3 Steps for Repairing an Inflatable Pool

 Summary

 – Step 1: Locate the leak in your inflatable pool

 – Step 2: Clean the repair area

 – Step 3: Repair the leak in your inflatable pool

 Depending on the quality of its manufacture (composition, thickness, anti-UV treatment…), the liner used to hold back the water of an inflatable pool is more or less resistant. This PVC wall can be pierced by an animal’s claws, a sharp edge (flint, sharp object), or a point (belt or sandal buckle…). It can also become porous with age because the sun and cleaning products tend to accelerate the aging of its material. In this case, the leak initially identified will probably not be the last…

 Here’s how to repair an inflatable pool.

 1. Locate the leak in your inflatable pool

 Before the pool has been used, early in the day, walk around the pool looking for leaks. Pay particular attention to the liner welds and the periphery of the valves.

 Also, check the top of the liner (flange). Do not hesitate to immerse it in water in sections (30 to 50 cm) like a bicycle inner tube. If there is a leak, it will appear as a column of more or less fine bubbles. This is also how a leak appears under the surface of the water, but you will see it better with a mask by diving your head under water.

 2. Clean the repair area in your pool

 Repair products work underwater, so it is not necessary to empty the pool beforehand. However, the area around the hole must not be greasy: this can easily happen at the top of the walls, from the water line…

 Clean this area well with a suitable detergent: compatible with PVC and treatment products.

 3. Fix the leak in your inflatable pool

 Depending on the size of the leak, use:

 – a soft PVC glue for a small hole;

 – a repair kit containing a piece of glue and the corresponding glue for a tear.

 Note: If you don’t have a ready-to-glue patch, you can cut one out of a balloon, buoy, or other inflatable beach toys.

 – If you are working underwater, get the glue out as close as possible to the area to be repaired and spread it in the process.

 – If necessary, then apply the patch firmly to the glued area. Push out as much as possible from the center to the edges of any bubbles that may appear under the part.

 – Hold the piece for a few minutes while the glue sets.

 Note: If the piece supplied in the kit is square or rectangular in shape, remove or round off the corners with scissors. This will make it less likely to come off.

 After 15 to 20 minutes, check that the piece is properly glued: it must adhere perfectly on all its edges). If necessary, you can then re-inflate the bladder and complete the level of the pool.

 What if the repair does not hold?

 When you glue a part (especially underwater), the most difficult thing is to make it adhere properly to the wall of an inflatable pool because the air pressure tends to lift the part… The best thing to do is to empty the pool (at least up to the area to be repaired) and even deflate the corresponding bladder. This will make it easier to press the part against the wall: for example, with 2 spring clamps.

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