How to Protect Your Pool During Summer Power Outages

Summer is fast approaching! Before you know it, it will be patio season, and you’ll be relaxing poolside in your backyard. 

A backyard pool is a summer must-have for most folks, but how do power outages affect your pool pump and its overall functionality? 

Pools rely on electrical-powered equipment to remain in tip top shape, so a power outage can mess up a pool’s recirculation and purification systems. As a result, inadequate levels of sanitizer and high levels of bacteria can occur depending on the length of the outage. 

A standby generator can keep your pool pump working through a power outage so you don’t have to worry about bacteria buildup or damages to the system. 

First, decide what you want to keep working in an outage. Then we can help you choose the generator that’s the right size for your home’s power needs. 

Your pool pump will most likely be wired 240V, which means the wiring will need to be adapted so the generator can run it. This will need to be done by a professional electrician since it’s an intricate process. 

Having a generator run your pool system while the power is out isn’t absolutely necessary, but it can make the upkeep during a prolonged outage easier. 

If you don’t want to connect your generator to your pool pump, you can take other actions during a prolonged power outage to ensure your pool isn’t damaged in the event. 

You’ll want to keep your pool free of any debris, which uses more chlorine and prevents it from doing its job oxidizing contaminants.

Since the pool water isn’t moving due to the outage, you’ll want to keep the pH level of the pool steady by using pool acid and shocking the pool on a regular basis. 

You’ll have to manually mix the chemicals into the pool by stirring with a non-combustible material so the chemicals are dispersed evenly. More information on how to properly treat a pool with chemicals here. 

When the power is restored you’ll want to run the pump until the water clears and the water reaches the normal level of chlorination. Restoring your pool’s water balance is key to keeping your pool working efficiently. 

Power outages aren’t the only threat to your pool pump; power surges can also do a lot of damage and cause your pool pump or the wiring to the pump to fail. Like with any electronic devices, a surge protector is necessary to ensure nothing gets damaged. 

If you’re interested in a free estimate for an automatic standby generator, or simply a surge protector to have a little more peace-of-mind, give us a call at 501-315-7213.