Hurricane Pool Prep
Storm-tier specific guidance — what to do before the storm hits and what to do after to get your pool clear again without losing the equipment.
Best for: Every SWFL pool owner during June–November.
Storm severity
What are we prepping for?
Cat 1-2: this checklist covers you. Take pictures of your equipment pad BEFORE the storm for insurance.
Before the storm
- 1
DO NOT drain your pool
An empty pool can pop out of the ground from groundwater pressure. Leave water in.
- 2
Lower water by 12–18 inches
Drop the water below the skimmer mouth to give room for rainfall without flooding the deck.
- 3
Shock to FC 5–10 ppm
Storm debris loads the pool with organics — pre-shocking prevents a green bloom 48 hours after.
- 4
Remove all loose items
Pool toys, the cleaner, ladders, deck furniture — anything not bolted down. Don't toss them IN the pool; secure them in the garage.
- 5
Cap or wrap the equipment
Wrap the pump motor and electrical panel with plastic. Shut off breakers at the panel before the storm hits.
After the storm
- 1
Power back on AFTER inspection
Check the equipment pad for standing water before turning the pump on. Anything submerged needs to dry/be inspected first.
- 2
Skim & vacuum debris
Pull out leaves, branches, frogs, anything floating. Vacuum to waste if heavy.
- 3
Re-balance chemistry
Test pH, FC, TA, CYA. Likely you'll need to shock again, raise pH, and re-stabilize.
- 4
Clean filter thoroughly
Cartridge: hose down every pleat. DE: backwash and re-charge. Sand: backwash twice.
- 5
Inspect cage / screen damage
Tears in the screen and damaged corners need replacement before mosquito season hits.
Free perk
Save this checklist before the storm hits
We'll email it. Bonus: we offer priority storm-prep visits to plan customers — $1 first visit if you want to add coverage.
We'll email you the results and an occasional pool tip. No spam, unsubscribe with one click.