Call us Today - 856-629-2999 Service Department 856-629-2999 ( Press 3 )
Del Val What To Do After A Storm
The EF-3 tornado that ripped through Gloucester County, New Jersey on September 1, 2021 devastated communities and has kept me busy the past few weeks visiting our customers and others in need facing a mountain of insurance claim processes. It also got me thinking that there isn’t really an official check list for inspecting your pool after a storm, and research on the internet confirmed such. So, here are my suggestions on what to do to check the integrity of your pool after a major weather event
- First and foremost, make sure there are no downed power lines anywhere around the pool or in the pathways providing egress to the pool. If you see power lines, or Gas Heater Lines, call your utility company emergency line. Safety is always the first concern.
- Do you have power? If you don’t have power and are awaiting restoration, we sugges tturning the breaker off at the pool panel as electrical restorations occasionally result inpower surges. Turn your pool back on when power has been fully restored for several hours
- If you have power, do you have power to the house, but not the pool? Try flipping the breaker at the pool panel as it may have tripped.
- What is the water level in the pool? Is it high from the addition of rain? Is it low because of a potential structural issue or hole in a vinyl liner pool? Has large or sharp debris entered your Pool? Try to evaluate if this is possibly compromising to your Vinyl Liner. Low water is a serious problem for Pool Pumps, Vinyl Liners, and your Structure overall. Call Del Val immediately and do not turn the pool on. Never drain your pool of dirty water, consult with your DVP Team of professionals first.
- If the water level is where it should be, and you have power, turn your pool on and check all the pipes around your major equipment for signs of leaks or breaks. If you see problems, turn the pool off and call Del Val immediately.
- If all appears stable, slowly go through the various pool accessories checking function such as waterfalls, bubblers, slides, and fountains. Is everything working? Not working properly? Turn the pool off and call Del Val immediately.
- Still good? Remove all debris from the pool. Clear your skimmers and pump strainer so the pool can clean itself. Have a vacuum? Empty the bag.
- Walk around and check your pool’s cosmetics. Tile okay? Coping okay? Any cracks visible anywhere? Take Photo’s & Be thorough! Should you need to file insurance claims they will want evidence of the actual cause of damage as it sits.
- Finally, check your balancing chemicals as a rapid infusion of rainwater can throw off the pool’s chemistry. Bring a water sample in for free testing, and we will help you get back on track.
It should be fairly obvious if there is a problem with your pool, but always proceed slowly and systematically as you “reboot” your backyard oasis. Never (ever) drain your pool no matter how dirty the water after a storm. Call us first and we will come out and help you put a plan together to get things operational as quickly as possible. After a storm, things can be chaotic; above all else, safety first!
Del Val Pools & Spa Team
