Wanting to know what it costs to replace a metal-walled above-ground pool liner in the Orlando area? Or how long it takes to do it, or if you can do it yourself?
The cost to replace a liner in an above-ground pool in Orlando depends on the size and shape of the pool. The complete cost range is between $800 – $2500. Key costs are with the replacement liner, labor for a professional to do it, water replacement, and chemical start-up.
IT’S ULTIMATELY CHEAPER TO BUY A BETTER QUALITY LINER
Like everything else, the cost for above-ground pool liners have gone way up. Now and maybe more than ever, it may be enticing to buy a less expensive liner as the savings now could be a couple of hundred bucks.
A heavy gauge, fully printed liner will usually last a couple of years longer than a comparable standard (lighter) gauge liner. And this best-quality liner may last as much as three times longer than a solid blue, standard, overlap liner.
Buying a Chinese-made liner will be your cheapest choice, but they are not worth the savings as they only last a year or two on average.
NOTE: If you don’t know which liner to get for your pool, you can contact me and I’ll give you my opinion and review what you are considering before you buy it.
SOME CHOOSE TO INSTALL THE REPLACEMENT LINER THEMSELVES. THAT CAN SAVE YOU QUITE A BIT
Paying a guy like me to install a new liner isn’t cheap. This is not to say it’s not worth it. I think for most, it is worth it as it can be a tough job.
Every year, many are forced to install their own replacement liner as they can’t anyone to do it. Or if they do find someone, they are too busy.
This is the case with me over the summer months. I’m usually too busy with full above-ground pool installs to be able to do liner changes.
But if money is very tight, you can save hundreds by doing the labor yourself. Here is my price sheet for liner changes so you can see the savings.
NOTE: If you are wanting someone to install your liner, it’s best to plan on having them do it during the off-season. The off-season of above-ground pool installers for Orlando is between September and March.
THE COST TO REFILL THE POOL CAN VARY GREATLY
Orlando and surrounding areas have a lot of homes with wells. The majority of above-ground pool owners though will fill up their pool with municipal water.
FOUR WAYS YOU CAN FILL YOUR ABOVE-GROUND POOL
1 Municipal/City water with sewer fee
If your home doesn’t have a septic tank, then the waste leaving your house goes to the sewerage system. And you pay for that.
This means when filling your pool after a liner change, you’ll be paying the sewer fee regardless of the fact that the water is going in your pool and not being discharged into the sewer system.
This means it will cost more to fill your pool.
NOTE: Some water companies will give you a break on the sewer fee if you notify them that you are filling a pool
2 Municipal /city water without sewer fee
If your home has a septic tank, then you are processing your own wastewater in your yard somewhere instead of sending it to the sewer system.
This means that when you fill your pool with your water hose, you are only paying for the water, which is considerably cheaper.
3 Your well water
Those in the greater Orlando area with a well can fill their pool with it instead, which can be the least expensive way of all as you may only be paying whatever electricity it costs to pump the water out of the ground.
This depends greatly on the quality of the water coming out of your well. Most areas of Orange County have decent water coming out of the ground, but not all.
If your well water smells bad, looks bad, or both, then you will have to treat the water when the pool fills. This can cost you as much as a couple of hundred dollars in chemicals and several days to clear up.
4 Trucked-in water
The last I checked, there were two options for getting a water truck service to fill an above-ground pool in Orlando. This is usually the most expensive option, but it’s fast and the water is nice.
Expect to pay about ten cents (.01) a gallon for trucked-in water.
Example: 24’ round pool = 14000 gallons
14k gallons x .10 = $1400
DIFFERENT WATER COMPANIES CHARGE DIFFERENT RATES
There are a few different water utility companies that provide municipal water to the Orlando area, Orange County, Lake county, Osceola county, and Seminole county.
Most give a fairly cheap rate for water per thousand gallons, but some don’t. Pluris water of Wedgefield in east Orange County is a good example of this.
Pluris charges a lot for water to the residents of Wedgefield.
Find normal water rates from Orlando Utilities Commission here
START-UP CHEMICAL COST OF REPLACING A LINER IN AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL
If filling your pool with city water, then the chemical cost will be minimal because municipal water is already treaded and balanced. The same goes for truck water.
If you fill with well water, then it will depend on the quality of the water. In most cases, the water coming out of the ground in Orlando and orange county may have some metals and/or sulfur (which make it smell like rotten eggs).
This usually isn’t that big of a deal and requires only extra chlorine shocking.
POTENTIAL EXTRA COST OF CHANGING A LINER IN AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL
1 Adding foam coving and a ground pad
Some will take this opportunity to install foam coving and a liner guard during the liner change.
2 New skimmer/ return
If your skimmer is cracked or has stripped screws trying to hold it together, then you may need to replace it.
3 Rusty wall repair
Some rust in an above-ground pool wall is ok. A lot of surface rust OR areas rusted all the way through is cause for added action.
Most pool walls with just surface rust can have wall foam installed, which will protect the new liner from the rusty surface.
Other more severe rust may need a full wall piece repair. And that will cost hundreds more, but is needed.
4 High deck in the way
To change a liner, the top of the pool has to come apart. If a deck is in the way, then it will cost more for a professional to deal with that.
If you are changing your own liner, then it will only cost you more time and aggravation.
5 Deep center or deep end
Changing a liner on a pool with a shaped bottom takes more time, effort, and experience to get installed with minimal or no wrinkles. Oh, and it will cost more to have done.