As a pool owner, it’s important to prepare your pool for any severe weather conditions that may come your way. Whether it’s a heavy rain storm expected or something far more serious like a hurricane or tornado, taking the proper precautions can help minimize damage to your saltwater pool and keep your family safe.
Here are some steps you can take to prepare your saltwater pool for stormy weather:
- Check Your Pool Cover: If you have a pool cover, make sure it’s securely fastened and in good condition. Check for any holes or tears that could allow water to enter the pool. If you don’t have a pool cover, consider getting one before the storm hits. These things can act like parachutes and fly into the air with ease when a sudden gust of wind hits.
- Turn Off the Power: Before the storm arrives, turn off the power to your pool equipment, including the pump, filter, and heater. This will help prevent electrical damage to your equipment and keep your family safe.
- Remove Loose Items: Any loose items around your pool area, such as patio furniture or pool toys, can become dangerous projectiles during a storm. Secure or remove these items before the storm arrives. Many of these can easily slide into an uncovered pool during a storm.
- Lower Your Water Level: If you know that heavy rain is coming, consider lowering the water level in your pool to prevent flooding. You can do this by using a submersible pump or siphon hose. Having said that, you might also wait until the storm is over given what we mentioned above regarding shutting power off and not having loose objects in the vicinity. Also, you might not get as much rain as you expect and end up removing too much.
- Shock Your Pool: To prevent contamination and algae growth after the storm, shock your pool with a high dose of chlorine a few days before the storm hits. This will help kill any bacteria or other contaminants that may enter your pool during the storm. Alternatively you can wait till after the storm clears, quickly lower the water level if needed and then shock the pool.
- After the Storm: Once the storm has passed, it’s important to inspect your pool for any damage. Look for any debris or foreign objects that may have entered the pool, and check your equipment for any signs of damage or electrical issues. Also check water chemistry as heavy rain can easily dilute chlorine and other levels.
- Rebalance Your Pool: Finally, test your pool water and rebalance it as needed. Heavy rainfall and debris can throw off your pool’s pH levels and other chemical levels, so make sure to adjust accordingly.
Final thoughts
By taking these steps to prepare your saltwater pool for stormy weather, you can minimize damage and keep your family safe. If you have any questions or concerns about your pool, contact a professional pool service for assistance.
If you received significant rainfall, you’ll probably notice at a minimum that chlorine levels have really dropped and might even be showing 0 if it was on the low side to begin with. It’s best to first test water chemistry levels to see where you stand, along with looking for damage and determining if water needs to be drained.
