Hurricane Prep for Above Ground Pools in Melbourne
Start Your Transformation
How to secure an above ground pool before a hurricane on Florida's Space Coast
When the Storm Turns Toward the Space Coast
If you own a pool in Melbourne, hurricane season is not a hypothetical. Between June 1 and November 30, every homeowner from Palm Bay to Indialantic is one NHC advisory away from sandbags and plywood. The good news: your above-ground pool is one of the easiest parts of the yard to secure — if you know what actually works and what just feels productive. Most of the "tips" circulating online are wrong, and a few of them will ruin your pool faster than a storm would. Here is how to prep an above-ground pool for a hurricane on Florida's Space Coast, based on what licensed contractors actually do in the 72 hours before landfall.
Do Not Drain Your Pool Before a Hurricane
This is the most common and most expensive mistake Melbourne homeowners make. Draining an above-ground pool before a storm sounds logical — less water, less to worry about — but it does the exact opposite. Here is why draining is dangerous:
• Water weight is what anchors the pool to the ground. An empty pool is a lightweight plastic-and-steel shell that can shift, tip, or take off in hurricane-force winds.
• Empty vinyl liners collapse inward, and when the wind whips them, the liner can split or separate from the track — a full replacement job.
• Semi-inground pools can literally pop out of the ground from hydrostatic pressure when the water table rises from storm rain — the same failure that destroys empty fiberglass pools across Brevard County every bad season.
Keep the water in. That is not a compromise — that is the answer.
How Much to Lower the Water Level (And Why Only a Little)
You do need to lower the water level, but only by 1 to 2 feet below the skimmer. That small drop creates room for rainfall so the pool does not overflow your deck and electrical, and it takes pressure off the skimmer and return lines during hours of heavy rain.
The other pre-storm water management steps:
• Shock the pool with a double dose of chlorine 24–48 hours before landfall to offset debris and runoff contamination.
• Balance pH and alkalinity so the water does not go cloudy or corrosive during the shutdown period.
• Leave the pump off until power and weather both stabilize — running dry or on surging power destroys pumps fast.
Brevard, Indian River & St. Lucie's trusted experts in custom pool construction, screen enclosures, concrete, pavers, and outdoor kitchens.
Call ☎ 772-758-5372 for premium backyard transformations.
Lock Down Equipment, Furniture, and Anything That Can Fly
In a hurricane, every unsecured item is a potential projectile — aimed at your pool, your screen enclosure, your windows, and your neighbor's house. Your pre-storm yard checklist:
• Ladders, steps, and pool cleaners: remove and store inside the garage or shed
• Pool toys, floats, and skimmer nets: inside, every time
• Pool pump: cut power at the breaker, disconnect the motor if you have time, and wrap or bag it to block wind-driven rain
• Patio furniture, grills, and potted plants: inside, or tied down with ratchet straps
• Trash cans and recycling bins: inside the garage — never curbside the day before
• Pool cover: leave it off. A fitted cover becomes a sail in 120 mph winds, damages the pool wall, and flies off as a projectile
Document everything with photos or video before the storm. Insurance adjusters want before-and-after evidence, and your phone is the fastest way to get it.
Screen Enclosures on the Space Coast — Built Right, Built Ready
A
code-rated screen enclosure is one of the best investments a Melbourne pool owner can make — but only if it is engineered for Florida's wind zones. Older enclosures with aluminum-coated fasteners often fail at 90–100 mph sustained winds. Enclosures built to the current Florida Building Code, with stainless steel hardware and reinforced cross-bracing, carry significantly higher wind-load ratings.
Before the season gets serious, inspect your enclosure for loose panels, rusted fasteners, or sagging screen. If anything looks off, call your contractor now — not during an evacuation. For higher-category storms, some homeowners choose to remove individual screen panels so wind can pass through rather than load the frame. That is a judgment call based on your enclosure's age and spec, and a licensed contractor should guide it.
One Call Before the Storm, One Call After
The homeowners who handle hurricane season best are the ones who do not have to figure out who to call when something fails.
Right Way Enclosures, Pools & Spas handles your pool, your screen enclosure, your pavers, and any storm-related repairs under one contract — so if a panel tears loose in Palm Bay or a pump needs replacing in Indialantic, it is one phone call, not five. If you want your pool and enclosure inspected before hurricane season, or you are considering storm-hardened upgrades, call 772-758-5372 or schedule a consultation through rightwayenclosures.com. One team. One design. One timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I drain my above ground pool before a hurricane?
No. Draining creates more risk than it solves. An empty pool can shift, tip, or — in the case of semi-inground pools — pop out of the ground from hydrostatic pressure when the water table rises. Lower the water level by 1 to 2 feet below the skimmer to handle rainfall, but keep the bulk of the water in. Water weight is what anchors the pool through the storm.
Do I leave the pool cover on during a hurricane?
No. Pool covers act like sails in hurricane-force winds. Even a well-secured cover can catch the wind, damage the pool wall, pull out anchors, or tear away as a projectile that damages your home or your neighbor's. Remove the cover, store it inside, and reinstall it after the storm once debris is cleared.
What do I do with my pool pump and electrical equipment before a hurricane?
Shut off power to all pool equipment at the breaker well before the storm. If time allows, disconnect the pump motor and move it inside the garage. If not, wrap it in heavy plastic and secure it so wind-driven rain cannot reach the motor. Never run the pump during a storm or while power is intermittent — low water or surging power will destroy it fast.
Brevard, Indian River & St. Lucie's trusted experts in custom pool construction, screen enclosures, concrete, pavers, and outdoor kitchens.
Call ☎ 772-758-5372 for premium backyard transformations.
