Our area certainly sees our share of rough weather, from summer thunderstorms to the remnants of tropical systems. Henry Bona Pools & Spas has been caring for local pools since 1960, which means that we’ve seen what a storm can do to an unprepared backyard. The good news is that most storm damage is preventable. Follow this guide to protect your pool and make the cleanup easier.
Getting Ready
Balance your water ahead of time. A storm adds a lot of rainwater and organic debris to your pool in a short period. If your sanitizer is already where it should be, your water will hold up better and bounce back faster.
Check your water level. If the pool is filled close to the coping or the top of the tile, drop it by a few inches to leave room for rainfall and keep debris from washing in. Stop there. A pool should never be emptied before a storm, because the water inside is what holds the structure steady against groundwater pressure.
Put away the loose stuff. Walk the yard and bring in furniture, umbrellas, floats, toys and planters. Anything light enough for the wind to move can land in the pool or hit your equipment, fence or home.
Locate the breaker for your pool equipment. You may need to shut the power off quickly after the storm, so it helps to know where to go before you need it.
Riding It Out
Wait until the storm is completely over. Don’t skim, clean or check on equipment while the weather is still active. Between lightning, wind and electrical equipment that may be wet, the risk isn’t worth it. Your pool will be fine until conditions are safe.
Cleaning Up
Inspect your equipment before anything else. Take a look at the equipment pad. If water has pooled or flooded around it, turn off power to the pool equipment and contact us once it’s safe. The same goes for a system that is running but sounds louder than usual or doesn’t seem right. Shut it down and call us so a technician can check it before more damage is done.
Take out leaves and branches. Skim the surface and clean out the skimmer and pump baskets before starting the system back up. If there’s large debris in the pool or something you’d rather not handle yourself, our team can take care of it.
Test and rebalance. Expect your pH, alkalinity and sanitizer to be off after heavy rain and runoff. Test at home or bring a water sample to our Kenvil store and our expert testing will guide you to get your pool balanced and swim-ready!
A Note for Pools with Automatic Covers
If you have an automatic cover, keep it open during significant storms and heavy rain when possible. That surprises a lot of pool owners, but a closed cover has to carry the weight of the rainwater, debris and any branches that come down on it. Cleaning a pool after a storm is generally much easier and less expensive than repairing or replacing cover fabric, tracks, ropes and pulleys.
We’re Here to Help
If the storm left you with questions or a mess, call the Henry Bona Pools & Spas team. We’re glad to help with cleanup, water balancing, equipment checks and whatever else your pool needs. Stay safe!