Swimming pool owners know it is refreshing and rejuvenating to plunge into the crystal-clear water or relax by the waterside during the hot summer months.
When summer ends, most homeowners cover their swimming pools and winterize them to close them for the fall and winter months. Most people do not realize that you can still enjoy your swimming pool even in the winter by maintaining the right temperature of a pool.
You can install an efficient pool heating system for a longer swimming season and optimal pool performance all year round.
Below are some popular heating solutions you can use to keep your pool at a comfortable temperature in winter and enjoy your outdoor oasis to its full potential.
How To Heat a Swimming Pool?
A liquid solar cover
A solar-powered liquid pool cover is a renewable and sustainable source of pool heating that lets you swim while it warms the pool. Unlike physical solar covers, liquid solar covers are affixed to a pool’s surface and operate as they would in a sunroom. Swimming with this product is proven safe, and it does not take much liquid to accomplish its purpose.
Solar Rings
Similar to solar blankets, solar rings work by collecting sunlight. The solar rings cover the entire pool with small magnets attached to each one. You can buy as many rings as needed to cover the entire swimming pool. Compared to the solar blanket, the solar rings are easier to put in the pool, take out and store. Despite this, most solar pool heating products do not allow people to swim in the pool while the heater is in use.
Gas Heaters
The cost and efficiency of this method are the two greatest drawbacks, yet it is the best method for several reasons. The gas swimming pool heater will heat your pool with propane or natural gas.
No matter the outside temperature, gas-powered pool water heaters are consistently reliable, as they use gas, not air or sunlight, as a heat source. In addition, they heat up quickly, so you can enjoy your pool as soon as possible. In addition, they heat up quickly, so you can enjoy your pool in almost no time. If the pool is in a colder climate, using a Gas heater has been proven more efficient than other heating tools, which might not perform as adequately in harsher climates.
Windproof Pool Enclosure
When you live in a windy area, the best method for keeping your pool warm is to have a windproof pool enclosure. Warm water can escape from the pool due to the wind altering the pool’s surface area.
A windproof enclosure prevents the pool from losing heat to the wind. In addition, windproof pool enclosures allow you to enjoy your pool in any weather, no matter the temperature. Pool enclosures vary in price according to the size of the pool and the materials used to build them.
Air-Source Heat Pump
Heat is transferred from the air to the swimming pool through air-source heat pumps. Due to their energy-efficient and cost-effective nature, air-source heat pumps are growing in popularity rapidly. Their COP measures between 5 and 6, meaning that they produce 5 to 6 units of energy for every unit they consume. As a result of high energy efficiency, the system’s operating costs and environmental impact are low.
Most pool heat pumps shut down when the ambient temperature drops below 55° F, but some can operate at temperatures as low as the mid-40s, and some can even run at temperatures as low as the mid-20s.
What is the Normal Temperature of a Swimming Pool?
Many pool owners and experts find this topic quite intense. Swimming in a pool that’s too hot or too cold isn’t as enjoyable and relaxing and refreshing as some might think.
Debatable topics abound. But there is no perfect temperature for a swimming pool. The temperature of your pool is determined by a number of factors, including:
- Pool size
- Your pool’s materials
- Your pool’s location
- Orientation of the pool to the sun
- Uses of the pool
- The swimmers’ ages
- The number of swimmers
Water temperatures are often compared with air temperatures by many people. A temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit may feel perfect to us, but it is not ideal for water. Human bodies cannot survive at this temperature. Similarly, water that is too warm also poses hazards to your body.
Acutely cold water
According to the National Center for Cold Water Safety, if the water temperature is below 70 degrees F, it must always be treated with caution. The temperature is already below the point where breathing becomes difficult below that level. The density of cold water makes it harder to move in and puts more pressure on your chest than warm water does. Cold pools can also cause cardiac arrest.
Overheated pool: You shouldn’t heat your pool too much, though, because no one wants to jump into a cold pool. Overheating can have negative effects on your body. Hyperthermia, dehydration, and cramping are all common side effects. As a general rule, you are only allowed to sit in 104-degree temperatures for short periods, like a hot tub, but generally, you will not be able to do this for long.
There are some locations globally where it is warm enough to swim without a pool heater year-round.
Most places, however, have periods where swimming is not possible. In these areas, you must pay attention to your pool’s temperature to ensure your swimming experience is comfortable and safe in these areas.
A temperature of 83 to 86 degrees F is recommended by the American Red Cross for leisurely swimming, though there may not be one perfect pool temperature. Even light physical demands can be safely met during this temperature while in the pool.
Final Thoughts
Almost everyone wants to get the most out of their swimming pool. A key factor is finding the Ideal Pool Temperature that lets you enjoy the water and relaxes your muscles. You can apply these ways to get the warmth for your pool this winter.
We are here to help with any questions you may have about your pool’s temperature. Call Alliance Pools & Patio today!