How to Clean and Maintain Your Pool After a Storm
Unfortunately, tropical storms are a way of life in the Tampa area. Several home maintenance issues will need your attention after a major storm, including inspecting your swimming pool area. If you discover damage in or around your pool, use this guide to develop a cleanup and maintenance plan.
Clear the Clutter Caused By The Storm
Before you begin the pool-cleaning process, make sure to dress appropriately for labor-intensive work. Wear long-sleeved clothing, and pull on a sturdy pair of shoes or work boots. You may opt to wear waders if there’s extensive flooding. Work gloves can help protect your hands while you handle debris.
Stay alert as you enter your yard, as flooding and other environmental factors can send wild animals fleeing into your neighborhood.
Start by removing tree branches and other large debris from your pool deck and the surrounding area. Use a net to remove any smaller debris floating in the water, taking the time to clear as much from the surface as possible. This will allow you to run the pool’s systems without clogging and potentially harming the equipment.
Address Electrical Issues Before Proceeding With Pool Cleaning
Investigate any electrical issues created by the storm. For example, heavy winds can bring down power lines, and surges can trip breakers. If your electrical panel and the surrounding area appear dry, you can reset the breakers, as well as the pool pump’s timer.
For more severe electrical damage, it’s best to schedule emergency electrical repairs. Avoid entering the yard until the electrician arrives, and wait until they tell you it’s safe to use your electricity before continuing with the cleanup process.
Even after the electrician completes the necessary repairs, take care to use insulated tools when working near the pool.
Clean Up Chemical Spills
When preparing for your pool build, you took the time to learn about the use of pool water chemicals. Although these substances keep your water safe for swimming, they can pose health risks to you and your loved ones (as well as environmental risks for the surrounding area) if a storm causes a spill.
Look for spills and use sand to contain them if you don’t have a spill kit handy. Once the sand has absorbed the liquid, sweep it into a sealed container. Then, contact your local government to find the nearest household hazardous waste collection facility.
Take the container to the nearest collection facility before proceeding with the pool-cleaning process.
Inspect the Pump Motor
Remove the pump motor cover and inspect the motor for damage. If anything looks amiss, you may have to remove the motor and take it to a repair shop. Check for signs of damage caused by the impact of a fallen tree limb or other debris.
In some cases, flooding might submerge a pump motor under water. If there’s flooding around the pump or it looks wet, take it to a professional. They can inspect and test the motor to determine its repair needs. If the motor suffered extreme damage, you may need to replace it.
Check the Pool’s Water Level
The storm might have affected your pool’s water level. Measure the level and adjust it as necessary by filling or draining until the water covers the lower half of each skimmer.
Remember that incorrect water levels can affect the skimmer during future steps in the pool-cleaning process. It’s crucial to ensure that the skimmer can properly function to avoid damaging any major pool components.
Next, empty the pump and skimmer baskets to avoid flow issues. This is also the best time to open the valves. Making sure the valves are open will allow for more efficient circulation once you activate the pump.
Restore the Water Quality
It’s not uncommon for pool water to look cloudy or dirty after a storm. This happens because untreated rainwater enters the pool and displaces the chlorinated water. You can counteract this effect by adding extra chlorine to the water. Circulate and chlorinate the water until it appears clear and clean again.
Throughout this step, replace the filters frequently to keep the filtration process optimized. It can take a few days to return water circulation to normal.
Make it a point to check the filters regularly over the next few days. You might have hidden contaminants in the water, such as gasoline, fertilizer, or sewage. Chlorinating and circulating the water for several days will help you eliminate those pollutants.
Balance the Water’s pH
Most professional pool maintenance tips recommend an ideal pH of 7.5, but anywhere between 7.2 and 7.8 is acceptable.
If the value is too low, you can raise it by adding an alkaline base. Common alkaline products include baking soda or soda ash. Most people prefer baking soda because it’s not as harsh as soda ash. Additionally, baking soda increases alkalinity at a more gradual rate than soda ash, giving you more control over the final level.
If the pH is too high, use an acid to bring it down as needed. While you can use muriatic acid, pool owners with families prefer sodium bisulfate, as it’s safer for use around children and pets.
Inspect and Repair the Security Fencing and Surrounding Area
After addressing the condition of the pool and water, it’s time to turn your attention to the surrounding area. Check your deck for signs of physical damage. While it’s rare for storms to damage concrete, soil saturation can cause shifting. If the deck looks sunken or uneven, your pool builder can help you correct the problem.
Once you’ve surveyed your deck, inspect the fencing around the pool. High winds can easily damage certain types of fencing, particularly around gates and locking mechanisms. Florida law requires a fence with a locking gate around all swimming pools, so repairing your fencing is important.
A Long-Lasting Pool Starts With a Quality Design
Tampa Bay Pools can help you design the ideal swimming pool for your yard, using the latest construction techniques to build a private oasis that will stand up to Florida’s strongest storms. Contact our team to learn more about our services or discuss your project.
