Should I prepare my pool for hurricane damage?
Storms and hurricanes can cause catastrophic damage. Along with your home, high winds and torrents of rain can leave your pool in need of serious care and possibly some repairs. With recent Houston-area hurricanes and flooding events such as Hurricane Harvey, it is important to know how to care for your pool if a storm hits.
Severe weather can push dirt, trees and foreign objects into your pool, while flooding can increase the number of contaminants like mud, silt, and bacteria. While there is no way to keep debris out of your pool completely during a storm, the experts at R Pools have tips to protect your pool before a hurricane and get it back up and running afterward.
How should you prepare your pool for a storm?
- While it may be tempting to drain your pool to avoid possible overflow, don’t do it. If you drain a pool more than a few feet below normal and the ground gets saturated, its shell could shift position within the ground or even pop out. Water provides weight to hold its sides and bottom in place. Removing water reduces the pool’s overall weight, making it more susceptible to pressure.
- Avoid damage to vital pool components by shutting off their power supply. Turn off the power to the pump motor, lights and other equipment at the circuit box.
- Turn off the gas going to the heater.
- Remove objects that might get damaged or carried away by high winds. Examples include diving boards, slides, patio furniture, lounge chairs and pool covers. If you are unable to remove oversized or heavy objects, wrap them with a waterproof cover that can be tightly secured to the ground.
What pool damages should you look for after a storm?
- Evaluate post-storm damage. After severe weather passes, it’s important to survey the impacted area and begin cleaning up the mess left behind by Mother Nature.
- Remove as much floating and large debris as possible, but don’t use your bare hands or expose skin to the pool water. Exposed hands and arms can come into contact with contagious organisms that may have entered your pool during the storm.
- Avoid using your vacuum until clearing large objects. Debris can clog the vacuum and pump, risking damage.
- Assess the power system prior to turning on vital electrically powered pool equipment. Make sure electrical equipment is dry, because flooding or heavy rain can cause water damage to the power grid or certain equipment parts.
- Don’t use an automatic, roving pool cleaner immediately. Whether you have a suction-type, pressure-type, or robotic-type pool cleaner, capturing so much debris will likely lead to a clog.
- After removing all debris, begin cleaning the water. Add chlorine and start the pump only after inspection of electrical equipment has been performed. If the water is dark colored or black at least 24 hours after cleaning, the pool might need to be drained, treated and refilled.
Cleaning up after a storm requires patience and diligence. If time doesn’t permit you to thoroughly maintain your pool following a storm or repair tasks require an expert eye, contact R Pools.
R Pools’ detail-oriented technicians have a knack for service, honesty, quality, and consistency. We show up when we say we will, and consistently give your swimming pool the attention that it needs to stay pristine and clear.
Our team can arrange a consultation and help determine the best maintenance plan for your lifestyle and budget. We are based in Spring, TX, and we work with customers throughout the Northern suburbs of Houston, including The Woodlands, Conroe, Cypress, Magnolia and more.
Contact R Pools for more information about storm preparation and repair for your pool.