April showers might bring May flowers – but they can also cause pool headaches if the proper precautions aren’t taken before a big storm! With some preventative steps, prepping before the storm rolls through, and a quick clean-up, you can be back in the pool as soon as the sun returns!
Preventative Care
There are regular habits that will make post-storm cleanup a little easier. For one, keep shrubs, trees, and other plants neatly trimmed or pruned back. The idea is that the more you keep up with any plants and landscaping, the less debris you will have to clean out after the storm.
Also, keep your chemicals balanced. Unbalanced pool levels might be more difficult to get back to normal after serious rainfall, and will definitely promote algae growth.
Calm Before the Storm
Once a big storm is on the radar, some may be tempted to drain pool water. Most pool owners should avoid this, as a pool’s drainage system should be enough to avoid serious flooding and damage. If you’re seriously worried, draining a foot or so of water shouldn’t hurt either way.
It might also seem like an obvious move to put the cover on your pool before a storm, but this can cause more harm than good. High winds can blow debris onto the cover, causing tears and other damages. Besides, having the cover on in high enough winds won’t prevent contaminants from getting in.
Be sure to put away or secure any furniture, grills, umbrellas and toys. With extremely high winds, anything left unsecured can cause great damage to your pool and to the furniture itself.
If you think your pool pump or other electric components (such as a pool heater) could be submerged in water, shut them off. It wouldn’t hurt to cover them with a tarp or plastic. If this isn’t a concern, letting the pump run during a storm will actually help combat algae growth, and help fight bacteria brought in by rain.
Afterward
Promptly remove debris from any pump and skimmer baskets, and any branches or other items from the pool. To be thorough, after the large debris is removed, scrub the pool’s sides and vacuum the pool floor.
Be sure to shock your pool to get it as clean as it was before. If your pool pump was submerged in water for a long period of time, it may be best to consult a pool specialist to properly remove it, and dry it out.
It is always a great idea to keep track of the forecast – during stormy season, and in general. Prepping for a storm can save you a ton of hassle later on.
