Ken Testa Posted September 1, 2015 Report Share Posted September 1, 2015 I have a problem. I have an 18 x 33 semi in ground pool with a vinyl liner. I also have the semi circular sinkable stairs in the pool. They type you put concrete blocks in to sink the stairs and hold in place. I put stabilizer I the pool for the first time about a month ago. I must have poured it into the skimmer too fast because the suction pipe got clogged solid with the stabilizer granulars. I had to use a garden hose to unclog the PVC suction pipe connected to the skimmer. In the process a lot of the stabilizer granulars got flushed back into the pool. I quickly vacuumed it up but a lot got stuck under the stairs which sit directly on the liner. I tried to flush it out but probably only pushed it further under the stairs. Now, a month later I'm losing a lot of water from the pool and I don't see any obvious leaks. Do you think the cyanuric acid stabilizer burned through the liner under the stairs?? Thanks! Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chem geek Posted September 2, 2015 Report Share Posted September 2, 2015 It's possible because Cyanuric Acid when concentrated will form a saturated solution with a pH of 5.6 in typical pool water (4.3 in unbuffered water). While not extraordinarily low, a low pH can weaken vinyl. Are you able to remove the stairs to see if there is a leak/hole under them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Testa Posted September 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2015 Yes, I plan removing stairs this weekend and I'm hoping for the best and preparing for the worst (liner replacement)! Thanks for the reply and info. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janiceferretti Posted August 16, 2020 Report Share Posted August 16, 2020 Hi. i just added powder stabalizer directly in my pool, 4 pounds, and then was told it should have went in the skimmer. the next day i started losing water, and found several holes in liner. i had them repaired, but now i have found another area leaking. Can this be responsible for eating up my liner? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDspaguy Posted August 16, 2020 Report Share Posted August 16, 2020 @jimmythegreek, @waterbear, @Pool Clown??? I know as much about vinyl liners as I do about neurosurgery. Scalpel...😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmythegreek Posted August 23, 2020 Report Share Posted August 23, 2020 For future readers...powder cya needs to go in pantyhose and dissolve. Cut a leg off the hose and fill up about 1.5 pounds amd tie it off. Use on a broom stick amd place in front of a return and let it dissolve. Squeeze often to release fine powders. Some people drop that into a skimmer which is OK if you use skimmer socks on the basket. I dont recommend that way as I've seen them get sucked thru and clog the pipes or get back to the pump 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janiceferretti Posted August 23, 2020 Report Share Posted August 23, 2020 do you think the cya could have ruined my liner? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterbear Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 It's possible since the pH of a saturated solution, which would occur in the vicinity of the powder sitting on your liner, is 4.8 and vinyl liners cannot withstand low pH. I always pour it SLOWLY into the skimmer with the filter running and run the filter continuously for the next 24 hours or longer (It takes about 48 hours or so to fully dissolve). DO NOT clean or backwash your filter during this time or you will just wash away the CYA and be sure to start with a CLEAN filter! Backwash, change , or clean the filter before adding the stabilizer. I have never run into a problem with clogging pipes or hurting the pump as long as it is added slowing and in small increments (about a cup at a time or less) to the skimmer. Don't just dump it all in at once. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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