Here in northern Indiana and most northern states I’m sure, we have a relatively short period of time in which we can use our swimming pools. Typically our season is from Memorial Day to Labor Day. So we really have about 3 months in which we use our pools the most. Many people aim to have their pools closed by Labor Day, and they don’t re-open them until the following Memorial Day. There are exceptions to this as well. However for most people this is the way it goes every year with their pools. So how do we get the most out of our pools? Lets start with extending the season a bit.
Their are a couple ways in which the pool season can be extended by a pool owner. I know that not all pool owners are interested in extending the season but some may be. It all depends on how likely you are going to use your pool when the air temp is not the warmest. The obvious thing to do is to have an indoor pool. While this may be obvious, it is not very practical or even attainable for most people. The next idea is to heat your pool with a gas heater rather than a heat pump.
Using a gas heater may cost a bit more but it will prolong the swimming season. A heat pump
uses the air temperature around it to heat the pool. This is just fine when the air temperature around it is in the 80’s or 90’s but if the air temp is below 65 then it will not do much for your pool. A gas heater on the other hand will heat your pool in any temperature. This is because it relies on the use of natural gas or propane to heat the water. This will allow you to get an early start on the year and allow you to keep your pool open well past Labor Day. The down side to this is that in colder temperatures you will likely need to run your heater almost constantly. As soon as you turn your heater off the cold air will suck the heat out of the water very quickly. Running your heater this much will cost you quite a bit of money. However there is a way in which to reduce the amount you run your heater yet still maintain warmer water temperatures. Really there are a couple of ways.
First and foremost the average vinyl liner inground pool will lose heat through the walls of the pool. Many pool walls are made of galvanized steel and the steel is not the best insulator. If the ground outside the pool is cold then that cold will transfer right through the walls of the pool and affect the temperature of the water. However Only Alpha Pool Products’ composite pool wall is a very efficient insulator and will help to keep your water at the desired temperature. So if you haven’t had the pool built yet you may want to look for a builder that installs Only Alpha’s pools.
Another way you can keep the heat in your pool is to have a Automatic Pool Cover installed on the pool. This will most definitely help keep the heat in the pool. These types of pool covers are becoming more and more popular partly due to the fact that they are so good at keeping heat in the pool. The benefit comes from being able to easily open and close the pool. Now pool owners are able to close the pool each night, or anytime the pool is not in use. By having this ability they are able to protect the heated water from the cool nights and lock in all the heat of the day. When you combine this technology with a gas heater you will have the luxury of keeping your pool open well into the fall without running into a problem.
When thinking about ways to get the most out of your pool another thing that comes to mind is maintenance. There is nothing more irritating than having to spend a lot of time and money on maintaining your pool. The best way to avoid this is to periodically check your chemical levels and keep them where they need to be. Once they get too far out of whack it can be difficult to get them back and you will be spending more time maintaining your pool than enjoying it.
Another thing you can do is more for you and the family. Use your pool, plan events ahead of time to give the kids something to look forward to. Have pool parties for your friends, eat dinner outside by the pool from time to time, and just spend your free time pool side. You can even think of fun games for the kids to play in the pool. For the parents having a beautiful in ground pool in your backyard is the perfect setting for a romantic evening with a candle lit dinner and drinks by the pool. The possibilities that arise when you have your very own in ground pool are endless.
For more swimming pool information please check out my other posts. They all relate to the wonderful world of the in ground swimming pool, and I try to cover every topic. If you have any thoughts or questions about any of the information in these post please don’t hesitate to ask.
