Seasonal Pool Care & Procedures

As the climate changes, the amount of time required to keep your pool clean will change. There are steps you should take at specific times of the year to keep your pool running smoothly and safely. Select from the following topics and learn more:

• Winterization
• Weekly Winterizing Procedures
• Special Winterizing for Freezing Weather
• Special Maintenance for Drought Conditions
• Winterize Pool & Pumps » Turning Off Water Features
• Seasonal Checklist » Secrets of Success

Winterization

Plan ahead! You can start to winterize your pool as soon as the weather gets cooler, such as early to mid November. It's best not to wait until December or January when North Dallas can be hit with freezing weather.

Winterization is not an option. A pool that is not winterized, or not running properly, will sustain damage during the constant fluctuation between warm and frigid weather. In short, maintain your pool during the winter. Be especially aware of the following trouble spots:

• Debris in the skimmers - Keep them clean and cleared out.
• Debris in the pool pump - Ensure the pump is debris free.
• A dirty filter - A dirty filter in the winter can be especially damaging.
• Water level - Keep water at normal levels at all times

Additionally, the following are general winterization procedures required to keep your pool in excellent condition through the winter:

General Winterization Procedures

• Turn off all water features to keep winter operation at a minimum. Contact Hauk for service.
• Repair all air and water leaks before cold weather hits.
• Polaris cleaners can be left in pool except under severe conditions.
• Store your test kit and chemicals away from the elements.
• Remove and store all pool accessories (floats, poles, etc...) in a dry space away from the elements.
• Lubricate all O-rings using a non-petroleum based lubricant. Petroleum based lubes will cause swelling.
• Ensure the skimmers and the pump basket are free of debris.
• Backwash you filter or clean internal components of the filter before it freezes (it may be best to have a professional clean the internal components of the filter).

Weekly Winterizing Procedures

• Test - Continue to test your water once each week and adjust chemicals as necessary.
• Chlorinate - Adjust your chlorinator to highest setting and check weekly. No tablets in the winter.
• Shock - Add shock to the pool every 5 to 7 weeks during the winter or as necessary. INDUCE THROUGH SKIMMERS ONLY. Maintain at least a .5 free chlorine level.
• Maintain Proper Water Level - It's easy to let this slip when you're not in the pool everyday... DON'T, this will lead to damage in freezing weather.
• Remove All Debris - Especially organic and metallic debris to minimize staining.
• Brushdown Pool Walls & Floors - Once a week, or as needed, brush your pool down.
• Circulate Pool Water - Use Pool Mode (circulation) for a minimum of 5 hours a day in the winter during the coldest time of day.

Special Winterizing for Freezing Weather

When the air temperature drops below 32 degrees F and ice can form on the tile and surface of the pool, additional steps are necessary:

• Run the pump and filter continuously. The freeze guard will automatically activate the pool pump until the temperature rises above freezing. BE AWARE IT IS POSSIBLE FOR YOUR FREEZE GUARD TO CUT OFF WHEN IT IS STILL FREEZING. This occurs when the sun is shining directly on the freeze guard. In this instance, activate the pump manually.
• If needed, break up ice on the pool and spa surface to prevent ice expansion damage. Take care not to damage pool components while breaking ice.
• Filter pressure gauge will sometimes freeze giving a false reading that the pool needs to be backwashed. NEVER backwash filter during freezing conditions.
• Keep skimmer free of ice. The weirs (skimmer doors) also should be kept clear of ice. SUGGESTION: Lower door by hand and place a clean brick on top of the door to allow free flow of water to pump or carefully remove skimmer doors.
• Maintain water at normal levels. Evaporation of water is normal during cold weather. If water gets too low the pump can draw air and greatly increase the chance of your equipment being damaged. SUGGESTION: If outdoor faucets are frozen, connect garden hose to water supply from inside house and fill pool.
• Maintain valves in normal filtration position for suction and return water to pool and spa.
• Always run heater with discretion in the winter.

For special winterizing procedures during a power outage or winterizing an already frozen pool, see page 116 of your Hauk Operations Manual.

Protecting Your Pool and Spa In Drought Conditions

Hauk Custom Pool owners, we wanted to provide you with some tips that will help prevent your pool and spa, deck and equipment from damage that is commonly caused by drought conditions. When in drought conditions, please be mindful of the following preventive steps:

Water Level

Water evaporation will occur quickly under hot, drought conditions. Try and keep the water level at the bottom of the drainage grate. Low water levels can damage equipment.

Pool Deck

Although the deck is reinforced with sand and steel rebar, severe drought conditions are tough on pool decks due to soil contraction. This can cause movement, cracking or shifting similar to what occurs with house foundations.

• Keep consistent soil conditions around your pool. Avoid extremely dry or wet soil around the pool and decking.
• Water the yard around the pool and deck (within level 2 water restriction mandates) to keep the soil and pool deck from separating. Hand watering or using drip hoses will help keep a consistent moisture level.
• Do not allow drainage to pond near pool deck (too much water).

Expansion Joints & Deck-O-Seal

Periodically check expansion joints to see if there is damage to the Deck-O-Seal. If there is any damage or separation between the deck and the pool, it should be addressed.

It's next to impossible to completely avoid some movement, even under normal conditions. As we all know, the Dallas, Texas summer can be anything BUT normal. So, it's important to keep consistent soil moisture content around your pool during these extraordinary conditions and within district imposed mandates.

Winterize Pool & Pumps » Turning Off Water Features

The summer of 2011 was long and dry. But, having a pool in the backyard certainly helped ease the pain of our record breaking heat and drought. Now summer has given way to winter and that means it's time to prepare your pool and equipment for cold weather. In fact, if you have water features, such as waterfalls or weeping walls, that connect to a dedicated pump and divert off the main pump, you may want to consider shutting them down completely as freezing temperatures hit North Texas.

Winterizing and shutting down water features cuts down on energy use as well as the wear and tear on equipment. When temperatures drop to around 35 degrees Fahrenheit, your pool's freeze guard will automatically turn on -- which means all your pumps turn on. The main pool pump must turn on to circulate water, but by turning off the water feature pump, you eliminate the need for it to turn on and off all winter-long. If your pool equipment is near an exterior wall of your home, it's also one less pump humming through the cold winter night.

PLEASE DO NOT SIMPLY TURN THE WATER FEATURE PUMP OFF. The pump and waterline must be properly winterized BEFORE you turn the pump off or you will damage equipment. The following steps apply only to a dedicated and separate water feature pump. If you are not sure, please call us.

Follow these steps or contact Hauk Custom Pool's maintenance staff and we will come out and do it for you:

• Using your handheld, go to PROGRAM and select WATER FEATURE and DELETE the program for the pump. We do this so the pump can't accidentally turn on.
• Next go to FREEZE PROTECTION and unflag the same pump so when it drops below 35 degrees it will not automatically turn on.
• Remove the lid from the pump. On the right side, at the bottom of the pump, are two plugs. Remove the plugs from the pump.
• Put the drain plugs in the pump basket for safe keeping until spring and turn the pump lid upside down and set it back on top of the pump.
• Make sure valves are open.

In the spring you can re-set the program back to the summer mode. Again, we are always available to assist.

Seasonal Checklist » Secrets of Success

The following is a recap of what should be done to keep your pool running in optimum condition. Following these recommendations will save time and service costs if done correctly and on a timely basis. Keep in mind you can easily avoid potential damage and repair costs caused primarily by 1) incorrect water level and 2) dirty filters and baskets.

Twice a week:

• Check and clean skimmer baskets.
• Check and clean pump baskets.
• Add water.
• Check and adjust chemical levels.
• Add sequestering agent for stain prevention.
• Brush off steps and seats.
• Check for air in filter.
• Check filter pressure.
• Clean cleaner bag.
• Check equipment pad for wet spots.

Every 4 to 6 Weeks:

• Backwash filter whether it appears to need it or not.
• Clean calcium deposits and scum off the tiles and spillway.

Every 3 months:

• Clean and lubricate pump O-rings.
• Clean and lubricate chlorinator O-rings.

Seasonal (6 months) Summer:

• Summerization (tear down and clean filter elements).
• Lubricate valves and O-rings.
• Adjust clock settings.
• Check other equipment for proper operation.

Winter

• Winterization (tear down and clean filter elements).
• Shut down uneeded water features.