What to do with Your SWFL Pool When a Hurricane is Coming!

by | Aug 26, 2019 | Pool Tips, SWFL Weather

Hurricane season in SWFL runs from May to November, but tends to be the most active around August and September. If you’ve lived in the area for a while, you’ll probably know how to prepare your home and lawn for an oncoming storm. Pools, however, require special care to keep them safe from hurricanes, and the best practices for pool prep may seem counterintuitive. We’ll walk you through how best to keep your swimming pool safe from the storm. 

 

Prepping Your Pool Before the Storm 

  1. Don’t drain the pool! You might think it’s safer to have it empty, but in fact the opposite is true. The water will weigh it down, as well as protecting the finish from any debris. An empty pool can actually pop right out of the ground, thanks to hydrostatic pressure and flooding.
  1. Don’t cover the pool. This is another step that can surprise people. You want to keep dirt and branches out of the pool as much you can, right? True, but your typical swimming pool cover won’t withstand flying branches and other debris, and will only get damaged. 
  1. Add extra chlorine. Putting a “shock” dose of chlorine into the water will help fight contaminants from storm water and other pollution. Check the instructions on your pool supplies for details, or ask us!
  1. Protect the electrical equipment. Shut off all power to the pool during the storm, and cover all electrical components with plastic. Tie it down as securely as possible to prevent dirt from getting in, and the plastic from blowing off. You may even want to disconnect the equipment, particularly the pump, and store it safely in a dry place. 
  1. Remove loose objects from the area. This is standard hurricane prep – all patio furniture, pool accessories, etc. should be cleared out of your lawn and stored securely indoors. Many people think you are supposed to put patio furniture in the pool. While this can prevent it from blowing around, it can also damage your pool and furniture, so should really be a last resort. 

 

Restoring Your Pool After a Hurricane

  1. Don’t drain the pool! Again, you may be tempted to drain your pool so that you can clean it thoroughly and refill it, but don’t do that! Excessive pressure from extra ground water can still pop your pool right out of the ground, so you’ll want to keep it filled. If you do have to drain it to get the worst of the dirt out, be sure to take out less than half of the water or wait until the ground has dried somewhat. 
  1. Run the filter. Your pool filter is going to be working overtime for a while. Run it as long as you can, and make sure to clean and backwash it as necessary. 
  1. Rebalance the chemicals. All the dirt and debris that probably blew into the pool can have a major effect on the chemical balance. Keep a very close eye on it over the next several days and make sure you’ve gotten everything back where it should be. 
  1. Go swimming! Once the water is clean and rebalanced, go for a swim and enjoy the fruits of your hard labor! 

 

Call Jackson Pools to Build Your Own Backyard Pool

Are you ready to have a pool of your own? The experts at Jackson Pools are waiting to hear from you! Call us at (239) 495-6700 or send a message through our website today.