Seasonal Pool Maintenance in St. Petersburg and Clearwater, FL
Pools in St. Petersburg and Clearwater don't close for the winter. They need weekly care all year, and what changes with the seasons is the routine: more testing after summer storms, storm prep during hurricane season, and shorter pump run times with heater use in the cooler months.
Tampa Bay really has two pool seasons, wet and dry. Between 55 and 70 percent of the area's annual rainfall typically falls from June through September, according to the National Weather Service in Tampa Bay. That rain, the heat that comes with it, and the storms that close out the season drive most of what a pool needs through the year.
How pool care changes through the year in Tampa Bay
Weekly testing and cleaning stays the standard all year in St. Petersburg and Clearwater, because the heat and the long swim season keep algae and water chemistry moving. What changes from season to season is where the pressure comes from.
| Season | What is happening | What to adjust |
|---|---|---|
| Rainy season (about May 25 to October 10) | Near-daily afternoon storms dilute chlorine, wash in debris and phosphates, and shift pH | Test after every heavy rain and keep the pump on its full summer schedule of 8 to 10 hours a day for a single-speed pump |
| Hurricane season (June 1 to November 30) | Tropical systems bring flooding rain, power outages, and debris | Have a storm plan ready before a storm is named (see below) |
| Cooler months (late fall to early spring) | Water drops below a comfortable swimming range for about four to six months, and swimming and algae pressure both ease off | Cut single-speed pump run time to 4 to 6 hours a day, and use a heater if you want to swim year-round |
| Spring warm-up | Water warms back up and the pool heads into heavy use again | Return pump run time to the summer schedule and watch chlorine closely as demand rises |
Rainy season dates are the National Weather Service Tampa Bay office's definition for West Central Florida, and hurricane season dates come from NOAA's National Hurricane Center. For the full run-time math, including variable-speed pumps, see our pool pump run-time guide.
What rainy season does to a pool
Heavy rain is one of the most common reasons a St. Pete pool turns green. A single downpour dilutes chlorine, washes phosphates and debris off the deck and landscaping, and shifts pH all at once, which is how a pool that was clear on Friday can be green by Sunday. Test the water after any significant rain, even if it looks fine.
Summer sun works against you at the same time. Without stabilizer, UV light destroys about 35 percent of a pool's free chlorine for every hour of strong sun, according to NSW Health. Stabilizer, or cyanuric acid, slows that loss, but it has to stay in range to help rather than hurt. If your pool has already turned, our guide to why pools turn green covers the fix in the right order.
Getting your pool ready for a hurricane
The most important rule surprises people: don't drain the pool. The weight of the water holds the shell in place, and with the water table rising during a storm, an empty pool can shift or pop out of the ground, according to the Florida Swimming Pool Association.
Before the storm
- Keep the water at its normal level. If you lower it to make room for rain, don't go below the bottom of the skimmer.
- Shock the pool. Super-chlorinated water holds up better if the power is out and the pump can't run for days.
- Turn off power to all pool equipment at the breaker. Cover exposed motors with plastic, or remove them if flooding is expected.
- Shut off the gas supply to a gas heater at the valve.
- Bring in furniture, toys, and loose items. Don't sink patio furniture in the pool, since metal furniture can stain the finish.
After the storm
- Pull branches and debris out first, before running the pump, so nothing clogs the suction lines.
- Reset breakers and timers only once the equipment is dry. If a pump motor was underwater, have it inspected before you run it.
- Super-chlorinate and run the filter continuously until the water clears, cleaning the filter often while it works through the extra debris.
Storm-damaged or flooded equipment? See pool pump and equipment repair.
Seasonal residents: caring for your pool while you're away
If you spend part of the year away from Pinellas, your pool keeps working while you're gone. A missed week of dosing, or a pool left untreated during a trip, is often all it takes to turn it green. A few rules keep it ready for when you get back:
- Don't drain it. An empty pool is at risk of floating out of the ground when groundwater rises, and running the pump dry can seriously damage it.
- Leave the pump on its normal schedule. Circulation keeps chemicals mixed and moves debris to the filter, and a pool needs at least one full turnover of its water every 24 hours.
- Keep weekly service going. Chemistry drifts fastest in the heat and rain of summer, the same months many seasonal residents spend up north.
- Decide who handles storm prep. If a hurricane threatens while you're gone, someone local needs to handle the steps above.
BrightWater's Flexible Service plan runs month to month with no contract, at $160 a month, with weekly service, a chemistry check, and all balancing chemicals included.
Want your pool handled every season, without thinking about it? BrightWater provides weekly pool service year-round across St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Pinellas County.
Get Your Free QuoteWhere we provide seasonal pool service
We provide weekly pool maintenance across St. Petersburg, St. Pete Beach, Gulfport, Pass-a-Grille, Pasadena, Snell Isle, Shore Acres, and Clearwater. Our service zone covers 40 ZIP codes across St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and mid-Pinellas. See all pool services or weekly plans from $155 a month.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to close a pool for winter in Florida?
No. Pools in St. Petersburg and Clearwater stay open and need weekly care year-round. In the cooler months, a single-speed pump can drop to about 4 to 6 hours of run time a day, and a heater keeps the water comfortable if you want to keep swimming.
How often should a pool be serviced in winter in Florida?
Weekly, the same as the rest of the year. Algae pressure eases when the water cools, but Florida's warm spells, sun, and passing fronts keep chemistry moving. Weekly testing and cleaning is the standard for residential pools in the St. Petersburg area all year.
Should I drain my pool before a hurricane?
No. The weight of the water holds the pool in place, and an empty pool can shift or pop out of the ground as the water table rises, according to the Florida Swimming Pool Association. If you lower the level to make room for rain, don't go below the bottom of the skimmer.
What should I do with my pool if I'm away for the summer?
Keep the water at its normal level, leave the pump on its regular schedule, and keep weekly service going, since chemistry drifts fastest in summer heat and rain. Arrange for someone local to handle hurricane prep if a storm threatens while you're gone.
Do you offer seasonal pool maintenance in Clearwater?
Yes. BrightWater's service zone covers 40 ZIP codes across St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and mid-Pinellas, and weekly service continues year-round. The Flexible Service plan runs month to month with no contract.
Sources
- National Weather Service Tampa Bay, "Rainy Season," weather.gov/tbw/rainyseason, accessed September 2026.
- National Weather Service Tampa Bay, "Thunderstorm Climatology," July 2021 (55 to 70 percent of annual rainfall falls June through September).
- NOAA National Hurricane Center, Atlantic hurricane season, June 1 to November 30.
- Florida Swimming Pool Association, hurricane preparation tips, via Pool Magazine, 2022.
- Pinch A Penny, "Preparing Your Pool for a Hurricane," pinchapenny.com, accessed September 2026.
- Leslie's, "7 Tips to Prepare Your Pool for a Hurricane," lesliespool.com, accessed September 2026.
- NSW Health, "Stabiliser (cyanurate) use in outdoor swimming pools," updated April 2017.