How to Prepare Your Pool for a Hurricane in Largo, FL | 2026 Storm Guide

Living in Largo and Pinellas County means living with hurricane season every year from June through November. When a storm is headed for the Gulf Coast, your pool needs attention too. Done right, a few hours of preparation can prevent thousands of dollars in damage, protect your equipment, and make cleanup far easier once the storm passes. Here is your complete, Florida-specific guide to preparing your pool for a hurricane, from Bayview Pool Pros.

Should You Drain Your Pool Before a Hurricane?

This is the single most common question we get, and the answer is no. Do not drain your pool before a hurricane. It may seem logical to lower the water to make room for rain, but draining your pool is one of the worst things you can do. The water in your pool is what holds it in the ground. With Florida's high water table, an empty or low pool can actually "pop" out of the ground or crack from rising groundwater pressure during heavy rain.

At most, lower the water level by one to two feet below the skimmer if flooding is a serious concern, but never fully drain it.

How to Prepare Your Pool Before a Hurricane

Here is the step-by-step checklist we recommend for Largo and Pinellas County pool owners:

1. Do Not Cover the Pool

Leave your pool uncovered. Flying debris can tear and ruin a pool cover, and a cover full of debris is harder to deal with than an open pool. Your pool will act as a debris catcher anyway, which is easier to clean later.

2. Balance the Water and Shock It

Before the storm, balance your chemistry and add extra chlorine (shock the pool). This helps prevent algae and contamination from all the debris and rainwater that will enter your pool. Properly sanitized water is much easier to recover after the storm.

3. Remove and Store Loose Items

Pool toys, floats, skimmer baskets, hoses, solar covers, and cleaning tools should all be brought inside or secured. In hurricane winds, these become dangerous projectiles.

4. Secure or Store Patio Furniture

Never throw patio furniture into the pool, a popular myth. It can scratch, stain, or crack your pool surface. Instead, bring furniture, grills, and planters indoors or into a garage.

5. Protect Your Pool Equipment

Your pump, motor, heater, and salt system are the most expensive parts to replace. Turn off the power to the pool equipment at the breaker, and if flooding is expected, wrap the pump motor and exposed electrical components in waterproof plastic to keep water out.

6. Turn Off Electricity to the Pool

Once everything is prepped, shut off the circuit breakers that power your pool equipment to protect against power surges and water damage.

What to Do During the Hurricane

Once the storm hits, stay inside and away from the pool. Do not try to add chemicals or run equipment during the storm. Let the pool do its job as a debris catcher and wait it out safely.

What to Do After the Hurricane Passes

Once it is safe to go outside, here is how to begin recovery:

• **Remove large debris** like branches and leaves with a net, not the skimmer, to avoid clogging your system
• **Check equipment for damage** before turning the power back on
• **Restore the water level** to normal if you lowered it
• **Rebalance the chemistry** and shock the pool again
• **Run the filter** continuously for 24 to 48 hours to clear the water
• **Clean or backwash the filter** as it captures storm debris

If your pool turned green, cloudy, or is full of debris, recovery can be overwhelming, and that is where we come in.

Professional Storm Cleanup and Emergency Service

After a major storm, many Pinellas County pools need professional help to recover. Bayview Pool Pros offers fast storm cleanup and emergency pool service throughout Largo, Seminole, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and Pinellas Park. We remove debris, rebalance chemicals, inspect your equipment, and restore your water to crystal clear, so you can get back to enjoying your pool. Our emergency and weekend service starts at $175.

Don't Wait, Get Storm-Ready Today

Hurricane season is here, and the best time to prepare is before a storm is on the radar. Whether you need help prepping your pool or recovering after a storm, Bayview Pool Pros is ready to help. Call us at (727) 768-5586 or request a quote online for fast, professional pool service in Largo and throughout Pinellas County.