How Do I Protect My Pool During a Hurricanes?

Should you turn off your pool pump during a storm? The question hits our inbox every hurricane season. Furthermore, second-guessing every decision as storm clouds gather creates doubt and poor actions. However, what might surprise you the "obvious" solution of draining your pool could cost you thousands in repairs.

Many pool owners believe draining their pool before a hurricane will reduce damage. Surprisingly, draining can cause serious structural problems and cost thousands to repair. Heavy rains create massive groundwater pressure and pushes your empty pool right out of the ground. Therefore, your entire pool structure floats or pops up like a cork in water.

Lower the water too far and the rain doesn’t come, your pump may run dry and burn out. Altogether, keeping water at the right level protects both your pool and equipment. Meanwhile, a pool full stays anchored and stable throughout the storm. Unnecessarily draining costs hundreds of dollars just to refill with municipal water. afterwards, shifted pool faces potential structural repairs and a bill that makes your head spin.

Shasta Pools Supply seen this scenario play out countless times since 1966. Pool owners make these costly mistakes because the "right" answer often feels counterintuitive. Hence, this article walks you through exactly what works and what doesn't. When hurricane season threatens, smart preparation steps protects your equipment and gets back to swimming as quickly as possible.

The hours before a hurricane make all the difference. Smart preparation protects your investment and keeps repair bills manageable. We've guided pool owners through storm prep since 1966, and these steps work.

Check and balance pool water chemistry

Start with your water chemistry. Get your pH between 7.2 and 7.6 – this optimizes your chlorine's effectiveness and prevents algae from taking hold. Your alkalinity should sit between 80-120 ppm to buffer those pH levels, while calcium hardness needs to stay between 200-400 ppm to avoid corrosion or scaling.

Think of balanced water as your first line of defense. Storm runoff brings all kinds of contaminants, and properly balanced water fights back against what's coming. 

Super-chlorinate your pool 24 hours before the hurricane hits. This isn't optional – it's your best weapon against the bacteria and debris that stormwater will dump into your pool.

Add algaecide on top of your shock treatment. Algae blooms love the chaos that follows storms, and preventing them beats fighting them afterward. Your pool will thank you when you're not scrubbing green slime while your neighbors are still pumping out floodwater.

Should I drain pool before hurricane?

Here's where most people get it wrong. Never drain your pool before a hurricane.
Yes, it seems logical. Less water, less mess, right? But your pool needs that water weight to stay put. The water counterbalances groundwater pressure during heavy rains. Empty that pool, and hydrostatic pressure can literally push your entire pool structure out of the ground.

You can lower your water level 6-12 inches to handle expected rainfall, but don't go below the skimmer. That's your safety line. 

Hurricane winds turn patio furniture into missiles. Clear everything: chairs, umbrellas, toys, floats, cleaning equipment – anything that isn't bolted down.

Bring all poolside furniture and toys indoors if you can. If space is tight, placing heavy items in the pool is safer than leaving them outside—even if it may cause cosmetic damage. Better a stained table than a table through your neighbor's window.

Trim trees and remove weak branches

Inspect every tree and shrub near your pool area. Dead branches become projectiles, and weak limbs won't survive hurricane winds.

Handle this maintenance well before hurricane season starts, not when warnings are already issued. Proper trimming now prevents debris problems later and protects your pool structure from damage.
The goal isn't just survival – it's getting back to swimming as quickly as possible once the storm passes.

Protecting Pool Equipment and Power Systems

Here's where things get serious. Your pool equipment represents thousands of dollars in investment, and one wrong move during a hurricane can fry everything.

We've watched pool owners lose entire systems because they didn't know these simple protection steps. Don't let that be you.
Should I turn off pool pump when raining?
Light rain? Keep that pump running. Your circulation system needs to filter out debris as it blows in.

But when thunderstorms roll in, shut everything down immediately. Never touch pool equipment during rainfall—even without visible lightning, you risk electrocution when handling metal poles or electrical devices. Your safety is worth more than perfect water circulation.

Turn off power at the breaker

This step could save you thousands. Shut down all pool-related electrical systems at the main circuit breaker panel. We're talking pump motors, lighting, automatic chlorinators, and heaters.

Flipping the equipment switch isn't enough—you need to cut power completely at the source. If you have a Pentair Pool App setup, you can handle this with a simple tap. Easy.
Cover exposed electrical components

Once power's off, protect everything from water damage:

• Wrap pool pumps, timers, light transformers, and heaters with waterproof plastic
• Secure coverings tight—sand and water will find any opening
• If flooding threatens, disconnect portable components and store them somewhere dry
• Use weatherproof covers on outdoor electrical components

Lightning can create sudden power surges that damage pumps, heaters, and lights. A quality surge protector can help protect your expensive pool equipment. Pool equipment sits outside, making it particularly vulnerable to electrical damage. 

Last step: turn off the gas supply to pool/spa heaters by closing the individual shut-off valves. Wrap gas heaters with waterproof materials after shutdown.

Gas leaks during storms create serious hazards. Better safe than sorry.

What Should I Do With My Pool During and Right After a Hurricane?

The storm has arrived—now what? This is where most pool owners panic and make costly mistakes.

Here's the reality: once that hurricane hits, your options become extremely limited. But the few decisions you can make during and right after the storm will determine whether you're back to swimming in days or dealing with weeks of expensive repairs.

Keep pump running if safe during storm

You might think this sounds crazy, but as long as you still have power and conditions allow it, keep that circulation system running. Your pump becomes your best friend for filtering out the constant stream of debris blowing into your water.

The moment lightning starts or winds pick up dangerously? Shut everything down immediately. No pool is worth risking your safety.

Watch for pool flood or overflow

Heavy rainfall turns your pool into a potential disaster for your property. That overflowing water isn't just a nuisance—it can cost you $1,500 just to remove one inch of water from inside your home.

Don't wait around hoping it'll evaporate. Floodwater sitting in your pool breeds bacteria and contaminants faster than you'd expect. The longer you wait, the bigger your cleanup bill becomes.

Check for wildlife in or around the pool

This might sound like something from a horror movie, but it's not. Alligators, snakes, turtles, frogs—they all see your pool as prime real estate during a hurricane.

Before you even think about grabbing that skimmer net, do a thorough visual inspection of your entire pool area. No cleanup task is urgent enough to risk a dangerous encounter.

Avoid pressure washing near the pool

Once you start cleaning up your property, keep that pressure washer far away from your pool. Those dirty spray particles and cleaning chemicals will wreck your water chemistry and potentially damage your equipment.

You've already got enough cleanup ahead of you—don't create more work by contaminating your pool water. 

The storm's passed, and now you're staring at what looks like a swamp where your pool used to be. Don't panic. Swift action gets you back to swimming faster than you might think.

At Shasta Pools Supply, we've walked countless customers through this exact recovery process since 1966. Here's your step-by-step roadmap to getting your pool back.

Remove debris safely from the pool
Before you touch anything, scan your pool area for uninvited guests. Wildlife often seeks shelter in pools during storms. That floating branch might not be alone.

Once you've confirmed the coast is clear, grab your leaf skimmer and telescoping pole. Start with the big stuff first. Floating debris comes out easily now, but let it sit and you'll be fighting waterlogged branches later.

Wear waterproof gloves when handling larger objects like tree limbs. Storm water carries all kinds of nasty stuff you don't want touching your skin.

Your skimmer baskets will fill up fast – way faster than usual. Empty them frequently or you'll overwhelm your system before it even gets started.

Inspect and restart pool equipment

Here's where patience saves you money. Every piece of equipment needs to be completely dry before you restore power. We're talking bone dry, not just "looks okay."
Look for water rings around motors or any dripping. These are dead giveaways that water got where it shouldn't be. If you see these signs, call a professional before you flip that breaker switch.

Clean your pump strainers and skimmer baskets thoroughly. Storm debris clogs systems faster than you'd expect. If any equipment was actually submerged during flooding, don't even think about starting it yourself. Professional cleaning prevents expensive mistakes.

Test and rebalance water chemistry

Your water chemistry is probably a mess right now, but there's a right order to fix it. Test and adjust Total Alkalinity first – aim for 80-120 ppm – then tackle your pH.

Heavy rainfall dilutes everything and throws pH out of whack. You might also notice metal staining starting to appear. Test for metals and consider a sequestering agent if levels are off the charts.

This isn't the time to guess. Get accurate test results before you start adding chemicals.

Shock the pool again if needed

Here's the non-negotiable step: shocking after a storm isn't optional. You need to push chlorine levels up to around 10.0 ppm to kill whatever microorganisms that floodwater brought to your pool party.

Run your filtration system continuously until the water clears. This could take several days, not several hours. Be patient with the process.

Should I turn off my pool pump during a thunderstorm?

Since we're talking about equipment safety, here's the straight answer: it depends on your comfort level with risk. Lightning rarely damages pumps directly, but playing it safe by powering down makes sense.

Your automation systems and salt water generators actually face more risk than basic pumps. Pair this approach with quality surge protection, and you've minimized your equipment damage risk considerably.
The bottom line? There's no shame in erring on the side of caution when it comes to expensive pool equipment. 

With the right preparation, your pool can make it through hurricane season with minimal damage. The key insight that saves thousands of dollars? Your intuition about "protecting" your pool by draining it is dead wrong.

Keep that water in your pool. Balance those chemicals before the storm hits. Power down equipment properly when conditions turn dangerous. Move fast on cleanup afterward.
These aren't complicated steps, but they go against what feels "logical" when you're staring at dark clouds rolling in.

At Shasta Pools Supply, we've watched too many pool owners learn these lessons the expensive way since 1966. The homeowner who drained their pool only to watch it pop out of the ground like a cork. The family that skipped the pre-storm chemical balance and spent weeks battling green water afterward. The do-it-yourselfer who forgot to shut off power and fried a $2,000 pump.

You don't have to be one of those stories.

Your pool can weather severe storms without major damage when you prepare correctly. The same principles we've shared with customers across Arizona and every state we ship to apply whether you're facing a Category 1 or Category 5 hurricane.

Trust is the true currency of any business, and we're telling you straight: proper preparation beats panic every time. Your pool, your family's safety, and your wallet will thank you for getting this right the first time.
Questions about storm preparation or need equipment before the next hurricane warning hits? Our team has seen it all and we're here to help you get back to enjoying crystal clear water as quickly as possible after any storm passes.

Key Takeaways

Proper hurricane preparation can save pool owners thousands in repair costs and prevent structural damage. Here are the essential steps every pool owner should know:

• Never drain your pool before a hurricane - keeping it full prevents structural damage from groundwater pressure that can cause pools to "pop" out of the ground
• Balance water chemistry and shock 24 hours before the storm - proper pH levels and chlorine prevent algae growth from contaminated stormwater
• Turn off all electrical equipment at the breaker and cover with waterproof materials - this prevents costly damage to pumps, heaters, and lighting systems
• Remove all loose items from the pool area - furniture, toys, and equipment become dangerous projectiles in hurricane-force winds
• Act quickly after the storm passes - remove debris immediately, check for wildlife, and rebalance water chemistry to restore your pool safely

The key to hurricane pool protection is preparation over reaction. A properly maintained, full pool with secured equipment will weather most storms with minimal damage, while hasty decisions like draining can lead to catastrophic structural problems costing thousands to repair. 

How do I prepare my Florida pool for an oncoming hurricane? https://www.uff.ufl.edu/gatornation/swimming-pools-and-hurricanes/

How to Prepare Your Pool and Clean Up After a Storm https://www.pentair.com/en-us/education-support/water-education-center/pool-and-spa-education/tropical-storm-pool-protection.html

How to Prepare Your Pool Before a Hurricane https://www.bluesquaremfg.com/blog/how-to-prepare-your-pool-before-a-hurricane/