground pool that is five years old. We are wondering what the story is on just using the liner that was in it? Of course they had to drain it so we could disassmble it. And I "heard" that once you drain it, you can not use that old liner, but why not?

I'm 90% sure this should be avoided but I figured I'd just ask first. Some people I've
Asked say no, that it'll stretch and dry out and possibly break when
Putting water back in. Others say it's fine, "Hell yeah, my sister-in-
law's second cousin's half-brother did it and it worked great!"

But I want to hear from people who may really know the answer.

I did call one pool shop and he said no, not to reuse it. But then I
Wondered maybe he just wants me to buy a new $300 liner...

Thanks
Cynical in NY

I would not reuse this liner - it is five years old and you do not know the exact condition of it. Was it stored properly? Does it have mold? How do you know that there are no slits or cracks in it?

You could always take it out and examine it, perhaps clean it and use some bleach. If you do that, have a contingency plan for the just in case this liner leaks. That would be my biggest concern. But it does not cost you anything to try it. Myself, I would not bother with trying it, I would just go and purchase a new one that has a warranty.

Well it's a plastic or rubber base so it probably has to do with the surface drying out and cracking easier after it has been stored, esp in dryer climates.

We just bought a pool that was originally purchased in June of 2001. We thought we'd try and save a few bucks by reusing the liner. What a mistake! It began leaking about a week after we filled it. We are going to buy a new liner this weekend and start over. All of the "experts" I have talked to advise against reusing a liner. I would now agree several hundred dollars later.

Spend the money and enjoy your weekend. 5 years is too old to try this swap unless you have low expectations and have stored the liner in soapy water with algicide since you drained the pool.

Most commonly when a liner is old and is allowed to dry out it will shatter and break like glass sending splinters flying everywhere. A dry liner is not at all what you would expect. The chemical composition of the material has changed and it loses its elasticity which it needs to not break.

A liner swap can be done but the liner should be no more than one season old or two at the maximum. Even still, for the effort it takes, buy the new liner and enjoy your pool.

I hope this information is helpful.

Steve Goodale
Serendipity Pools

More bad news:
I re-used a 2 year old liner. Found out later that, once drained, vinyl shrinks and loses its elasticity and ability to re-expand.
I put in in, filled it up, swam in it. It looked great. NO leaks. However, the next day, the vertical supports started to buckle as well as a section of the 24' round sheet metal wall. The liner actually PULLED the frame in.
Don't do it.

The first guy who said it was dried out and would crack was correct. BTW it was his cousin-in-laws first wife's brother