If you live in Houston, you know that during the months of June through November, we always have to keep abreast of the weather and what is stirring up in the tropics. It makes this time of year especially difficult for pool owners as we never know when our pools are going to get filled to overflowing from heavy rains. With that in mind, we wanted to address a frequent question we get when we receive excessive rain: What do I do if my pool reaches the top? First of all, don’t panic – there are safeguards in place with most swimming pools.

Most, but not all pools, are equipped with an overflow drain that is plumbed to drain out to the street.  Your pool is equipped with this feature if you have one of the following pool grates (see graphic). These grates are locate along the waterline tile of your pool in plain view but are sometimes discreetly placed inside the skimmer boxes. This grate functions like the overflow drain on a sink. When the water level reaches the grate, excess water is routed to drainage lines to the street.

If you have an older pool that is not equipped with an overflow drain, you will have some level of deck drainage that is designed to reroute water away from your home.

If your pool is equipped with a DE or sand filter (less common) rather than a cartridge filter, the multi-port valve is equipped with the ability to remove water from the pool via the waste line.  If you need further instructions on this process, please email amy@pitstoppool.

Our Recommendations:

• Remove and secure pool loungers, toys, and umbrellas from the pool, as they can become airborne with high winds. The same goes for patio furniture.
• If your pool is surrounded by excessive foliage (or your neighbor’s debris finds its way to your pool), it is advisable to empty the skimmer baskets more than once per week to promote optimal water flow to the pool pump.

During these times of inclement weather or flooding, to ensure all pools receive the Pit Stop touch, we must complete inclement weather service only, and possibly on a different day than your standard service day. Inclement weather service includes the testing and adjusting of chemicals, and the emptying of skimmer baskets, pump strainer basket, and robot/pool cleaner canister/debris bag.