Dealing with Debris After a Florida Hurricane
Hurricanes can leave a big mess behind, especially when it comes to your pool. Heavy winds and rain often blow in dirt, leaves, branches, and even contaminated water. If your pool has been through a storm, it's important to clean it up the right way to avoid long-term damage or water quality issues.
Here’s a step-by-step guide for safely getting your pool back in shape after a Florida hurricane.
1. Stay Safe First
Before doing anything, make sure there’s no electrical hazard. If your pool equipment was underwater or you're unsure about electrical safety, turn off power at the breaker and wait until a professional can inspect it.
2. Remove Large Debris
Start by skimming out large debris like branches, palm fronds, and trash. Use a leaf net or skimmer basket, and avoid using your pool vacuum right away, as large debris can clog or damage it.
3. Check Water Level
Hurricane rain can cause your pool to overflow or drop in level. If the water is too high, use a submersible pump or backwash to bring it down. If it’s too low, refill it before starting the filtration process.
4. Clean the Filter and Skimmer
Once large debris is out, clean your skimmer baskets and inspect the pump and filter. These parts can get clogged quickly with storm debris. If you have a cartridge filter, remove and rinse it. For sand or DE filters, backwash them thoroughly.
5. Shock and Balance the Water
Stormwater can bring bacteria and other contaminants into your pool. You’ll want to shock the pool to kill germs and start restoring balance. Test the water for pH, chlorine, alkalinity, and stabilizer levels. Adjust chemicals as needed to bring everything back into range.
6. Brush and Vacuum
Brush down the walls and floor of the pool to loosen up fine debris and algae. Then vacuum using the waste setting if possible, especially if the water is cloudy or murky. This helps avoid cycling contaminated water through your filter.
7. Inspect for Damage
After the water is cleared, check for cracks, broken tiles, or damaged pool equipment. It’s easier to fix these problems early before they become bigger issues.
Final Thoughts
Cleaning up your pool after a hurricane takes time and care, but it’s worth the effort to protect your investment and keep the water safe for swimming. If the cleanup feels overwhelming or if your equipment was affected, professional service can help get everything back to normal quickly.
Give Orchid Pools a call or text today if your pool needs post-storm service. We’re here to help homeowners across the Treasure Coast and South Florida get their pools clean and running smoothly again.
About Orchid Pools
At Orchid Pools, we provide reliable and professional pool service throughout Palm Beach County, Martin County, Saint Lucie County, and Indian River County. Our team proudly serves homeowners in Port Saint Lucie, Jensen Beach, Stuart, Palm City, Port Salerno, Hobe Sound, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Sebastian, Tequesta, Jupiter, Jupiter Island, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, and Juno.
We also serve many neighborhoods across the Treasure Coast and South Florida, including White City, Indian River Estates, Lakewood Park, Sewall’s Point, Saint Lucie West, Tradition, Southbend Lakes, Riverland, Sandhill Crossing, Verano, Hutchinson Island South, and Ocean Breeze.
Orchid Pools offers a complete range of residential pool services, including:
Regular pool cleaning and chemical balancing
Filter cleaning and backwashing
Algae and shock treatments
Pool pump repair and replacement
Pool filter system and heater repairs
Pool leak detection and repair
Skimmer and return line repairs
Pool lighting repair
Pool resurfacing, pool replastering, and pool regrouting
Pool saltwater conversions and pool salt cell cleaning
Pool green-to-clean services
Professional pool inspections
For dependable, expert pool care, call Orchid Pools today.
