Cleaning Your Pool After Flooding or Storms

Cleaning your pool after a flood can be a daunting task. Mother Nature is often unpredictable and sometimes there are some really unpleasant surprises. Floods, heavy storms and dust storms, before you know it, they wreak havoc.

A storm can spell disaster for your beautiful, crystal-clear swimming pool. Storms can wash mud and other gunk into the water, dilute and disturb your chemical balance, and, in extreme cases, even destroy your pool equipment.

Storms can also create unforeseen hazardous conditions and your safety comes first, so before trying to restore your pool, please make sure that you and the area surrounding your pool are safe. As such here is a general guide to help restore your pool after a storm.

Inspecting Your Swimming Pool After Flood And Storm

The 1st and most important step is to properly assess what has actually happened to your pool in the storm. It is recommended to start by checking if any of your pool equipment (pump, filter, etc.) has been damaged or destroyed during the storm, as any further cleaning will rely on all of those being in working condition.

Next, check the condition of the actual water. If by some miracle your pool looks clear, simply scoop or vacuum any leaves and other debris out of the water and take a water sample to your local pool professional ASAP. Then balance the water as directed and resume having a lovely blue pool. However, in the likely event, your pool is cloudy/muddy or green, special treatment will be required.

Cleaning Cloudy Or Muddy Pools After The Storm

Storms have the unfortunate habit of washing a whole host of gunk into the pool, including dirty water, mud and a whole host of other debris.

Either way, this is all stuff that you don’t want going through your pool filter if you can help it. The best way you can fix your pool from this state is to floc all of the gunk in the pool to the bottom and vacuum it out to waste, and these steps will outline the process.

Cleaning your Pool After the Flood, Heavy Storms or Dust Storms

For flocking a storm-contaminated pool, it is recommended to use a strong granular floc. These instructions work for most granular floc products, but please consult the instructions of your specific product for the best results.

• Try to scoop out any large physical debris before starting this process, like large sticks, rocks etc.
• Adjust your pool’s pH so it is approx. 8.2. Whilst under normal circumstances, you should keep your pool’s pH level between 7.2-7.6, most granular flocs are most effective in a high pH environment. This can be achieved by adding an appropriate dose of soda ash (pH increaser) to your pool. Please check the dosage rates of your specific product.
• Mix the granular floc up in a large bucket of water. You should need approx. 2kg of floc for every 50kL of water.
• Pour the floc solution around the pool. Make sure that you don’t pour it out all in one place but rather walk it around the pool as this will help it spread and mix in with the pool quicker.
• Set your sand filter to recirculate or remove your filter cartridge. Then turn your pump on for a few hours to help disperse the floc evenly amongst the pool.
• After that’s happened, turn your pump off and leave your pool alone for approx. 24 hours, to allow the floc to sink everything to the floor.
• Proceed to SLOWLY & CAREFULLY vacuum your pool, ideally out to waste. The faster/less careful you are, the more likely you are to disturb the gunk on the bottom of the pool and the more likely it is you’ll have to let it all settle again and come back for a 2nd pass. If you own a cartridge filter and don’t have a waste line installed, you will have to vacuum the gunk into your filter cartridge and will probably need to clean the cartridge multiple times during this process. You’ll also probably need to get a new cartridge after you’re finished.
• Once the pool is back to being blue & crystal clear, take a water sample to a local pool professional ASAP and balance the water as directed.

The Pool is Green

This unfortunately means that the storm has prompted algae to bloom in your pool happily. If your pool is muddy/super cloudy and has algae, you should follow the steps outlined above before attempting to treat the green algae. Thankfully, Green & Mustard algae are relatively easy to treat if done quickly.

In Conclusion

After a big storm or flooding, it's important to clean your pool as soon as possible. Not only will this help return things to normal, but it will also prevent further damage. Don’t postpone this task or it will get worse.

There is no way to control the weather conditions but you can always be prepared for the worst-case scenario. If you are having a hard time cleaning up everything, remember that you can always consult our experts. With our tips, you will enjoy your crystal-clear water in no time.

FAQs

Should You Shock Your Pool After Heavy Rain?

After a heavy rain or storm, your pool may be filled with dirty water. Should you shock your pool in this case?

The answer is yes, you should shock your pool after heavy rain or storms. This will help clean the water and eliminate any dirt or debris that may have entered the pool.

Should I Run My Pool Pump During A Storm?

Yes, you should continue to run your pool pump during a storm. This will help circulate the water and prevent any further damage to your pool.

Should I Add Algaecide After Rain?

Adding an algaecide to your pool after a storm can help keep the water clean and clear. Algae can quickly grow in standing water, so it's important to take action as soon as possible. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions when adding algaecide to your pool.

How Do You Clean A Pool After A Sandstorm?

When it comes to pools and sandstorms, the first thing you need to do is remove as much of the sand from the pool as possible. The best way to do this is to use a skimmer or a pool brush. Once you have removed as much sand as possible, you will need to vacuum the pool. This will help to remove any remaining sand and debris from the pool.

How Do I Get Rid Of Mud In My Inground Pool?

If your pool has been flooded or has had a lot of rain, you may find yourself with a muddy mess. This can be especially difficult to deal with if you have an inground pool. However, there are a few things you can do to get rid of the mud and get your pool back to normal.

One option is to use a pool vacuum. If you have a powerful enough vacuum, this can be a quick and easy way to remove the mud from your pool. Be sure to vacuum in both directions and empty the vacuum often to avoid overloading it. Another option is to drain your pool and power wash it. This will take more time than using a vacuum, but it can be effective in getting rid of all the mud.

Once you have removed the mud from your pool, be sure to give it a good cleaning with chlorine or other pool cleaners. This will help kill any bacteria present and ensure your pool is safe for swimming.

How To Clean A Pool After a Flood?

After a flood, you will want to take extra care in cleaning your pool. Be sure to remove any debris that may have gotten into the water. You will also want to vacuum the pool and empty the vacuum often. Once you have vacuumed the pool, you can power wash it to remove any remaining mud or dirt.

Once your pool is clean, you will want to add chlorine or other pool cleaners. This will help kill any bacteria present and ensure your pool is safe for swimming.