How To Clean Up Your Pool After a Hurricane
You’ll want to clean up your pool after storms. Hurricanes are a part of life here in Florida that we all have to learn to work around. From prepping for the impact to the clean-up process, there’s plenty to do. If you happen to be a pool owner, then there are extra steps that you’ll need to keep in mind during the post-storm clean-up. This article will go over the process of cleaning up your pool after a hurricane, to help keep you and your pool safe!
No Draining!
First things first, do not drain your pool! We know, it seems like it would be so much easier to just empty it out and start over with fresh water. This isn’t the case, though. Doing that could lead to your pool popping up out of the ground from all of the extra water that you just put in the ground. The right first step is to skim and strain.
Clean Up Your Pool
Before you turn any power or filtration on, you need to clean up your pool. Using your skimmer, fish out as much of the debris as you can. Getting out those bits of branches and leaves and everything else is the first step to getting your pool recovered. This means getting the floating items as well as the stuff that has sunk to the bottom. It’ll be a lengthy process, but it’s highly important.
You’ll also need to clean out your skimmer baskets and pump strainer before you turn on the filtration system. These can get pretty backed up after a hurricane, so cleaning them is a priority or it will clog up the entire filtration process.
Electrical Prep
Now that you’ve done the majority of the work when cleaning up your pool, it’s time to think about your pool’s electrical equipment. DO NOT just turn it on, for your own safety. You need to check all of the equipment for signs of water damage. If you notice any, get a professional out ASAP before you do anything else. This helps to protect you and your pool equipment from damage.
If you see no signs of water damage issues, then you should be all right to flip the switch to the power on.
Backwash the Filters
Before you actually start up the filtration system, you’ll probably want to clean out and backwash your filters. This is the piece that catches all of the tiny debris, so it can get clogged with dirt and dust pretty easily post-hurricane. You’ll want to make sure that you follow whatever manufacturer’s directions come with your filter to properly clean those puppies out. This may take a couple rounds to get done fully, so be ready for that.
Manage Water Levels
One of the side effects of storms? Extra water in your pool. Using a pump or a siphon, go ahead and remove that excess water. This’ll prevent overflow problems, flooding, and equipment damage while you clean out your pool.
Fine Cleaning
Now is when we get to more detailed cleaning. You’ll want to vacuum all of the dirt and dust from the bottom and use your pool brush on the sides of the pool. You should try to vacuum this out while bypassing the filters, as it could cause clogging. You may need to run this a few times until the water is clear.
Play with the Chem Set
The last step when you clean up your pool, is to test the balance of your pool chemicals or sanitation system. You’ll start by shocking the pool to kill everything gross off, and then make sure that the levels of whatever system you use to keep the pool clean are properly balanced. Turn on the circulation and filtration systems and let them run for a couple of days before allowing anyone in.
Now your pool should be ready for some family fun! We hope this guide has helped, and we’ll see you next time.
Now, we’re sure that you will thoroughly enjoy when your new home has a pool. However, we want to make sure that you take all of the safety steps we’ve mentioned here before doing so! This will help keep your home, your family, and your investment in maintenance happy and safe. Whether you’re new to owning pools or an old pro, remember that each pool is different, and each pool has its own safety and care needs.
Don’t forget to install a Baby Barrier Safety Fence. These are specifically designed for each pool to keep your family, pets and guest safer, even when you are not watching your pool. Check out all the safety fence options and schedule your estimate today!
Now get out there and make a splash!
