What to Do When Your Pool Overflows from a Storm

Having a swimming pool in your backyard is a luxury that provides many benefits to homeowners. You can use it for exercise, relaxation, or as a great feature of any social gathering. But, maintenance isn’t always easy. While most people can handle cleaning their pool before grime and debris become an issue, not many know what course of action to take if their pool overflows during a storm. Given how tumultuous Texas weather can be, it’s important that those who live in the state know what to keep in mind.

Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Let’s take a look at what you need to know:

There are a handful of consequences that can result from a pool overflow that isn’t handled properly. Before we get started, we’ll briefly go over what can occur if your pool begins to overflow during a storm.

Your pool water maintains its cleanliness through chemicals. When levels of these chemicals become unbalanced (often due to the introduction of excess rainwater), you run the risk of having unsanitary water in your pool. In some cases, it’s not uncommon to experience rapid algae growth that makes your pool unsafe to swim in. Unfortunately, in order to resolve this issue, you’ll have to drain the water first.

As water spills out over the edge of your pool, chances are that the grass will absorb it over time. If you have one, your patio’s drainage system will also handle the extra volume. During a storm, however, it’s likely that there’s no chance a drain or soil will be able to accommodate all of the excess water. Unfortunately, failing to put a stop to rising water levels in your pool could mean that the water enters your home if another storm comes through, causing segments of your house’s interior to flood. It can cost up to $1,500 to get rid of just an inch of water in your home, so you’ll want to avoid this scenario at all costs.

While the potential outcomes of having your pool overflow pack a solid financial punch, there are methods you can use to prevent damage to your property.

This method puts the magic of science to work. To begin, attach a garden hose to a spigot. Then, submerge the opposite end of the hose into the pool. Then, you’ll want to turn the water on as high as possible. After approximately a minute, you should notice water coming out of the end that you placed in your pool. Immediately remove the hose from the spigot and use a hose cap or kink the hose to keep the water inside. Then, move the blocked end of the hose to the drainage area, such as a house drain or an area on your property that can accommodate the water.

Afterward, open up the closed end of the hose to begin emptying the water into the drainage area until you have successfully lowered your pool’s water level. It may take a while to drain the amount you want, but it’s a solid quick-fix for an overflow.

As the name suggests, this method involves using a pump that you submerge underwater. If you don’t happen to own one, many hardware stores allow you to rent one. While this option isn’t as simple as siphoning, it’s more efficient and can be used to drain water that has a high level of debris. But, you should make sure to thoroughly read the instructions that come with the pump before operating it. Since a submersible pump drains water at a faster rate than siphoning, make sure that the drainage area can hold the amount of water you’re trying to get rid of. Similarly, don’t drain too much water out of your pool during this process or you can actually damage the pool itself.

The best way to handle pool overflows is to prevent them from happening in the first place. A bit of smart preparation can save you time, headaches, and potentially thousands of dollars.

All you need is five minutes and a garden hose to check how efficient the drainage system around your pool is. And, it’s crucial to do so. Before a storm hits, test your drain to make sure that it’s able to accommodate water at a fast rate. If there are any clogs, you should contact a professional right away to take care of them for you.

If you’ve gotten word that a big storm is on its way, consider lowering your pool’s water a few inches beforehand. Even a small amount can go a long way when it comes to preventing an overflow from affecting your property. As previously mentioned, however, make sure not to drain too much water out of your pool to prevent damaging it.

But they won’t be if you know how to handle them. With the above information about pool overflows in mind, you’ll be able to make sure that you can promptly clean up after a storm and prevent any damage to your property.

Have a further question or concern you need an answer for? Feel free to contact us. We’d love to hear from you.