Coastal South Carolina offers pool owners the unparalleled luxury of aquatic relaxation in front of stunning backdrops. However, it also presents the unique challenges of hurricane season. This six-month period makes meticulous pool care paramount. As your local pool experts, Aqua Blue Pools is here with guidance to ensure your oasis remains pristine throughout these turbulent months.
When is hurricane season?
Hurricane season on the U.S. East Coast typically spans from June 1 to Nov. 30, with the peak period occurring between mid-August and late October. This season is marked by increased tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic Ocean, which can pose significant threats to coastal areas, including Charleston, Bluffton and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia.
During this time, it is crucial for residents and businesses to prepare for potential storms by securing or placing indoors anything that is not anchored down, such as outdoor furnishings, umbrellas, storage containers and anything else that could blow away or become projectile objects. It is also vital to ensure pools are maintained and ready to withstand severe weather conditions.
These proactive measures can help minimize damage and ensure a quick recovery should a hurricane impact the region.
Should I empty my pool?
Upon receiving a hurricane or tropical storm forecast, it is a common impulse to empty and cover the pool to safeguard against potential damage, debris and contamination. However, this is actually not ideal for hurricane pool protection as falling branches and debris pose a greater threat to pool covers than to the pool structure itself.
Maintaining a full pool provides essential weight to anchor it securely in the ground while draining the pool completely can lead to structural issues. The hydrostatic pressure from groundwater can cause the pool to “float” or shift, resulting in cracks or other damage.
Remember, a contaminated pool is far simpler to fix than a cracked one. It’s best to leave the water level as it is.
Do I need to worry about my pool equipment?
It may be instinctual to cover pool equipment ahead of the rain. However, this will not truly do much to protect it. Your pool equipment is often waterproof and can stand up to coming weather.
It is best to keep your pool equipment running as usual. As long as you still have power, it will continue to run and your pool will filter and operate as normal. If water collects in your pool equipment area, so much so that the flood level is significant enough, your pool equipment is designed to automatically trip the power breakers, hence cutting off the power supply to your equipment.
After the storm, refrain from tampering with equipment and breakers in flooded areas. Once our pool maintenance team is able to get back to work safely, we can begin an assessment process and resume pool cleaning services as needed.
How should I prepare the pool water?
To mitigate the risk of contamination, consider increasing chlorine levels before the storm strikes. This helps maintain water sanitation and reduce algae and bacteria growth brought by debris and rainwater.
Employing pool shock and algae control can effectively eliminate potential foreign organisms that may infiltrate the pool water during a hurricane.
After the storm has passed, it is important to check the water chemistry and balance it accordingly to ensure it is safe for swimming. Test and adjust the pH, alkalinity and calcium hardness levels, and continue with regular filtration and cleaning to restore the pool to its pre-storm condition.
Keep Your Waters Crystal Clear
As the Lowcountry’s premier custom pool builder, Aqua Blue Pools is ready to bring your dream pool to life. Since 1991, our team has designed and built pools in a range of styles for residential and commercial clients from South Carolina’s Lowcountry to Savannah. We are proud to work closely with our clients to create and execute impressive custom projects built to last. Contact us today to begin planning your oasis!