Your Guide to Pool Heater Hurricane Preparedness
Every year, Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1st-November 30th. With major hurricanes like Hurricane Ian still in recent memory, we all understand the importance of taking precautions for the possibility of another storm. To help you with this, we’re sharing what you should do to prepare your pool heater, equipment, and pool deck for a hurricane.
How Edgewater Club Prepared Their Pool Heaters for Hurricane Ian
One of our customers, Edgewater Club in Englewood, Florida, was at the epicenter of Hurricane Ian in 2022. However, they followed our most important tips, which helped their pool heaters withstand the hurricane impressively well. In the video above, our Chief Technical Officer, Jim Howarth, walks you through these and other hurricane preparedness tips while on a visit to Edgewater Club after Hurricane Ian.
Here are our most important hurricane prep tips for pool heaters and equipment:
- Inspect your equipment for good condition and ensure that the hurricane straps are not rusty or missing screws.
- Confirm that all equipment is bonded properly.
- Be sure to secure all covers, lids, and any loose debris.
- Turn off the power to your pool heaters and other pool equipment at the breaker before the storm comes.
After the storm passed, Edgewater Club had us inspect their pool equipment.
Once the storm has passed and conditions are safe, we recommend calling us before turning your equipment back on. Several safety checks need to be conducted to ensure the units are safe to operate, including:
- Checking the bond system for the unit, ensuring it has not been damaged or interrupted.
- Inspecting the units for any loose wires.
- Checking the hurricane straps for potential damage.
- Examining all electrical components for water intrusion and any damage before turning the power back on.
- The most important post-hurricane precaution is not to turn the power on to your pool heating equipment yourself, especially if it has been submerged in water. You could risk electrocution or death.
After Hurricane Ian, Edgewater Club’s pool equipment was still intact, and nothing was blown away. We were pleased to discover no major damage to their pool heaters during our post-storm inspection.
12 More Swimming Pool Hurricane Prep Tips
Here are several more tips to help your swimming pool weather a hurricane and return to safe operating condition. We borrowed and modified the following information from two separate hurricane preparation guides for pools and spas distributed by Commercial Energy Specialists (download original PDF) and the Florida Swimming Pool Association (FSPA).
Do not drain your pool. Instead, to prepare for heavy rains, reduce the water level by approximately 3-12 inches below its current level. Check the weather forecasts to see how much rainfall to expect. Keep in mind that lowering the water level too much could cause the pool to rise (pop up) out of the ground. After lowering the pool water level, do not operate the circulating pump to avoid pump damage.- Shock your pool by adding extra chlorine. This can help prevent contamination. Always consult a chemical dosage chart for instructions, and be sure to test the pool water after the storm to ensure it’s safe for swimming. Also, make sure no one enters your pool when chlorine or pH levels exceed Department of Health accepted ranges.
Do not use your pool during the storm.- Secure your outdoor pool equipment, including heaters, pumps, filters, chemical feeders, vats, etc. For extra protection from the elements, wrap exposed equipment with a waterproof covering.
- Turn off electricity to the pool equipment at the circuit breaker before the hurricane arrives.
- Trim trees and plants around your pool area and equipment. Look for dead branches and branches that hang over the pool or equipment, as these could cause problems in high winds.
- Secure or bring in items on the pool deck like pool furniture, toys, decorations. If you can’t store the items indoors, be sure to carefully secure them. Inflatable items can be lost in the wind, and heavier items can become projectiles and damage property during a storm.
We do not recommend throwing your pool deck furniture in the pool. Doing so may cause damage to both the furniture and the pool surface. However, if you cannot take the furniture indoors, placing it gently in the pool is better than keeping it on the deck. Please note that glass items should never be placed in the pool. Also, use extra caution with vinyl or fiberglass pools.- Fabric patio awnings should be removed and brought indoors. The wind will blow through the open spaces in the aluminum frame, so it’s not necessary to disassemble it.
- Bring in and store all portable equipment and chemicals, like Deck & Dolly, Robotic Pool Cleaners, maintenance equipment, or pool chemicals so they don’t become projectiles in heavy winds.
- If you suspect that your pool water has been contaminated, test the water for bacteria. If this test shows positive results, contact a professional pool company for additional testing and instructions.
- If your pool has a chemical control system, remove and store it somewhere safe and dry. Disconnect indoor-mounted controllers (not connected to surge suppression devices) from the power source to prevent damage from power surges or brownouts.
Call Symbiont Service to check your pool equipment before or after a hurricane.
Please call our office to schedule a pool equipment checkup with a Symbiont Service technician. If you already have a Planned Maintenance agreement with us, we can combine the inspection with your routine maintenance visit—just let our office know when you call.
If you have any questions about pool-related hurricane prep, or for more information about GeoThermal or conventional pool heating, please don’t hesitate to call or email us. Symbiont Service Corp is here for you and to help us get through another hurricane season together.
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