FAQ: After Monsoon Pool Care

Question:
Is there anything special I need to do following a storm for pool clean-up?

Answer:
Proper maintenance is critical for your pools, especially to maintain full coverage under a Platinum Home Warranty Superior Plan, and the most important aspect of post-storm clean-up is timing! 

Storms drop dirt, oil, debris, and bacteria into pools — the longer your pool stays dirty, the harder it will be to restore it to good condition. While the process can be tedious, it’s the only way to protect pool equipment and ensure a clean, safe swimming environment. 

Post-Storm DON’Ts

These common mistakes are easy to avoid:

• Drain the pool, especially in wet soil
• Run the pump without attending to the filter and skimmer
• Turn on pool equipment without checking the electrical systems and components  
• Run the pool cleaner before removing large debris
• Use bare hands in the water

Post-Storm DOs

1. Contact Your Pool Professional

Appointments will be booked up immediately after a storm, so it’s wise to call as soon as you can. If it’s not possible to be seen quickly, ask for suggestions on what upkeep you need to do in the meantime.

2. Skim Debris: Clear the Water, Skimmer, and Pump Baskets

This everyday maintenance task will likely need a heavier lift than usual after a storm. The most important tip for this first step is to never use your bare hands due to the risk of bacteria in the water.

3. Check Your Breaker

Breakers can trip during a storm and heavy rain, so it’s important to reset the breaker if necessary and ensure all the equipment operates correctly. 

4. Clean & Backwash Filter

An excess of bacteria, dust, and pollen can threaten your filter even with a smaller storm, so give it a thorough cleaning or backwashing before you turn it back on.

5. Brush & Vacuum

For removing debris from the pool floor, vacuuming directly to waste is ideal to avoid running dirt through the filter, which risks clogging. If that’s not possible, pay careful attention to the filter’s pressure gauge – when the pressure is too high, backwash and clean the filter manually. Complete this step with a thorough scrubbing and brushing of the pool walls to remove the last of the dirt and bacteria.

6. Restoring Water to a Safe Balance

Finally, test your pool water to determine how much chlorine you need to properly shock the water to prevent algal blooms or other bacteria issues. Post-storm shocks often require double or triple the usual amount of chlorine needed. Once the chlorine is leveled out, adjust the alkalinity, pH, and CYA levels to fully balance the water chemicals.

You can also reach out to any of our friendly Customer Service Representatives about what is included when your pool is covered under our Superior home warranty plan.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us!

*Built-in pool coverage is included with our Superior Plan.