How to Warm Pool Water for Longer Pool Time Enjoyment

Late spring and summer are all about hopping in the pool and having a fun time, but that comes to an end once the temperatures start to drop. Many people close their pools as nighttime temperatures start to dip below 18°C (65°F). For most people, ideal pool water is between 28-30°C (83°-85°F). This is cool enough to be refreshing but warm enough to be inviting. When it comes to kids, 30°C (85°F) is often the best temperature for swimming, so as air temp drops, swimming becomes less exciting for kids.

It’s not too hard to find the right balance between a comfortable temperature and cost-effective solutions. So here are some ideas for keeping your pool warm, even on the coldest days!

• Install fencing or plant shrubbery around your pool area to block wind and retain heat, making poolside lounging more enjoyable.
  
• Remove anything obstructing sunlight from reaching the pool area. Even late in the year, midday sun can warm your pool area, especially if it’s protected from breezes.
  
• Use a solar cover between uses. Sunlight is a powerful source of heat, so cover your pool each night and let the solar cover absorb energy throughout the day whenever you’re not using the pool. Not only does the cover absorb solar heat, but it also prevents heat loss at night when the air temp drops. Use mini solar covers. Tired of dragging a giant cover on and off whenever you want to swim? These smaller solar covers may be just the ticket. They actively absorb sunlight and warm your pool, sticking together with magnets and easier to manage than one giant cover.
  
• Use a liquid solar cover. These last for about a month and eliminate the need to wrangle the heavy solar cover each time you want to swim. What cools your pool water is evaporation — water leaves your pool and takes significant heat energy with it. Liquid pool covers create a very thin, non-toxic chemical layer that prevents evaporation from the pool’s surface, thereby keeping your water warmer for longer.
  
• Connect a pool heater to keep the water warm. If you’re a weekend pool user, lower the temperature setting by 8 to 10°C (46 to 50°F) degrees during the week when not in use. If on vacation, remember to turn off the heater. But keep in mind that turning the heat off altogether will mean much more energy use to bring water back up to temp from a deficit, so maintaining a reasonable temperature when not in use will save you money in the long run. Hook up your pool to a heat pump to warm the water to perfection. Heat pumps can be energy efficient and quiet, but remember that efficiency is usually dependent on surrounding temperatures. It’s not going to heat your pool more than a few degrees before it starts to strain itself and/or run your electric bill pretty high, so it’s more for breaking a chill than warming your water by 20°C (68°F) degrees.
  
• Install a timer to help you regulate your pool’s temperature. This will allow you to automate and optimize your temperature settings. It works best with a gas or electric resistance heater during the coldest days.
  

These are our best suggestions to extend the usability of your pool past when others have closed it for the year. Swimming in a warm, well-maintained pool is one of the best feelings out there. It feels even better knowing that your pool is always clean, even though you never drag out the pool vacuum. With Dolphin robotic pool cleaners by Maytronics, that dream is finally a reality! Check them out today, and never clean your pool again.