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Paying a little bit more for a liner that you'll never have to replace is worth it! Add the Horizon pool pad and cove kit to the liner purchase and the 100% Warranty will extend not only to seam separation but to any other failure of the liner due to manufacture defects.
A mouse or other small animal had gotten underneath the liner and created a small tunnel. They only way to fix such a problem is to pump out the water and fix then pump the water back in. Not money very well spent if you ask me! Another reason you might want to fill with a hose is a new liner can have a bad seam. Above ground pool liners have a seam that runs around the perimeter of the pool at the bottom.