Here comes the rain and you can’t stop it. But, you can always make sure that your pool is ready. Caring for your pool means taking necessary precautions so you can protect it against potential damages and also reduce the cleaning you ought to do after the storm.
Before the Rain Comes
Lower water level. The pool water will overflow only if the amount of rainwater it received has already exceeded the amount needed to fill it. Don’t drain your pool because weight will help keep it in place and protect it from getting damaged. You can, however, lower the water level for 2-3 inches. Also, drainage in your yard and pool deck should be working properly so excess water wouldn’t have to be an issue. Consult landscape professionals if your pool deck and yard are located in low spots to make sure that your pool does not suffer from runoff.
Invest in safety covers. Some pool owners feel reluctant to invest in a safety cover worrying downed trees would only tear it apart. However, leaving your pool open during heavy rains can also expose it to damages. Plus, you’re likely to deal with more debris. With that said, consider investing in safety covers that are tied to your pool deck on a trampoline tight. This will help prevent water from collecting on top of the cover and keep wind from entering and blowing off the cover.
Remove furnishing. Strong wind currents can easily carry away furniture you can hardly move yourself. With that said, secure your outdoor furnishings especially when you don’t plan to use them anytime soon. Shut your umbrellas. Tie down or move items in covered areas.
Turn off your pool equipment. Pool equipment has to be switched off at the main house circuit breaker to prevent any problems should flooding occur. Be careful as well not to work around the electrical equipment when you’re in standing water. In the same vein, don’t operate your pump if there’s standing water at the pump motor.
Cleaning Up Your Pool After the Rain
Looking at your pool after a rainstorm can be painful merely thinking of going after the mess, yourself. However, taken step by step, you can manage bringing back the beauty of your pool.
Even when you’ve super chlorinated the water before the rain came, your pool can still end up stripped of chlorine. But that’s okay since chlorine’s job is to fight off contaminants and help keep the pool water sanitized.
In addition, rain may be acidic too, hence affecting the chemical balance in the water. Chances are your pool will become cloudy. Not only are there debris sitting on top, it will as well be hard for you to see through your pool.
The pH level may have been altered as well. And this needs to be dealt with immediately as low pH can cause itchiness and red eyes. Also, when the water is full of dirt, algae may develop. You might also notice stains, but take comfort knowing this can be removed once you’ve cleaned your pool.
Remove debris. First, you may want to brush the tiles of the pool to get rid of dirt attached to them and get them to the water so you can remove them easily. Do brush the pool floor too. You can then begin netting debris off your pool.
You may want to tackle the edges of your pool first and then onto the deeper parts. Be careful when moving the net to not stir off debris you’ve already scooped. Afterward, you can proceed to vacuuming to make sure that all dirt has been taken out the pool.
Inspect pump strainer and skimmer baskets. Don’t forget to check your skimmer baskets and pump strainers. Remove all the debris to prevent clogging.
Check pool equipment. Beware of any damage. Also, do not turn on the equipment if you notice that it’s still wet. Instead, get in touch with an electrician to make sure it’s already safe to start working.
It’s also not advisable that you do the drying yourself. Leave it to professionals to recommend how to dry the equipment properly. If the pool equipment is now okay, then you can go ahead to restarting it.
Once it’s safe to run the pump, let it sit for 24 hours to make sure that the pool is properly sanitized. This process may require that you clean the filter or proceed with a backwash afterward.
Shock pool. You will need to drain excess water from your pool. Once you’re done, you can work on balancing the water. Make sure to check pH and alkalinity.
It’s best to avoid using the pool during the rainy season. These tips should help get your pool ready for the string of storms that may come Southern California’s way.
You can also get in touch with pool care experts to help you out. If you do have time, go check how they go over the maintenance. It wouldn’t hurt knowing how caring for your pool before and after heavy rains is properly done.