How to prepare a Pool for a Hurricane?
Prepare your pool for a hurricane by securing patio items, protecting electric equipment, and lowering the water level. Learn more here!
One Minute Read Summary
•Secure patio items, and trim nearby trees and bushes to avoid debris flying into your pool.
•Don't cover the pool to avoid having debris make contact with it.
•Protect electric equipment by wrapping it in plastic, disconnecting it, and keeping the area around the equipment pad clean of leaves and mulch.
•Lower the water level but don’t go below the skimmer and make sure not to run the pump dry. Add chlorine with a “shock dose” and lower pH
After the storm
•Check the pool for leaves and branches before turning on the pump. Uncover motor and equipment, check breakers and pump timer after power is restored.
•Empty pump and skimmer baskets, and adjust valves to get water back to the original level.
•Start the filter system, running long hours until water clarity is achieved. Clean the filter regularly.
•Test and balance water; add chlorine for extra cleanse; vacuum any dirt or sediment remaining after flooding.
•Inspect the entire area for hazardous electricity, leaks, or flooding areas. Ensure all systems are running properly.
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Preparation for the Storm
Secure your patio
Make sure to secure your patio by gathering all loose items and storing them in a safe spot. That means tucking away any furniture, toys or even pool equipment so they don't become hazardous projectiles during windy days - not that throwing stuff into the pool is ever okay (don't do it!). With some pre-planning, you can keep yourself and your yard buddies from harm's way!
Be sure to keep an eye out for dead branches - they may be ready and willing to take flight! Trim nearby trees and bushes before you get some unexpected, unwanted visitors crashing into your house or pool area.
Don’t cover the Pool
Storms bring with them powerful winds that can cause tree limbs and other debris to crash down on top of covers. Results are much better off skipping the tarp and cleaning out the leaves afterward, it's way cheaper than replacing an expensive pool cover!
Safety Fencing
Little ones require extra protection around pools and doors. If you take away your child’s safety fencing, keep an eye on your kids near the pool - or better yet, lock those exterior doors so they can't go exploring!
Protect electric equipment
Protect your electric pool equipment from the elements! Wrap up any pump motors, time clocks, and transformers with a waterproof plastic membrane to keep out sand and water. If flooding is anticipated, it's best to disconnect these devices for safekeeping, if a pool pump gets submerged in water its motor could be toast! Before when you can remember give the area around your equipment pad some TLC too: sweep away leaves or mulch that might hold excess moisture so your gear stays dry as can be.
Check water level
Lower water levels to help prevent flooding but don't take it too far, monitor carefully and make sure you're not draining below the skimmer. And absolutely no running that pump dry: an empty pool risks “popping” or "floating" out of place due to high groundwater pressure, so give your system a break if heavy rains come its way.
Add chlorine
Make sure to prepare your pool with a good “shock dose” of chlorine. Don't forget to lower the pH first and run that filter for hours, you don’t want any unwelcome contaminants in there!
After the storm
•Before turning on your pump, make sure the pool is clear of any unwanted visitors! Leaves and branches may clog up suction lines so take care when removing them.
•Uncover your motor and equipment for maximum breathability. If you've got a wet pump, it's time to call in the professionals. After the lights come back on following a storm, don't forget to check your breakers and pump timer, being careful not to electrocute yourself! For an extra safety measure, make sure everything is dried out before you turn it all back on
•Get the pool water back to its original level. Don't forget to empty out the pump and skimmer baskets, and get those valves ready so everything will be flowing smoothly when you hit "on."
•Get ready to start your filter system up and running! Make sure it runs for long hours each day until the water has a sparkling clarity, then reset the time clock. Keep that flow going with regular filter cleaning
•Test and balance the water, adjusting the pH, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness; to help keep out unwanted contaminants like storm debris or soil, add a generous dose of chlorine to give it an extra cleanse! If you have leftover dirt or sediment in there after flooding, vacuum up those heavy solids so they don't disrupt your pristine blue waters
•Take some time to inspect the entire area, you wouldn't want any nasty surprises like hazardous electricity, leaky pools, or flooding causing chaos in a matter of hours. Make sure all systems are running properly!
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