Rain, Wind and Your Pool: A Hudson Valley Storm Care Guide

We love a good Hudson Valley summer, but anyone who lives here knows how fast a storm can roll through the valley. One minute you’re enjoying the backyard, and the next the sky has gone dark and the trees are bending. Your pool is the heart of your outdoor space, so the team at Rainbow Pools & Living Art Designs wants to help you look after it. Here’s how to handle each thing a storm sends your way.

When Heavy Rain Is Coming

Take a look at your water level. If the water is already up near the coping or the top of your tile line, lower it by a few inches. This leaves room for the rain and helps stop leaves and mulch from being carried into the pool when it overflows.

Please don’t empty the pool. We understand the instinct, but a pool needs its water. The weight is what keeps the structure settled in place, and when the ground around it is soaked, an empty pool can be damaged by the pressure of groundwater. A few inches is plenty.

Balance your water before the first drops fall. Rainwater and everything it washes in will use up your sanitizer in a hurry. If your water is balanced going into the storm, it will be much easier to bring back afterward.

Leave your automatic cover open. This one surprises almost everyone. If your pool has an automatic cover, we suggest keeping it open during heavy rain and storms whenever possible. Water, leaves and branches pile up on a closed cover and put a great deal of strain on the fabric, tracks, ropes and pulleys. A pool is far easier and less expensive to clean than a cover is to repair or replace.

When the Wind Picks Up

Tuck away anything that could blow around. Chairs, umbrellas, cushions, floats, toys and potted plants are no match for a strong gust. Move them into the garage or shed so they stay out of the pool and away from your equipment, fence and home.

Head inside and stay there. Once the storm arrives, your only job is to keep yourself and your family safe. Skimming the pool, grabbing a branch or checking on the pump can all wait. Lightning, wind and wet electrical equipment are simply too dangerous.

If Water Collects Around Your Equipment

Know where your breaker is ahead of time. Find the breaker for your pool equipment before the storm and show everyone at home where it is.

Check the equipment pad before you turn anything on. After the storm, look for flooding or standing water around your pump, filter and heater. If you see any, shut off the power to your pool equipment and give us a call once it’s safe. And if the system is running but sounds unusually loud or something just feels off, trust that feeling. Turn it off and let one of our technicians take a look.

Bringing Your Pool Back

Clear out the leaves and branches. With all the beautiful trees in the Hudson Valley, there’s usually plenty to skim. Clean the surface and empty your skimmer and pump baskets before running the system. If there’s a large limb in the pool or anything you’d rather not tackle, leave it for us.

Test and rebalance your water. Your pH, alkalinity and sanitizer will likely need attention after a big storm. Test at home or bring a water sample to our retail store, and plan on shocking the pool to get it sparkling again.

Let us lend a hand. If the storm left behind more than you’d like to deal with, Rainbow Pools & Living Art Designs is happy to help with debris removal, water balancing, filter cleanings and getting everything back to normal.

We’re Here for You, Rain or Shine

Once the weather clears, the Rainbow Pools & Living Art Designs team is just a phone call away for cleanup, service or simple peace of mind. Stay safe, and we’ll help you get back to enjoying your backyard.