How to Prepare Your Pool Before the Storm

Welcome back, ePoolSupply supporters! Before a storm comes our way, do you know how to prepare your pool for the storm?  With warmer temperatures nearing, the primary focus of pool owners is keeping their pool looking good and ready for summer fun. It’s also the time of year to keep your eye on the sky and prepare for a storm. When there is a storm coming, you more than likely will not be able to have your pool professional come out and help you. I will try to put it in the easiest steps I can. 

Ways to prevent major pool damage:

1. Put away your loose stuff
2. Turn off all gas, propane, and electricity to the pool
3. Leave the pool cover off
4. Balance the water chemistry 
5. Don't drain the pool
6. Trim nearby trees

Put away loose items 

If you have any loose items or toys in or around your pool take them indoors or in an area where it will not blow away and land in your pool. 

Turn off the power 

Find the circuit breaker that feeds your pool electricity, and shut it off. This will help protect electrical equipment like your pool pump, timer, heater, and pool lights. If it's supposed to rain enough for a flood, you may want to unplug the pump/filter system and other pool equipment and store them someplace high and dry. 

Leave pool cover off 

If you have a pool cover it is best to leave it off./ If any debris blows into the pool, it could tear your cover and your pool cover may not even stay on. 

Don't drain the pool 

A drained pool can bulge, split, or pop up out of the ground. It’s safe to drain about a foot of pool water to allow space for rain and run-off water. The only reason to drain your inground pool is for a major repair.

Trim Trees 

Dead or overgrown tree limbs can break off in high winds, blow into your pool, and damage it. 

Balance the Water Chemistry 

Test and balance the water chemistry, shock the pool, and add a large chlorine floater to keep the pool chlorinated. Balancing your pool water will help give you a head start when cleaning the water after the storm has passed. Adding in some extra chlorine will be helpful just in case the storm lasts longer than expected.

Here is what your levels should look like:

• Total Alkalinity: 80–120 ppm
• pH: 7.4–7.6
• Calcium Hardness: 200–400 ppm
• Cyanuric Acid: 30–50 ppm

In conclusion, it is important to prepare your pool for potential storms. Big storms can cause significant damage to pools and surrounding areas. Following these steps will help minimize the impact. If you have any questions or are not sure how to exactly protect your equipment please contact a local pool professional.