Simple Solutions for Repairing Flood-Damaged Swimming Pools

After all the heavy rain we have had in Lamar County, many pool owners face the task of cleaning up a soggy mess.  Once home interiors are restored, attention turns to repairing outdoor damage, including swimming pools.

Local BioGuard® dealer Pools & More recommends the following simple steps for getting swimming pools back into tip top shape:

1. Remove all solid debris from the pool.
2. For in-ground pools, examine pool edges and the ground around the pool for damage. For above-ground pools, inspect the pool structure. Seek help from a professional pool builder or repair service to correct any structural problems.
3. Ensure the pump motor is adequately dry before resuming operation. Drain down any excess water from the pool.
4. Use a floccing agent such as BioGuard’s PowerFloc® and vacuum the waste. Flocculants are chemical compounds that when added to water cause suspended agents to sink. Once settled on the bottom of the pool, the previously suspended articles can be vacuumed.
5. Circulate the pool for 24 hours, and then test the pH, Total Alkalinity and Calcium Hardness (or take about a pint of water to INSERT DEALER NAME for a quick, computerized chlorine demand analysis). Make adjustments as needed. For chlorinated pools, apply a double dosage of a chlorinating shock product such as BioGuard’s Burn Out³® or Smart Shock®. If using a non-chlorine, biguanide system such as BioGuard’s SoftSwim®, add both sanitizer and a double dosage of the shock product. Circulate pool again for 24 hours.
6.  Monitor the chlorine level for the next 24 hours to ensure you can maintain a 1 – 3ppm level. Add chlorinating shock as needed to maintain levels. For biguanide pools, monitor sanitizer level (holding 40ppm) and shock levels (maintaining 40ppm – 60ppm) for 24 hours. Add products as needed to maintain proper levels.
7. Clean the filter using a cleaner such as Kleen It® or Strip Kwik®.
8. After water is balanced and sanitizer levels are stable, you can resume use of the pool.

For more information on the effective use of BioGuard pool and spa products visit Pools & More at 3577 NE Loop 286 in Paris, or call(903) 785-3638.