How to Prepare Your Swimming Pool for Severe Weather - Hurricanes Swimming Pool Care After a Storm

Once you have safely returned to your home after a storm, you should eventually assess any damage to your backyard and your swimming pool area. Here are four recommendations we have to get you started:

To prevent stains, you will want to clean out debris as soon as possible.
You will want to be sure the pH of water is balanced. You will also need to chlorinate or possibly shock your pool and run the filter until the water is clear.
Do not drain your pool. Even if it’s somewhat of a disaster, it can still be remedied.
You will need to check your pump and filter for any damage. It is a good idea to remove the motor of your pump and let it dry out for 24 hours. If your equipment sat underwater, you will want to get it checked out by a licensed pool repair professional.

If you are not sure what damage your pool may have received, get your pool inspected by a local pool professional.

Products

After a storm, pool water can contain salty seawater, algae, sand, phosphates and even sewage. Instead of draining your pool, it can be treated using clarifying solutions, filtration and flocculation. We recommend brushing your pool, using an automatic cleaner, and sanitizing with pool chemicals.

Brush and clean your pool

Before using an automatic cleaner, we recommend using a brush to manually scrub your pool. This can remove algae, dirt, debris, and other films away from your pool walls and pool floors that can’t be removed by vacuuming. We recommend products from:

PoolStyle brushes and accessories

Automatic Cleaners

After a light cleaning, you can then run your automatic cleaner to get the rest of the debris. There are three types of automatic cleaners - suction side pool cleaners, pressure side pool cleaners, and robotic/electronic pool cleaners. Major manufacturers we recommend are:

Sanitize using Pool Chemicals

To fully clean your pool, carefully use pool chemicals to sanitize, shock, maintain a pH level, phosphate control and clean your filter. Begin with sanitizing your pool and bring the sanitizer level between 1-2ppm. Next add shock, but only if needed. This will help sanitize and oxidize your pool water. Test and bring your pool’s water into the proper balance. You can also bring a sample to your local pool professional to have the water tested. This will help protect pool surfaces, plumbing and equipment from corrosive conditions while improving chlorine efficiency. From here, test for phosphates use commercial strength phosphate remover if phosphate levels are over 3,000 ppb. For phosphate levels 3,000 ppb or below uses phosphate remover can be used weekly throughout the season to keep phosphate levels low. Lastly, clean your pool filter and run the water until it is clear. We recommend these products to help: