Brisbane Storm Season — What to Do With Your Pool

Brisbane storm season — November to March, sometimes longer — is hard on pools. Storms drop debris, rain dilutes chemistry, wind blows organic matter in, and a really severe weather event can do actual damage.

Most owners panic the first time a big storm hits. After two or three, you get the rhythm. Here's the practical version.

Before the storm

Forecast says a serious storm is coming in 24-48 hours:

• Test chlorine. If it's at the low end of range (under 1.5 ppm), boost it slightly so you have a buffer.
• Empty the skimmer and pump baskets.
• If you have outdoor furniture, umbrellas, or loose items near the pool, store them.
• If you have a pool cover, deploy it. Especially helpful for keeping debris out.
• Don't drain water from the pool to make room for rain. Pools are designed to overflow safely.

What you don't need to do: turn off the pump unless flooding is imminent.

During the storm

Generally, leave the pool alone. The pump can run through normal storms. Pebble-crete and concrete shells are designed for water pressure variations.

If lightning is striking close, switch the pump off at the wall for safety. Switch it back on when the worst passes.

If the pool starts overflowing, that's fine. Pools have overflow drains built in. Water leaving the pool is going through the deck drainage, not damaging anything.

After the storm

Once weather has cleared, work through this list:

1. Visual inspection. Walk around the pool. Check for branches in the water, damage to the fence, debris on the surrounds. Photograph anything unusual for insurance just in case.

2. Clear the surface. Skim leaves and large debris off the surface. Empty skimmer and pump baskets — they'll be full.

3. Brush walls and steps. Storm runoff can deposit fine material on surfaces. A quick brush prevents staining.

4. Run the pump and cleaner on full. 12-24 hours of high-flow filtration sorts out most of the cloudiness.

5. Test chemistry. All five core measurements (pH, chlorine, alkalinity, salt, stabiliser). A big rain dilutes everything, especially stabiliser and salt. Adjust as needed.

6. Shock if needed. If chlorine reads low and the pool looks cloudy, shock dose to bring it up.

Common post-storm issues

Cloudy water. Almost always organic load from runoff plus diluted chlorine. Shock and filter — typically clears in 24-48 hours.

Stained pebble-crete. Leaf tannins from oak, jacaranda, or eucalyptus can stain. Brush thoroughly. Most stains lift with normal sanitation. Persistent ones may need spot treatment.

Salt level drops noticeably. Heavy rain dilutes salt. Top up with pool salt.

Stabiliser depleted. Hardest one to spot because stabiliser is rarely tested. Worth a pool-shop test after a major storm season.

What actually causes pool damage in storms

Three things, in order of likelihood:

1. Falling branches. Big eucalyptus or jacaranda branches landing in the pool can crack tiles or scratch pebble-crete. Identify problem trees before storm season and consider tree work.

2. Equipment shed flooding. If your equipment shed isn't well-drained, electrical components can sit in water. We always install equipment on a raised slab specifically for this.

3. Power outages. The pump being off for 2-3 days while you're away during a heatwave-storm sequence can let algae establish. Restart the pump as soon as power's back.

Severe weather events

Cyclone or major flood events are different. If your area is flooding or expected to flood, your pool is the least of your worries. Power outages, surrounding damage, and personal safety all come first.

Pool itself is generally fine after major events — a properly built concrete pool with 200mm walls handles tropical weather without structural issues. Equipment may need attention afterward, and chemistry will be way off.

Pool insurance

Most home insurance policies cover the pool structure but not always the equipment. Check your policy. Major equipment (pumps, filter) costs roughly $3,000-$5,000 to replace, so worth checking.

If you've had a serious weather event affect your pool and need help, ring us. We'll come out and assess. If you're considering a build and want to know how we plan for SEQ weather, get in touch.

— Travis