How To Cool Off Your Swimming Pool

What is the biggest benefit of owning a pool for you?

We suspect that, like us, you placed “cooling down in the refreshing pool water on a hot summer’s day” at or near the top of the list. But, blistering summer heat can sometimes make your pool less refreshing and more like a warm bath. Thankfully, we will show you how to cool off your swimming pool using a number of easy techniques. 

We’ll show you the best ways to lower the temperature of your pool and how to keep it that way once you’ve achieved it. 

The Best Ways to Cool Your Pool

When it comes to knowing how to cool off your swimming pool or even warming up your pool, there’s one thing you need to remember. Things won’t happen immediately. 

Pools have an average water volume of 10,000 gallons. To heat or cool such a volume of liquid requires a substantial amount of energy. Now that you’ve tempered your expectations, here are some ways to keep your pool at an appropriate temperature.

Water Features

You can keep your pool temperature down in this way but it is one of the more expensive methods. Yet, it is also one of the most effective options. Water features that keep your pool water moving, such as fountains, waterfalls, or other features, promote evaporation. Liquids that evaporate lose heat in the process of becoming gases. 

It is the same reason that you can keep cool with a damp towel around your neck. 

Water features do not have to be continuously run. It is best to use this cooling method at night. Although it can be used during the day, it will be less effective if the temperature is warmer. 

The biggest disadvantage of water features is that they are expensive and time-consuming to install. If you don’t have a pool yet, talking to your pool installation team may be a good idea. 

how to cool off your swimming pool

Draining It and Refill It

Using cold water to replace some or all of your pool’s water is a great idea. You can reduce the temperature of your pool by draining it partially and refilling it. However, there are some risks involved with this method. 

When your water source is warmer than your pool’s water, you’re just replacing your pool’s water with warmer water. Check to see if your water is surface water or from a well to find out if it’s cool water. 

A rebalance of your water’s chemicals will also be necessary. As a whole, this technique is not as straightforward as it might seem, but it can have a major effect in some parts of the country. 

Create Shade For Your Pool

You’ll understand why the water in your pool is so warm in some parts of the country if you stand in the hot sun for a minute during the summer. But that’s only the effect of the sun on your skin. A swimming pool has a much larger surface area. Consider how much energy it absorbs from the sun. 

It is the sun who is your biggest enemy when it comes to keeping your pool cool. Shade is one of the best and most effective ways to cool down a pool. You can reduce the amount of sunlight your pool absorbs with every bit of shade you provide. 

Shading your pool can be improved in a number of ways. Using artificial sources of shade is the most obvious. 

Pergolas, shade sails, parasols, and enclosures can all provide shade. To find the right mix of coverage and cost, you’ll need to determine your budget. Natural shading is another option. Planting vegetation is a long-term option, but it is also a great way to improve the appearance of your outdoor area. 

With the help of a landscaper, you can ensure your pool looks attractive and receives all the shade it needs. As part of this strategy, features that impede airflow will also be eliminated. The wind won’t reach your pool if there are many trees and other obstructions around it. 

You can cool your pool naturally through evaporation by using airflow. Make sure you incorporate natural breezes into your landscaping plan if you’re looking for colder pool water. 

Use a Heat Pump Or Pool Chiller

You can always install a pool chiller if you’re not inclined to get too creative. It’s just a question of utilizing a tool that already exists. 

In a modern pool chiller, water is cooled using fans as it travels through the system. It’s that simple. It is claimed that pool chillers can drop the temperature of a pool by ten degrees overnight. This is true in many cases. In truth, your pool’s size has a great deal to do with this. The devices can be installed within a few hours, so you can get to work as soon as possible. Depending on the size of your pool, you will have to spend a few thousand dollars on a pool chiller.

Heat pumps are also an option. Yes, you heard me correctly. The reverse function of a pool heat pump is to cool the water by extracting heat from it. Heat pumps, however, will not be used much in places that are very hot and humid. Using a chiller to cool the pool water is much less expensive than using a heat pump. A chiller is cost-effective in comparison to a full heat pump that cools your pool. 

Use Solar Panels At Night

As with a heat pump, solar panels can also be used to cool water. 

A solar panel heats your pool in the following way:

During the day, you use a pump to circulate water through the solar panels for your pool. Solar panels absorb solar energy, transferring it to the water. At night, the process is reversed. A rooftop is considerably cooler at night than a pool area. As a result, if you run water through the panels, they are exposed to the cold night air. 

The water in your pool will become colder before you know it. 

It should be noted, however, that this method will not cool the water to a temperature lower than the ambient temperature. In some areas of the country, even the nights do not dip below 80 degrees. The only problem is that this strategy only works in certain areas. 

The Ice Option

OK, so this isn’t the best long-term strategy, but it works when you’re in a bind. You can use ice to cool down your pool FAST if you absolutely, positively must. 

Ice has several disadvantages, as you might imagine. For starters, it’s expensive. You will need several thousand pounds of ice to cool down a pool of any size. You can expect to spend hundreds of dollars depending on where you buy it, if you can get that much ice at all. 

Also, it won’t last very long. The temperature will drop fast, but it will also heat up quickly too. You’ll see all your hard work melt away in a few days. Although you will have a cooler pool, that can’t be denied. 

The ice solution may be the best choice if you were planning to host a pool party and need to know how to cool off your swimming pool as you don’t want to disappoint your guests by having a lukewarm pool. 

how to cool off your swimming pool with ice

Keep Cool In Your Pool

We have shown you how to cool off your swimming pool. We have explained several of the best methods of cooling down your pool in our article. Choose from small or large investments, as well as short or long-term solutions. The best way to keep your pool cool is probably to combine some of these methods. 

Is there any other way to keep your water nice and cool? Leave a comment below with your favorite. 

How To Level An Above Ground Pool

how to level an above ground pool

After purchasing an above ground pool, you’re eager to jump in and enjoy the cool, refreshing water. Understanding why leveling the ground for your pool is so important, as well as the steps you must take to make the project as easy as possible, is important. In this article we’ll show you how to level an above ground pool as efficiently as possible.

The Importance Of Even Ground For Above-Ground Pools

level above ground pool location

There Will Be An Uneven Water Level

Uneven ground poses a safety hazard when installing a swimming pool. This is why it’s crucial to know how to level an above ground pool. A shallow and a deep end can pose a danger to smaller children if they cannot touch the bottom.

If your skimmer or other cleaning equipment gets stuck in the “shallow end” you’ve created in your pool, the uneven water level can also pose problems for your pool’s skimmer or other equipment.

There Will Be A Weak And Compromised Structure

Having an uneven pool also poses a significant risk to the liner and wall of your pool because of the extra pressure. It is possible for the walls to buckle, twist, and even break when the weight is not distributed evenly on all sides.

In a worst-case scenario, your pool would be destroyed if the wall gave out. It may cause a flood of water in your backyard. This can put swimmers and other people in close proximity at risk of injury.

The Pool Will Look Strange

An uneven pool is immediately noticeable. When your pool’s water is not level as it should be, it’s like a glass balancing off center.

If you see your pool, you’ll immediately notice that the bottom is lower on one side than the other. Everyone will feel the same way if they see your pool.

How To Level The Ground – A Step By Step Guide

As long as you follow these steps, creating a level swimming pool site is a straightforward process with the right tools.

Discover what you should do by reading on.

how to level an above ground pool

Step 1: Choose The Right Location

Knowing how to level an above ground pool is so important because a pool can’t be moved once it’s set up unless it’s completely disassembled. This is why choosing the right location before you start is essential.

The easiest way to do the following steps is to find the flattest part of your yard. You’ll appreciate less shoveling if the ground is flatter.

Even though trees provide some shade, they also drop leaves and other debris into your pool, making it more difficult to keep it clean.

In addition, stay away from underground cables, septic lines, and power lines. Choose a spot that’s well within the boundaries of your property, with a buffer around the pool that’s at least a foot wide.  

Step 2: Clear The Area

It is crucial to clear the site before installing a pool. If you have grass, rocks, and other debris underneath, the liner may be damaged, and maybe even destroyed.

Grass must be removed first. If you prefer using a rototiller, you could hire one or use a sod cutter to cut, roll, and relocate the grass. All stones, roots, and other items that may damage the liner need to be removed.

You can use a thick tarp to starve the grass of sunlight and water if you’re thinking ahead about your pool installation and have a few weeks to kill. That way, it’ll be easier to remove the grass.

Step 3: Make Your Device For Leveling

The level of the pool can’t be determined by merely eyeballing its location. You can cause significant problems if you’re off by even a few inches once it’s filled with water.

It is necessary to use a leveling device. It is easiest to get a long, straight piece of board. Then you place it across the intended location for your pool and check its level with a level.

As a result, you will be able to identify any high and low points on your site.

It’s also possible to use stakes and string if you don’t have a long enough board to stretch out from the center. You can then use your level to confirm that the site is flat by sighting along the tightened string.

Step 4: Fill The Holes And Fix The Bumps

By now, any leveling issues should be apparent. It can be very tiresome to smooth these out. Especially because you need to shovel them out one by one.

The best way to get the ground level is to dig into it; it’s actually better to remove the bumps in the dirt rather than add more, as it helps create a more stable foundation.

As a general rule of thumb, sink your pool at least two inches into the soil, since you’ll be topping it off with sand after getting the base flat.

Step 5: Use Sand To Smooth It Out

A truckload of sand is needed after leveling the ground. In addition to protecting your pool’s liner from grass and weeds, the sand also provides a buffer against sharp objects that you may have missed in the dirt.

A landscaping supply company or your local garden center can deliver sand to your home. You should request enough sand to cover your entire pool site with at least a 2-inch layer, but it is totally fine if it ends up being 6-inches thick.

As soon as the sand is delivered, spread it evenly with a rake, then give it a good water and let it dry. The sand should flatten and dry out overnight.

Step 6: Compact The Sand Down Firmly

Having let the sand come to rest, you should compact it into a solid pool base. You can easily buy a lawn roller online, which is the best tool for the job. You should pack down the entire pool base flat.

Then it’s time for you to use your level. You should make sure that nothing has changed and that everything is still flat. Otherwise, use your shovel to level it out, then your lawn roller to pack it down firmly. It’s worth taking extra time to get this right.

Step 7: Put The Base Protector Down

Last but not least, you need to lay out the base layer. You can buy a specialized pool pad that goes under your above-ground pool. This will protect your pool’s vinyl as another layer of protection.

In addition to reducing the risk of puncture in the liner, the base layer also helps to insulate and prevent the heat loss from the water as a result of the cold ground.

I’d recommend putting a tarp on the ground at the very least.

Even finding the hole to patch up your liner after your pool has been filled can be a nightmare if you puncture your liner. Putting in place adequate protection is a far smarter move at this point. Once the protector is installed, you are ready for the last step.

Step 8: Now You Can Start Setting Up Your Pool

How to set up an above ground pool

The instructions will vary slightly depending on the model, but they all have a similar theme. When you follow the steps carefully, your above ground swimming pool will be set up in no time and your kids will enjoy the water right away.

Conclusion

Make sure the ground is properly prepared and leveled before you install your swimming pool. I hope that you now know how to level an above ground pool in the easiest and cheapest way.

You risk creating a safety hazard in your yard if you get it wrong at this crucial stage, and your pool will never look quite right.

If you do it right, your pool will last for many seasons to come.