While living in Florida means plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures year-round, it also means facing the possibility of strong storms or hurricanes. After these storms pass, pool owners will begin the task of repairing any damage done to their personal paradises. What were once clear blue waters may now be cloudy and littered with debris and leaves.
Post-hurricane cleanup can be a challenge, but it can be boiled down to maintenance basics, just at a higher level. We will provide you with the knowledge and skills that will return your swimming pool back to its pristine state:
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Do NOT Drain Your Pool: Hurricanes bring a surge of rainwater and even with a pool cage, debris is likely to find its way into your pool. While this can be an inconvenience for cleaning, draining your pool is not a solution. Some think this makes cleaning easier, but in reality, this action can damage a pool’s foundation!
The leading reason for this issue is ahigh groundwater level. When excessive rain saturates the ground, it puts pressure against a pool. If owners completely drain a pool, the residual water can make it shift and damage the structural integrity. The weight of your pool’s water anchors it to its location, so keep it filled. An overflowing pool from terrible weather is another common concern, but a Waterscapes pool offers a built-in feature that will siphon off extra water when the level goes above a certain threshold.
Remove Dirt and Debris: Before you get deep into pool restoration after a hurricane, start at the surface level. Use a skimmer net to remove any leaves and twigs. You will also want to clear any visible dirt as it could cause a problem once you get your cleaning system back online. Finally, inspect your pool for any damage from the hurricane. Be on the lookout for cracks, damaged tiles, or anything that seems unusual. These may be small items, but they can require more maintenance and repair costs if not caught right away.
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Check Your Equipment: Before severe weather hits, it is vital that you turn off the power to your pool’s equipment and put plastic covers on them to protect them from flying debris. After preliminary pool cleaning, you can remove any plastic coverings on your equipment and perform a thorough inspection. Even with the added layer of protection, there can be potential water damage and lodged debris. After you’ve made sure your equipment is clean and operational, turn the power back on.
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Ensure Proper Circulation: You will want to pay close attention to your pool pump and filter, the heart of your pool. These are essential to helping pools recover after a storm, keeping clean water in circulation and any contaminants out of it. When looking at your pump, check the rings, motor and basket as these are where most debris gather. Waterscapes utilizes multi-cartridge filters which can be easily removed and cleaned with a hose. Once you’ve ensured that these components are clean, be prepared to put the pump and filter to work. Depending on your pool water’s condition, you may need the pump and filter to run for 24 – 72 hours as it will take time for them to completely clean the water.
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Check Pool Chemistry: Now that major debris is cleared, equipment is cleaned and the power is back on, the next step is checking your pool water’s chemical levels. Rainwater is highly caustic, which can imbalance pH and calcium hardness levels considerably. While you can always bring in a water sample to a pool store, many offer testing strips that you can use to get an immediate answer. Once you see which levels are off, you can purchase the right chemicals to restore the balance. Two of these common balancers, muriatic acid and baking soda, are available in stores, so they’re easy to have on hand to remedy your pool’s imbalance right away.
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Chlorinate Your Pool: After the storm passes, plenty of microorganisms and algae can be in your pool, threatening the chemical harmony. To combat this, you will need to check the level of chlorine, a pool’s main line of defense against contamination. A chlorine level should be between 1-3 ppm for effective cleaning, so you may need to shock your pool (adding a stronger dose) to help. Some pools leverage saltwater chlorinators, which transform salt into chlorine for pool cleaning. These pools also produce a constant stream of the chemical, allowing owners to worry less about the threat of further contamination.
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Clean Your Landscape: With your waters returning to their crystal-clear state, you can start reviving your pool’s personalized atmosphere! To begin, survey the landscape and see if anything, especially plants, are damaged. Make sure you clean up any loose branches, leaves or dirt if they are present on deck. Not only do they look unsightly, but they can find their way back into your pool and spread contaminants again.
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Bring Your Pool Décor and Toys Back Out: Your personal paradise isn’t complete without the décor you picked out for it! During severe weather, you need to bring in any furniture and décor not anchored down as they may be easily damaged or incur damage to your lanai. After severe weather passes, you can bring your furniture back out. You may even be inspired to arrange furniture in a new way in the middle of this simple redecoration.
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Don’t Fret Over Cleaning
Don’t let the task of pool restoration after severe weather overwhelm you. It will take time to recover, but with a plan, you can return things back to normal. As one of Southwest Florida’s most celebrated pool builders, we understand the gravity of these situations and are here to help.
If you want to learn more about how our team can best assist you, contact us here.
