One way to deal with desert heat is submerging up to your neck in a swimming pool. However, during the valley’s hottest months the water heats up and a dip into a pool may
be less refreshing. Most recreational swimmers enjoy pool temperatures between 80 and 90 degrees. Temperatures in many full-sun pools easily climb past 90 degrees. Here are some helpful ways to help the pool thermostat stay below 90 degrees.
Shade
Create a natural sun break. Plant tall trees around the pool, preferably non-deciduous or you will be cleaning leaves and pollen out of the pool. Install a canopy or other shade structure over part of the pool. Set up patio umbrellas on the sunny side of the pool to help shade the water.
Aerators
These attach to the side of the pool and use return water from the pump to spray a fountain of water back into the pool. They can drop the temperature a few degrees but
they increase evaporation, drive pH levels higher and affect chlorine levels. To maximize the cooling, use aerators at night instead of during the day.
Run the pool pump at night
Cooler air temperatures will help bring the temperature
down faster than running the pump during the day.
Breezes
You want air to move across your pool to keep it cool. Remove obstacles that could be blocking wind from blowing across the surface of your swimming pool.
Ice
It is not practical but for temporary relief you can cool a pool with ice. Experiments show it takes 2,187 pounds of ice to cool a 10,000-gallon pool by five degrees.
For more information about water, go to CVWD.org or call 760-398-2651
