If it’s been raining for the past few days and your pool is exposed to it, sooner or later it will overflow. However, as a pool owner, it’s your job to prevent that from happening. When your pool water level rises above the waterline, overflowing is only one of your concerns.
An overflowing pool is cause for concern because when there is torrential downpour, it can introduce contaminants into the water, put strain on the pool equipment, crack the pool deck, affect yard drainage, and can lead to house flooding.
Preventative steps need to be taken to keep swimming pools from overflowing when it rains. In-ground pools typically have overflow drains so the overflow is contained. As for above-ground pools, you can use a submersible pump, pump drain spigot, or siphon the excess water out.
In this article, we will discuss what happens when your pool overflows, why it’s not an ideal situation, and ways you can prevent your pool from overflowing.
Why is it bad for a pool to overflow?
There is a reason why pools have a waterline that you should try to stay within. If you were the only factor adding water into or draining water out of the pool, this would be simple.
However, the weather is out of your control. It could be extremely hot, causing a lot of evaporation and the water level to drop, or there could be torrential downpour that adds way too much water into the pool. We’ll focus on the negatives of rainfall causing water overflows.
Adds contaminants into the water
Rainwater can catch pollen and other particles as it falls and can introduce your pool to these contaminants. Furthermore, runoff from non-stop rain can sometimes flow into your pool.
Rainwater has a pH of 4-5, meaning it will make your pool more acidic. Along with the contaminants it can potentially introduce, you will have to keep a close watch over the chemistry of your pool. Be prepared to re-chlorinate and use other pool treatment chemicals.
Overloads your pool equipment
The pool pump and filter ensures water is constantly flowing and debris is removed from circulation. However, when it rains heavily, the water is constantly dirty because contaminants are being introduced. This means the pool pump and filter will be working non-stop and may even be overloaded.
Each piece of pool equipment is rated for a certain capacity, and experiencing higher than normal amounts of water can deteriorate its lifespan. Make sure to inspect your pool pump and filter during any stretches of rainy weather to ensure it is still in working condition.
Damages the pool deck
When pool water overflows, it can damage your deck. The excess water, having nowhere to go after overflowing, will sit on the deck and seep within. The concrete may then crack or heave. This is more likely to occur if you have an older deck or there’s clay in the soil.
After heavy rainfall, inspect your deck for any cracks. Small cracks should be quickly patched up. Ignoring it can cause the crack to spread to other areas of the deck.
Impacts yard drainage
Another side-effect of an overflowing pool is soil erosion. In large enough quantities, flowing water can shift the soil in your yard, creting peaks, valleys, and divots where there were none before.
If your yard is slanted, the water will run off this natural slope and erode it over time. Eventually, the slope will be completely eroded and the water will have nowhere to drain, leaving giant puddles in your yard.
Can lead to house flooding
In severe cases, an overflowing pool can cause leaks in your house. If your yard gets flooded, the excess water may seep into the foundation and drip into the basement. Fixing foundational leaks is crucial but also very expensive.
How to drain pool water to prevent overflowing
As you can see, an overflowing swimming pool can lead to some serious issues. Rather than standing idly by, put on your raincoat and rainboots and try to fix the issue as best you can. You may not be able to stop the rain, but you can drain the excess water in your pool. Here are the best ways to do so:
Submersible pump
Submersible pumps take rotary energy, convert it into kinetic energy, and then into pressure energy. Water flows through the pump’s intake, where an impeller moves water to the diffuser. The diffuser then pushes water to the surface and out of your pool.
These pumps can work for long periods of time without using much energy. You’d be impressed at how quietly submersible pumps operate too, though this depends on the pump you buy.
Although submersible pumps are designed to work underwater, a flaw in their design is that their seals can corrode and let water enter the pump’s motor, breaking it.
You don’t need to own a submersible pump if overflowing rarely happens. Instead, you can rent one for the odd times it does happen. If overflowing is a constant problem, consider having a submersible pump of your own.
Pump drain spigot
Another option is to use the drainage spigot included with the pool pump. For smaller pumps, you just need to attach the garden hose to your spigot. Larger pools should include a larger hose that can be attached to the pump for draining.
After connecting it, lay the rest of the hose flat and place its other opening by the drain. Then simply release the spigot and watch the pump roar to life, draining the water from your pool.
Siphoning
Lastly, simply siphoning the excess water out of the pool is a viable option. Once again, you’ll need your garden hose. Start by attaching it to your spigot, then put the other end of the hose in your pool. Turn the spigot on high, and water will begin to be drained from your pool.
But wait, you’re not done yet. Unscrew the hose from the spigot and then kink it to trap the water within the hose. Now move your covered hose to the drain and then unkink it. Water will flow from your pool to the drain on its own now.
Depending on how hard it’s raining, you may have to use any of the above methods more than once.