Hurricanes are an unfortunate fact of life in Florida, and June 1st, the official start date of the season, is a date all Floridians have etched into their minds. From now until the end of November, there is the potential for a sweeping storm to cause damage to virtually any part of the state.
Worried About Your Pool This Storm Season?
Naturally, we all have a lot of things on our minds as we prepare for Hurricanes. As most people are rushing to prepare their homes for the larger priorities of protecting their homes from the storm, those with pools naturally have questions about how to best prepare them as well. We have some basic do’s and don’ts to help you navigate this hectic time.
Please take a moment to review some pool tips related to Hurricane preparations for your swimming pool.
7 Tips to Prepare Your Pool For a Hurricane
1. Do Not Empty Your Pool
Drainage is almost always in the design of the pool. Water in the pool provides weight to keep the pool in the ground. An empty pool can float or pop out of the ground due to pressure from excessive groundwater caused by heavy rains.
2. Turn Off the Power
Circuit breakers at the main electrical panel should be turned off. Pump motors, lighting, chlorinators, and heaters should not operate in the storm.
3. Protect Electric Pool Equipment
Wrap the time clock, Automation panel, light transformers and electric heaters with waterproof plastic. Tie securely in place to prevent sand and water from entering. If flooding is expected, disconnect these devices and store them in a dry place.
4. Remove Loose Items
Chairs, tables, toys, pool tools or other loose items can become dangerous projectiles in high winds. It’s best to store them inside away from storms. Avoid throwing furniture into the pool, unless it is a last resort. If so, gently place objects in the pool to avoid damage and staining.
5. Add Extra Chlorine to the Pool
Add extra chlorine tabs to prevent debris contamination and excessive stormwater.
6. Do Not Cover Pool
Storms can cause falling branches and other debris that can damage pool covers. It’s easier to remove debris from the pool than it is to replace a cover.
7. Protect Screen Enclosure if you have one
Providing a vent for wind to flow through can help prevent damage. Possibly remove screen panels on opposite sides of the enclosure.
Warning DON’T DO!
NEVER TOSS YOUR PATIO FURNITURE INTO THE POOL
DO NOT DRAIN YOUR POOL TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF FLOODING THIS CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF YOUR POOL POP - Which could lead to a major catastrophic loss of your pool.
Sea Breeze Pools Action Plan After The Storm
We Prioritize Existing Customers First
We plan to access every pool as quickly as possible and provide chemical-only services
We can also provide additional clean-up if needed and estimate additional costs.
We will create an action plan for clean-ups and restoring pools back to their original condition.
What Can a Current Customer do to Expedite the Process?
Email Preferably or text.
Picture
Full name and address
Note if Regular customer.
Note if Power is ON OR OFF
Email: admin@seabreezepool or text 407-385-2847.
Responses will be made as quickly as possible.
How to Minimize Hurricane Damage to Your Pool
Here are 5 ways you can minimize the damage to your swimming pool that might be caused by a hurricane or tropical storm:
Pool covers. If you have a pool cover that is attached by some kind of weight, do NOT put it on. These types of covers can be easily blown off. If you have a cover that is attached to anchors in a deck; DO put it on. These covers are designed to hold during strong wind.
Shock your pool. Yes, even before a storm it can be beneficial to super-chlorinate the pool water. It will help prevent the water from becoming contaminated.
Do NOT drain the pool. You may think rainwater may cause the pool to overflow and therefore flood your home. But the water actually acts as a weight. Draining the pool could cause it to pop out of the ground if it is empty.
Turn the pool equipment off at the circuit breaker. It should be located by the equipment. Turning off the equipment will prevent it from getting clogged and will reduce your chance of damage due to flooding.
The extras around the pool. This one may go without saying, but make sure to remove all patio furniture, etc. around the pool before a storm. You may also want to consider creating a “vent” in the screen enclosure if you have one. Removing a panel of the screen on each side will allow air to flow through, which could potentially prevent structural damage to the screen.
Of course, after the storm, there is yet more to do to make a pool safe to swim in again. For that, call a professional pool service company like Sea Breeze Pools to check all the equipment and chemical levels in the water. We are here to help in every season.
Sea Breeze Pools services the following locations in Greater Central Florida:
Apopka, Lake Mary, Metro West, Mt. Dora, Oakland, Orlando, Sorrento, Longwood, Ocoee, Windermere, and Winter Garden.