Cleaning Your Pool After a Storm or Heavy Rain
When South Carolina weather turns wild, your backyard pool often takes a hit. Torrential rain, gusty winds, and sudden storms can throw your clean, sparkling pool into disarray. Whether it’s leaves and branches, dirty water, or a foggy filter, your pool needs some attention before it’s ready for swimmers again. Here’s a clear, step-by-step guide to help you recover and get your water safe and clear once more.
Start With a Visual Inspection
First things first, check for any physical damage. Look at the pool itself, the equipment, such as your pump and filter, and the surrounding area. Fallen tree limbs, loose wires, and flooded pool decks can pose safety hazards. If anything looks unsafe, take care of that before you move on to cleaning.
Remove Debris From the SurfaceStorms bring a mess. Skim leaves, branches, bugs, and anything else floating on the surface using a leaf net or pool skimmer. Try to do this as soon as possible—debris that sinks can stain the liner or clog your system.
Empty Skimmer and Pump Baskets
Once the surface is clear, empty out the skimmer baskets and pump baskets. During storms, these can fill quickly and reduce water flow to the pump. Clogged baskets make your filtration system work harder than it needs to.
Vacuum the Pool Floor
After storms, dirt, sand, and leaves tend to settle at the bottom. Use a manual vacuum or robotic cleaner to thoroughly clean the pool floor. Go slow to avoid stirring up sediment and making the water cloudy again.
Check and Adjust the Water Level
Heavy rain can cause your pool to overflow or rise above optimal levels. If the water is too high, use a submersible pump or the backwash setting on your filter to lower it. Aim to keep the water halfway up the skimmer opening for ideal performance.
Test and Rebalance Your Pool Chemistry
Rainwater changes everything—pH, chlorine levels, and alkalinity. Use a reliable water testing kit to check all your levels. Start with:
- pH: Should be between 7.2 and 7.6
- Alkalinity: Between 80–120 ppm
- Chlorine: Around 1–3 ppm
- Calcium Hardness: 200–400 ppm
- Cyanuric Acid (Stabilizer): 30–50 ppm
Adjust as needed using your standard pool chemicals. Don’t skip this step—unbalanced water can damage your equipment and be unsafe to swim in.
Shock the Pool
After a storm, especially when organic matter has entered the pool, it’s a good idea to shock the water. This helps kill any bacteria or algae spores and restores clarity. Follow the instructions on your preferred pool shock treatment and avoid swimming until chlorine levels return to normal.
Clean or Backwash the Filter
Don’t forget about your filter—it’s been working overtime. Whether you use a sand, cartridge, or DE filter, clean it according to your system’s manual. For sand filters, backwashing is often the fastest way to restore performance.
Inspect Pool Equipment
Finally, give your pump, heater, chlorinator, and other equipment a once-over. Make sure everything is running properly. If anything was underwater or acting strange, it might be time to call in a professional.
Preventative Tips for the Future
While you can’t stop the weather, you can reduce the storm’s impact on your pool with a few preventative measures:
- Use a pool cover before a forecasted storm
- Trim overhanging trees and branches
- Secure outdoor furniture and toys that could blow in
- Keep chemicals on hand for quick treatment
With preparation, you can make cleanup quicker and easier.
Know When to Call a Professional
If your water is still cloudy, your system won’t start, or you just don’t feel confident handling it yourself, Griffin Pools and Spas is here to help. We’ve been helping South Carolina pool owners maintain their pools for years. A fast professional cleanup can save your pool from bigger problems down the line.
Final Thoughts
Storms don’t have to ruin your pool season. With quick action and a little know-how, you can restore your pool’s sparkle and safety in just a day or two. The most important thing is to stay on top of maintenance, especially when the weather takes a turn. Need help getting your pool water back to perfect clarity? Griffin Pools and Spas has your back.