It’s essential to prioritize pool maintenance after heavy rain or a storm to ensure your pool is safe for swimming and to prevent any long-term damage. In this guide, we discuss the risks of extreme weather for pools. Then we share the top tips for pool maintenance after heavy rainfall and during heat waves. From assessing debris to restoring chemical balance, we’ll cover everything you need to know to keep your pool in top condition.
Risks Presented to Pools by Storms and High Temperatures
Storms and high temperatures pose unique threats to the health and integrity of your pool and pool’s electrical equipment.
Dirty Water & Clogged Filter
During storm events, the risk of debris, such as leaves, twigs, dirt, mulch, and even larger objects, landing in your swimming pool increases. These materials not only clutter your pool but can also lead to clogged filters and strained pool equipment, potentially causing significant damage.
Chemical Imbalance
Furthermore, storms can introduce a substantial amount of rainwater which can dilute your pool water’s carefully maintained chemical balance. Additionally, water contaminated with other substances such as fertilizers and pesticides can carry into the pool This may lead to unsafe swimming conditions.
Water Level Issues
If enough rain falls, your pool can overflow and flood the area around your pool. Rainwater accumulates in the pool in addition to run-off from overwhelmed drainage and gutter systems. On the other hand, heat waves present a different set of challenges. Elevated temperatures accelerate the evaporation of water, lowering water levels and concentrating chemicals. This can harm the pool’s surface and equipment.
Algae & Bacteria
Additionally, the warmer water is the ideal breeding ground for algae and bacteria, making it more challenging to maintain clear and healthy pool water.
Recover your pool quickly after a rainstorm to prevent further damage and get back to swimming.
How to Recover Your Pool After Rain & Stormy Weather
Assess Damage
When the storm subsides and it’s safe to venture outdoors, the first step in pool maintenance after heavy rain is a thorough inspection. Look for signs of damage from high water levels that put pressure on pool walls. Remember to inspect the pool deck and surrounding areas as well as drainage systems around your property.
Continue your inspection by examining pool equipment for potential storm damage. Begin by visually inspecting the pump, filter, and heating systems for any obvious signs of distress, such as cracks, leaks, or debris blockages.
Remove Debris
Use a skimmer or leaf net to gently sweep away dirt and debris without causing harm to the pool’s liner or surface. Start from the surface and gradually move deeper, ensuring no debris is left behind. Continue by vacuuming up the remaining debris.
Drain Excess Water
For proper circulation, you need to lower the pool water level below the skimmer intake by switching the pump from filter to drain. This permits proper suction to pull in leaves, bugs, and other debris along with dirty water to circulate through the filter and return to the pool. If a built-in drainage system is unavailable, use a submersible pump but remember to direct water away from the pool and house.
Clean and Repair Equipment
Debris and sediment from the storm can compromise the efficiency of your filters. Start by clearing skimmer baskets and pump baskets. Then backwash and rinse valves or clean cartridges with a hose, depending on the type of pool filter you have.
If you notice any damage or malfunction, we recommend contacting a professional for repairs to prevent further damage and ensure your pool remains in excellent condition. Keeping a vigilant eye on your pool’s equipment after a storm can save you from costly repairs and extend the lifespan of your pool’s critical systems.
Test and Restore the Chemical Balance of Pool Water
The aftermath of a storm can severely disrupt the delicate balance of your pool’s water chemistry. After you clean your pool after a storm, test the water for chlorine, pH, total alkalinity, and stabilizer levels. The dilution of chemicals due to excess water often results in lower chlorine levels, making it essential to adjust these to maintain a sanitary environment.
Additionally, the pH and alkalinity may have shifted outside the ideal range, potentially causing discomfort for swimmers and harm to the pool surface and equipment. Carefully add the necessary chemicals to rebalance these levels, following the recommended guidelines to avoid over-correction, which can lead to further imbalances.
If the pool water has significantly changed, it might be beneficial to shock the pool. This process involves adding a large amount of chlorine to eliminate bacteria and algae. However, this should be done carefully and preferably during the evening to prevent the sun from diminishing the chlorine’s effectiveness.
Test your water regularly over the following days as it may take multiple adjustments to fully restore the chemical balance.
Prevent Algae Growth
The influx of organic debris and nutrients from heavy rainfall can create ideal conditions for algae to flourish in your pool. In addition to adjusting chemicals, brush the pool walls and floor regularly to remove potential algae spores before they can grow.
Additionally, ensuring that your pool’s filtration system is running efficiently can help to remove algae-causing particles from the water. Incorporating a quality algaecide into your maintenance routine post-rainfall can also serve as a preventive measure against algae outbreaks.
How to Protect Your Pool During a Heat Wave
Equally challenging as heavy rainfall, a heat wave presents distinct challenges for pool maintenance. Increased water temperatures can accelerate algae growth and chemical and water evaporation. Therefore pool maintenance becomes even more important when temperatures soar. We recommend the following preventative measures:
Pool Cover
Utilize a pool cover to minimize water loss through evaporation and keep debris out. Higher temperatures can cause the water level to drop more quickly than usual.
Additional Filtration & Circulation
Run your pool’s filtration system for longer periods during a heat wave to combat the faster growth of bacteria and algae in warmer water. Running the pump in the early morning or late evening when temperatures cool off can improve efficiency.
Frequent Testing
Test and adjust your pool’s chemical levels more frequently to counteract the rapid changes that higher temperatures can induce. Regularly check the chlorine levels, as the sun’s intense UV rays can deplete chlorine much faster. Adjust as required to maintain a safe swimming environment.
Increased Cleaning
A daily habit of skimming, brushing, and running the pool vacuum also helps keep algae away. An automatic pool cleaner is a great way to help with this step. And since your pump will work harder, remember to clean or backwash filters more often.
Implementing these strategies during a heat wave can help protect your pool from the adverse effects of extreme heat, ensuring it remains a refreshing oasis.
Let’s Recap
After heavy rainfall and storms:
- Assess damage
- Skim and vacuum out dirt and debris
- Drain excess water to enable filtration and circulation
- Clean and repair equipment
- Test and restore water chemistry
- Shock the pool to prevent algae
During heat waves:
- Consider using a pool cover to reduce evaporation
- Run filtration system longer
- Test water frequently
- Increase cleaning routines
Hopefully, these tips will help with pool maintenance after heavy rain and during heat waves. You will be more prepared to deal with water contamination, unbalanced pool chemistry, equipment failure, algae and bacterial proliferation, and pool damage.
