Cleaning the Pool After a Storm

After a storm, the robot is the last tool you reach for. Checks come first, then the big debris, then the robot.

First, the area and the electrics

NSW Health is an Australian state health department. It says that once floodwater has receded, the pool should be assessed to confirm the fencing is intact to prevent children from accidental drowning¹. That's written for floods, but a storm can damage fences too.

If the pump, timer and any electrical equipment have been fully inundated, a licensed electrician should check the circuits and each electrical fitting to ensure electrical integrity¹. A robot's power supply is electrical equipment. Whether yours can be used after it got wet is a question for your manual and a licensed electrician, not a guess.

A county health department in Washington, US, is writing for public pools. Even so, it has a rule. Don't use any equipment used in the operation "unless directed by the manufacturer or a qualified service technician"². The full condition is that they direct "that the equipment can be cleaned and sanitized and put back into operation"². It also says floodwaters are contaminated².

NSW Health also tells you to check any pump house for pests. It warns that reptiles and insects that appear to be dead may still be alive¹. Look before you reach in.

Then the heavy debris

NSW Health says that if the pool received silt or other soil during the flood, it may need to be pumped or bucketed out¹. That's far beyond a robot's basket. Two cautions from the same page. Don't pump out a swimming pool immediately, as this may cause more structural damage than leaving the pool full¹. And the local council needs to be consulted about where the pool contents may be discharged¹.

If a pool is damaged, a professional's advice comes before any clean-up. Treat that as the rule, not a courtesy.

Where the robot fits

Once the big pieces and the silt are out, and any electrics are cleared, a robot can do its usual work on what's left. Maytronics says a clogged filter cleans less well³. After a storm, expect to stop and empty the basket more than once. Two other pages show how each kind of dirt fills a basket: one on big pieces and one on the fine stuff.

Keep everyone out of the pool whenever the robot runs. Follow your manual for its rules on power supplies near water. Never mix pool chemicals, and don't guess at water treatment. A local pool shop or your health authority can advise.

The short list

• Check fencing and the surrounds.
• Have wet electrical equipment checked by a licensed electrician.
• Have any silt or soil dealt with before the robot goes in.
• Ask your council before draining or discharging.