Hail and swimming pools: preventing damage, protecting your equipment, and reacting correctly after a storm

Posted by Coverdeau

02/26/2026

On 06/06/2025

Hail events are becoming increasingly frequent, particularly in spring and late summer, and can cause significant damage to swimming pools and their equipment. Unlike simple rain, hailstones fall with a force capable of breaking, cracking, or misaligning the most sensitive components. A brief episode of just a few minutes can be enough to permanently damage a roller shutter, a motor, or a pump. It is better to anticipate risks and know the right actions to take.

Concrete risks of hail on a swimming pool

1. The roller shutter slats

The shutter is one of the most exposed elements. PVC or polycarbonate slats, although designed to float and resist water pressure, are not built to withstand violent direct impacts. Under the effect of a hailstorm:

The slats can crack, split, or shatter along their length.
Micro-cracks invisible to the naked eye can lead to a loss of buoyancy, water infiltration, or breakage during winding in the medium term.
The hinges between slats can become deformed, causing jamming or off-axis winding.

2. The roller shutter motor

If the shutter is motorized (above-ground or submerged), hail can have serious indirect consequences:

On above-ground models, an impact can crack the motor cover or cause water to seep into electrical components.
For submerged motors, overpressure or a shock to the grating can shift the axle, strain the shaft, or disrupt the limit switch settings.
Hail is often accompanied by electrical surges, endangering the motor and the control box, especially if they are not protected by a surge protector.

3. Coping stones, gratings, and mobile decks

Large hailstones (>3 cm) can:

shatter reconstructed stone coping stones, crack wood/composite gratings, or even loosen certain mobile deck anchors.
damage perimeter security systems or aesthetic fittings.

4. The technical room and equipment

Pumps, electrolyzers, analyzers, motorized valves, or management controllers (home automation types) take the full force of the impact if they are not sheltered.
Leaking or aging enclosures can fill with water, leading to short circuits and the destruction of electronic boards.

Roller shutter: should it be left open or closed in case of hail?

This is a common question. Should you unroll the shutter to protect the water and equipment, or conversely, fold it back to preserve it?

In 90% of cases, it is recommended to leave the shutter in the rolled-up position.

An unrolled shutter exposes a large horizontal surface to direct impacts.
Rolled up in its box or under its cover, it is partially protected from direct impacts, especially if it is sheltered by a rigid structure or a pool enclosure.

Exceptions:

If your shutter is already heavily damaged or weakened, leaving it deployed may delay the winding breakage but increases the risk of direct breakage.
If you have a high-end polycarbonate shutter or a specially reinforced rigid cover, it can temporarily serve as a shield, but beware: no shutter is designed to absorb impacts at speeds of 60 to 100 km/h.

What to do after a hailstorm?

1. Secure the area

Disconnect electrical boxes if a short circuit is suspected.
Do not handle a submerged motor or an energized control box without protection.

2. Assess the damage

Take precise and dated photos of the damage: impact on the slats, visible cracks, shutter leakage, burnt-out box, broken coping stones, etc.
Note the malfunctions observed (shutter no longer rolling up, lost limit switch settings, burning smell, abnormal noise).

3. Declare to your insurance

Contact your insurer promptly: most multi-risk home insurance contracts with swimming pool extensions cover weather events (hail, storm, lightning).
It is important to have a technical report and an estimate from a professional to speed up the compensation process.