In the Twin Cities, summer storms aren’t uncommon. When you own a pool, it’s important to understand how to perform swimming pool maintenance after severe weather rolls through town. High winds, hail, and heavy rains can introduce substances into your pool that can clog the filter and throw off the pH balance of the water. If substantial debris enters the water and you fail to remove it, your pool’s mechanical components may even suffer damage.
To help you get a handle on your post-storm pool maintenance, our expert techs at Royal Pool & Spa share a few must-know cleaning and care tips below.
Remove Debris From the Water
The first thing you should always do after a storm hits your area is inspect the water for debris and remove anything you find. Leaves, sticks, soil, and other outdoor debris contain bacteria that can replicate rapidly once they're inside your pool water. Strongly acidic or alkaline debris can also raise or lower the pH of the water, which may allow algae or bacteria to flourish.
To clean up debris, here’s what you’ll need to do:
● Grab a pool net and scoop out anything floating on the surface of the water.
● Use a pool brush to thoroughly brush the walls of the pool along with its other surfaces.
● If there’s debris or sediment on the bottom of the pool, use a pool vacuum to suck it out.
If you don’t own the appropriate cleaning equipment to get the job done, call in a swimming pool maintenance specialist who can handle it for you. Prompt debris removal is the best way to preserve the sanitation and pH of the water and protect your pool’s mechanical components.
Test the Water and Adjust Chemical Balance
Rainwater and hail can easily throw off the pH balance of your pool, so you’ll need to test the water to determine where the pH level is at. An ideal water pH falls between 7.4-7.6, so if your pool is outside that range, you’ll need to adjust the swimming pool chemicals to rebalance it.
Maintaining a proper pH is critical since overly acidic or alkaline water can cause skin, eye, and even respiratory irritation when people swim in your pool. If you’re unsure how to balance the chemicals properly, let an expert handle it for you. It may also be a good idea to enroll in a routine swimming pool maintenance schedule to ensure your pool gets the attention it needs every week.
Adjust the Water Level, If Necessary
If your pool collected a substantial amount of rainwater during a storm, you may need to adjust the water level to ensure it doesn’t overflow. Not sure how to work with the valve to release excess pool water? Call in a swimming pool maintenance tech to handle the job. It’s also a good idea to ask your tech to show you how to do this in case you ever need to take care of it in the future.
Shock the Pool
If the weather was really poor and a substantial amount of dirt, leaves, sticks, and other debris entered your pool, the water may need a shock to kill off bacteria. Before you shock your pool, though, make sure you test the pH balance to ensure it’s between 7.2-7.6 so the water doesn’t turn cloudy after you add the shock.
After adding the chemicals, wait 24 hours and then test the pH again. Make any necessary adjustments to the pool chemicals to ensure the water is clean and ready for swimming.
Royal Pool & Spa: Your Twin Cities Source for Comprehensive Pool Maintenance & Repair
Need help maintaining your pool this summer? Get in touch with our team at Royal Pool & Spa! We offer swimming pool maintenance schedules, pool repair services, pool renovations, and much more. Or, if you prefer to take the DIY pool maintenance route, we offer swimming pool chemical delivery too. To learn more or get started, call our White Bear Lake office today at 651-779-7606 or contact us online, and we’ll get in touch!