March 20, 2010
It’s true! Today was my first day in the pool for the season! Talk about an early start! Of course, the only reason I was in there was to fix a pair of tears in the liner…but it still counts, doesn’t it? I mean, the water was up over my knees. So what if it was bone-chillingly freezing cold and full of leaves? At least I was in there before the first day of Spring, and that counts as a personal record ’round these parts.
It sure was cold, but it was worth it. For the past three weeks, I’ve been obsessed with the pool situation, trying to figure out what was causing our extreme water loss. For a few days there, in fact, I just kept pumping gallons and gallons of water into the doggone thing…but the water level barely held steady or dropped. I hate to think how high our next water bill’s going to be, but I guess it’s the price you pay sometimes for being a backyard pool person. When I finally dragged out the winter cover, I could see the location of the damage: a triangular tear, 2-3 inches on a side, in the spot where the ladder enters the pool. Using a patch kit, I tried to fix the tear by hanging over the side of the pool, but that didn’t work so well. Thus, I had to install the ladder and get down in there, which was not a pleasant experience. I patched the big tear and a little puncture above it, then hoped for the best and got out. Sunday afternoon, I plan to add a little water and see if the patches hold.
It would sure beat the alternative: paying 800-1000 bucks to replace the liner. So cross your fingers that this repair job does the trick. Either way, I’m just glad I know exactly where the holes are. Until today, the mystery of the disappearing pool water was driving me out of my mind. See? Pools are more than heartburn-and-heartbreak-inducing money pits! Yeah, that’s the ticket. See you soon.
