Cleaning Your Pool After a Tropical Storm or Hurricane

Tropical storms and hurricanes can be devastating and destroy life and property and do millions of dollars worth of damage. They bring torrential flooding, heavy winds, and tornadoes that are capable of destroying anything in their path. It is common for pool owners to experience flooding, major debris from trees and flying objects, and power loss. As a result of power loss and organic contamination, there is a high chance of staining and algae blooms due to the loss of filtration that can last for days or weeks. 

Here is a list of things to consider and to do when cleaning a pool that has been impacted by a storm.

Preparation

• There is typically plenty of time to prepare in advance so you should secure all items like furniture, tools, and equipment that could end up in your pool.
• Raise your chlorine to shock level in order to give your water the extra sanitizing power it will need to fight off the contaminants. 
• Make sure you have enough chemicals and equipment to clean and balance the water after it’s safe to do so.

Cleaning

• First and foremost, survey the damage and look for hazards such as downed electrical lines, exposed wiring or anything else out of the ordinary that could be a hazard.
• It’s not uncommon for trees to end up beside or in your pool and you will need to remove any debris on your deck or around your pool that could be in your way. 
• If filters need to be cleaned then go ahead and do that before proceeding. 

If you have power:

• Check filter pressure to see if the filter needs to be backwashed or cleaned prior to brushing. If filters need to be cleaned then go ahead and do that before proceeding. You may need to consider replacing your filter media depending on how dirty your pool is.
• Empty skimmer baskets.
• Skim larger debris from the water with a pool net.
• If there is a large amount of sediment on the floor of the pool, vacuum it to waste slowly to prevent stirring it.
• Brush walls and floor thoroughly.
• Increase your chlorine level to about 5 and begin to balance your water to prepare it for shocking.
• Pro Tip – Your pH need to be within 7.2 to 7.4 for chlorine to be most effective
• Once your water is balanced then Shock your pool and run your filter 24×7 until water is clear and you aren’t losing chlorine overnight.

If you do not have power:

• Clean as much debris as you can from the pool and brush.
• Pour liquid chlorine inside the perimeter of the pool and target shock level concentration.
  1. You can use your brush to stir the chlorine around and try to make sure it’s circulated well. 
  2. Continue to brush daily to keep the contaminants from staining.

Some things to keep in mind after a storm:

• Do NOT drain your pool as it could actually float up as a result of the water table being affected by ground saturation.
• Keep your chlorine level at shock strength to prevent mosquito growth.
• Watch for displaced wildlife like snakes or other potentially harmful critters.
• It will take time, but your pool will once again be clean and clear.