HURRICANE PREPARATION

DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!

SHOULD I DRAIN MY POOL?

NO! Keeping sufficient water levels in your pool provides the important weight to hold the sides and bottom in place.

SHOULD I DRAIN MY POOL A FOOT OR TWO?

In most all cases, no.

Remember, our homes are just a few feet above ground water in Broward County and heavy rains that accompany most storms can raise water levels and cause damage.

A half empty pool can float right out of the ground the same way a completely empty pool can. Tiles and pool walls can be damaged by external water pressure.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE POOL OVERFLOWS?

The rain water will spill out into the yard and the grass and the street. By code, you step down approximately 4" from your backdoor to your patio so you should be safe. In rare cases, some homes have flooding problems and need to be dealt with in a different manner.

SHOULD I PUT MY PATIO FURNITURE IN THE POOL?

NO! The wind will cause the water to move and the furniture will definitely cause damage as the water rocks back and forth. Rust damage may also occur.

WHAT CAN I DO?

Continue pool service right up to the storm to protect the integrity of the pool. The elevated sanitizer is important. Run your pool pump right up to the storm then turn off the breaker on the side of your house or in the garage (if the pool came with your new home, the breaker is normally inside).

After the storm is over, inspect to see if your equipment is intact and restart your pool as soon as possible.

Removing pumps or motors prior to the storm is usually not done as it is not very cost effective and increases the time it takes to restart your system after the storm.  Also, debris can enter and damage the plumbing if the equipment is not in place.

GET YOUR STORM INFORMATION FROM A GOVERNMENT SOURCE SUCH AS THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ( http://www.nhc.noaa.gov ).