How to minimize damage to pools and enclosures

Jerry Ryan received hundreds of telephone calls after Hurricane Wilma whirled through Southwest Florida in October 2005.

“That’s big numbers for the pool business,” said Ryan, owner of Florida Pool Professionals Inc. on Old 41 Road in Bonita Springs.

After Wilma, Ryan’s services, and those of other pool and screen-room businesses, were in high demand from residents whose pool screens and cages had been ripped from their homes by the Category 3 winds.

“That’s one of the most prevalent types of damage during hurricanes and bad storms, the screen enclosures,” he said.

Ryan offered some tips garnered from his more than 20 years in the pool business to protect pools and pool cages during storms.

• The cardinal rule: do not drain your pool. There is a lot of groundwater after storms, and it could cause your pool to float out of the ground. The water inside the pool will help to weigh it down.

• If you live in a low-lying area, turn off the power to your pool pump, unhook the plumbing hoses and lift it higher to make sure the pump isn’t submerged in the event of flooding.

• Remove the doors to your pool cage or screen enclosure. If you are short on time, make sure they are properly secured.

• All pool cages/screens have “tie-downs” on the bottom, securing them to their base. Add extra tie-downs beyond what is required by code and make sure the existing bolts are secure and not corroded.

• If a strong storm is headed your way, and you are pretty sure you will lose your pool cage, slash an X in the screens to cut down on wind resistance and possibly save the structure. Insurance will not cover the damage from the cutting, but getting the enclosure rescreened is cheaper than replacing it.

The work is not over after a storm, especially if there is a power outage. Here are some tips from Lee County Emergency Management Services to maintain the water quality of your pool:

• Clear all debris from the water.

• Add chlorine, such as 10 percent sodium hypochlorite granules called “shock,” to super chlorinate the water. Be sure to follow manufacturer’s instructions, and maintain the super chlorinated state until the electricity is restored.

• DO NOT allow anyone into the super chlorinated water.