Protect your swimming pool with these hurricane pool care tips.
Each year, powerful storms cause blackouts, mudslides, and severe damage to our cherished homes and businesses. While many homeowners may not think about it too much, hurricane pool damage is always a potential factor to watch out for.
The good news is that with a little hard work and dedication, you can protect your swimming pool against even the most severe storms that our great state endures. Today, we’re going to give you some tips on hurricane pool care so you can avoid problems in the future.
Don’t Empty the Swimming Pool
Despite what many homeowners believe, there’s no need to drain your pool prior to any severe storm or heavy rain. While the water level may rise and overflow, this is really no different than what would happen if you didn’t have a pool and something else was in its place. That being said, you can prepare by setting up a siphoning hose that can be used once overflowing has started.
Trim Your Backyard Landscape
As the wind kicks up, the vegetation in your yard will take the full force of heavy wind and rain. This will cause branches and leaves to get blown all over the place, with some ending up in your swimming pool. Even though it’s impossible to stop every single piece of vegetation, you can reduce the need for cleaning up by trimming your landscape prior to the storm.
Add Extra Chlorine to the Pool
Since a multitude of contaminants may be introduced to your pool during the hurricane, add a few extra chlorine tablets to the pool water. The general rule is to first lower the pH to approximately 7.2 to achieve the best results. Then, once chlorine has been added, run the filter for several hours to properly distribute it.
Turn Off Equipment’s Power
If you leave your swimming pool’s electrical equipment on during a hurricane, then you’re putting it at risk. Harsh wind and heavy rain can damage the equipment and result in costly repairs. Instead of just shutting down the devices, unplug everything and switch off the power at the circuit breaker to make sure that it’s all fully protected.
Protect the Pool Equipment
To safeguard your pool equipment, you should wrap certain items such as the pump motor, light transformers, and electric heaters in a waterproof, plastic protector. If your property may be prone to flooding or you simply want to be extra safe, then you should move all of these items to a dry, secure location. This is especially important for the pool pump because its motor will be ruined if submerged in water.
Remove/Secure Loose Items
Homeowners are always amazed at the types of items that are strewn about during a hurricane. It’s very common for things in your backyard to show up in a neighbor’s yard down the street and vice versa. These items can cause damage to your pool, home, and car, not to mention injury to people. Either take loose items inside your home or secure them in place before the hurricane arrives.
Don’t Use the Pool Cover
It may seem natural to use your pool cover during a hurricane. After all, one intent of the cover is to protect your pool from debris. With everything being stirred up during a hurricane, however, this may result in a myriad of objects hitting the cover and causing damage. Conducting a pool cleaning after the storm has settled down is a much smaller hassle than replacing an expensive cover.
Contact Larsen’s Pool & Spa for Hurricane Pool Care
Hurricane pool care isn’t difficult as long as you’re willing to put a little effort into it. As the most reputable custom pool builders in Tampa, Larsen’s Pool & Spa understands the particular needs of Floridians and we can help make your new pool construction or pool remodeling the very best it can be. If you have any questions or would like a free, no-obligation quote, give us a call at (727) 786-7665 today.