It doesn't look like we (in North Central Florida) will be visited by Florence. But is one of them visits us what should I be prepared for? Obviously we need to watch for rain over filling the pool so I'll drain ahead of time but if the power's out for an extended period perhaps I should be stocking up on chlorine?
Hurricanes
- Thread starter ChuckTin
- Start date
Liquid chlorine would be handy for many things after a storm. If the power is out you can still add liquid to the pool and mix it up manually.
After the storm check all your chemistry cause if you lost or drained out a lot of water you'd may have also lost a mess of salt and CYA too.
Maddie
After the storm check all your chemistry cause if you lost or drained out a lot of water you'd may have also lost a mess of salt and CYA too.
Maddie
- May 3, 2014
- 62,727
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
It is not recommended to drain any water ahead of time. You could float the pool shell out of the ground if your ground water rises prior to your pool filling up.
Here is something one of our guides wrote after she had to deal with Harvey in TX.
"Precautions and Procedures during heavy floods
When the rain is coming down multiple inches by the hour, an overflow drain may not maintain the pool water level. For some people that could mean water coming into the back of the house.
Appropriate water level in the pool:
Normal circumstances: halfway up the skimmer, give or take an inch or so.
Torrential rains: WITH an overflow drain, keep watch on the rate of rainfall and water level rise. Often the overflow drain will keep up. If the water is lapping under the coping and is not holding, get busy preparing for another way to drain water from the pool.
WITHOUT an overflow drain, don’t wait until the water level is lapping the coping.
It’s an individual call on when to act. Experience with your pool and with your area’s downpours makes it an easier decision.
1. hose bib/spigot to drain water from the pool: Open up the spigot between the filter and main pump. If that's an unwise place to drain, see #3. Respect your neighbors and drain away from their property. If you need to drain faster to keep up with rain fall, attach hoses to each spigot from other pumps you may have.
2. Important***** pump must be on: with my equipment, we kept the pump on high to get the greatest flow out of the hose. When the pump was on low, it was very low flow out of the hose. Use the speed that gives you a margin of safety from the pool overflowing.
3. where to drain: you can attach your garden hose to the spigot and drain to a better place - driveway, street, etc. In the Hurricane Harvey situations, we could not have used our deck drains to put the hose end (the deck drains that run to the street). Our street was a rushing river, so my logic (correct or not) said that water with no place to go would all back up in the deck drains. Then the rainfall on the deck couldn't drain. I could very likely be wrong about that. We ran the hoses to our long driveway which has a decent slope and no chance of pooling near the house. We didn't help the rushing street river.....
4. swg system: Turn off the salt system. There’s no point using up your cell as your pool water drains down the street. Some systems may allow you to turn it off; others you simply turn the % level down to zero.
5. a bleach pool: don't forget if you have a swg system turned off, you now need to watch the FC level. As others have said, take it up to SLAM level or at least high enough to give you wiggle room for timing of testing (using the band breaks from the storm to get out there and test or simply add more bleach)
6. skimmers: if you're dealing with storms that have bands as with hurricanes or tropical storms, use the break periods from the rain to get the debris out of the skimmers to keep the flow going well.
Alternate Methods to Drain a Pool
1. filters that drain to waste (not cartridge filters): turn valves to waste
2. sump pump: if you have one available and have power, throw that into the pool
3. the old siphon method: "You know, like you used to use when you stole gas from your neighbor's car...
Fill a garden hose with water and then put one end of a garden hose in the pool and the other end down hill somewhere.."
For Solar panels:
1) Fill up the solar roof heater. There are cutoff valves on the send and return lines from the panels, so I’m going to (very quickly so pump isn’t dead headed for more than a second) close the return line then the send so if wind was to get under the panels they at least have weight. (If you do not have these cut offs that is something to look into getting)
Kim
"Precautions and Procedures during heavy floods
When the rain is coming down multiple inches by the hour, an overflow drain may not maintain the pool water level. For some people that could mean water coming into the back of the house.
Appropriate water level in the pool:
Normal circumstances: halfway up the skimmer, give or take an inch or so.
Torrential rains: WITH an overflow drain, keep watch on the rate of rainfall and water level rise. Often the overflow drain will keep up. If the water is lapping under the coping and is not holding, get busy preparing for another way to drain water from the pool.
WITHOUT an overflow drain, don’t wait until the water level is lapping the coping.
It’s an individual call on when to act. Experience with your pool and with your area’s downpours makes it an easier decision.
1. hose bib/spigot to drain water from the pool: Open up the spigot between the filter and main pump. If that's an unwise place to drain, see #3. Respect your neighbors and drain away from their property. If you need to drain faster to keep up with rain fall, attach hoses to each spigot from other pumps you may have.
2. Important***** pump must be on: with my equipment, we kept the pump on high to get the greatest flow out of the hose. When the pump was on low, it was very low flow out of the hose. Use the speed that gives you a margin of safety from the pool overflowing.
3. where to drain: you can attach your garden hose to the spigot and drain to a better place - driveway, street, etc. In the Hurricane Harvey situations, we could not have used our deck drains to put the hose end (the deck drains that run to the street). Our street was a rushing river, so my logic (correct or not) said that water with no place to go would all back up in the deck drains. Then the rainfall on the deck couldn't drain. I could very likely be wrong about that. We ran the hoses to our long driveway which has a decent slope and no chance of pooling near the house. We didn't help the rushing street river.....
4. swg system: Turn off the salt system. There’s no point using up your cell as your pool water drains down the street. Some systems may allow you to turn it off; others you simply turn the % level down to zero.
5. a bleach pool: don't forget if you have a swg system turned off, you now need to watch the FC level. As others have said, take it up to SLAM level or at least high enough to give you wiggle room for timing of testing (using the band breaks from the storm to get out there and test or simply add more bleach)
6. skimmers: if you're dealing with storms that have bands as with hurricanes or tropical storms, use the break periods from the rain to get the debris out of the skimmers to keep the flow going well.
Alternate Methods to Drain a Pool
1. filters that drain to waste (not cartridge filters): turn valves to waste
2. sump pump: if you have one available and have power, throw that into the pool
3. the old siphon method: "You know, like you used to use when you stole gas from your neighbor's car...
Fill a garden hose with water and then put one end of a garden hose in the pool and the other end down hill somewhere.."
For Solar panels:
1) Fill up the solar roof heater. There are cutoff valves on the send and return lines from the panels, so I’m going to (very quickly so pump isn’t dead headed for more than a second) close the return line then the send so if wind was to get under the panels they at least have weight. (If you do not have these cut offs that is something to look into getting)
Kim
Not to be confused with lowering your water level as it gets too high in the pool or is overflowing. Use your best judgment.
Maddie
sktn77a
Gold Supporter
Make sure you have a good net and brush. Flora debris has been our biggest issue (leaves, pine needles, small twigs and branches) here in central NC. And get out there and check the skimmer isn't plugging up if it really hits us hard.
Not to be confused with lowering your water level as it gets too high in the pool or is overflowing. Use your best judgment.
Maddie
Happen to know if there’s some sort of adapter or gadget to essentially lower the location of skimmers?
The shallow end of our pool has dropped and the lowest our water can go is about 4-5” from the deck and still have any water in the skimmer . (Regularly stays about 2” from the deck to be half-way up the shallow end skimmer. Makes for expensive water bills when we have several guests over for the day.) Given that our back door is maybe 25’ from the shallow end and on the same ground level as the pool, I’m a bit worried if this next storm comes to fruition in NC.
Great thread! With the hurricanes lining up in the Atlantic, I was considering starting a thread with this topic myself.
I lived in Maryland when we got hit by a couple hurricanes years ago... Dennis and Floyd as I recall. Because we didn't have an overflow and anticipated that we may lose power, we weighted down a garden hose in the pool, put a valve on the other end and started a siphon before the storms hit, then we closed the valve. When the power went out, we just had to open the valve since the siphon was already primed. It worked great and we were glad we had done it all ahead of time.
Remember pools are things and can be repaired/replaced, above all Stay Safe!!!
I lived in Maryland when we got hit by a couple hurricanes years ago... Dennis and Floyd as I recall. Because we didn't have an overflow and anticipated that we may lose power, we weighted down a garden hose in the pool, put a valve on the other end and started a siphon before the storms hit, then we closed the valve. When the power went out, we just had to open the valve since the siphon was already primed. It worked great and we were glad we had done it all ahead of time.
Remember pools are things and can be repaired/replaced, above all Stay Safe!!!
I’m in Florida as well, but never been through a hurricane with a pool, my current plan is...
1) Fill up the solar roof heater. There are cutoff valves on the send and return lines from the panels, so I’m going to (very quickly so pump isn’t dead headed for more than a second) close the return line then the send so if wind was to get under the panels they at least have weight.
2) I can keep running the pump without the heater panels, I’m going to keep it cycling till the first big gust of wind then shut it down to protect for brownouts and power spikes.
3) Take water level down to below skimmer with submersible pump.
4) watch pool throughout storm and drain as necisarry
1) Fill up the solar roof heater. There are cutoff valves on the send and return lines from the panels, so I’m going to (very quickly so pump isn’t dead headed for more than a second) close the return line then the send so if wind was to get under the panels they at least have weight.
2) I can keep running the pump without the heater panels, I’m going to keep it cycling till the first big gust of wind then shut it down to protect for brownouts and power spikes.
3) Take water level down to below skimmer with submersible pump.
4) watch pool throughout storm and drain as necisarry
Oh I am going to have Suz add the idea about weighing down the solar panels to her write up!
I was thinking about draining a few inches (while we still have power) not the entire amount. Say the weather mavens predict 6" of rain, maybe I drain 4" out.
I like the idea of setting up a siphon. We are on a slight slope so that may work. Thanks.
Since I am a new pool owner, but a long-time Charleston Hurricane "rider"... I'll ask a dumb question.
What is the issue with pool overflowing? (Not during normal time, but under evacuation scenario...)
If we have to evacuate for several days, I would not want to leave the pump running (knowing that the pool is likely to overflow). I would also not want to leave a drain line running (no automation here) since I could possibly drain the whole pool while I am gone.
So, my initial thought is that I would turn off all the pool equipment, let nature take its course and resolve any water and chemical issues upon return.
Obviously, if we aren't evacuated, and I am here, I can manage the water levels, but what harm is there for the pool to overflow as long as my equipment isn't running?
What is the issue with pool overflowing? (Not during normal time, but under evacuation scenario...)
If we have to evacuate for several days, I would not want to leave the pump running (knowing that the pool is likely to overflow). I would also not want to leave a drain line running (no automation here) since I could possibly drain the whole pool while I am gone.
So, my initial thought is that I would turn off all the pool equipment, let nature take its course and resolve any water and chemical issues upon return.
Obviously, if we aren't evacuated, and I am here, I can manage the water levels, but what harm is there for the pool to overflow as long as my equipment isn't running?
- May 3, 2014
- 62,727
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
You are right, the pool will survive. In some situations the pool overflowing can go into a home or other building. That would imply poor drainage but that is not all that unusual.
So in a case of evacuation, leave it. Turn off the power at the breakers and deal with it when you can.
So in a case of evacuation, leave it. Turn off the power at the breakers and deal with it when you can.
Good to know. I understand the potential for flooding of the house... that would normally be a potential issue, but our house is already 18 feet off the ground (drive-under garage). So thats one less thing to worry about. The garage may or may not flood either way, but we've already prepared for that.
Safety over pool!!!! If you are evacuated do NOT do anything to your pool except turn the breaker off and hope for the best.
The problem that could occur with the pool overflowing is erosion around the decking and pool. Only worry about it IF it is safe to do so!
Kim
The problem that could occur with the pool overflowing is erosion around the decking and pool. Only worry about it IF it is safe to do so!
Kim