05/12/2020 | Swimming Pool & Spa | 8 MINUTE READ
Keep your Pool Cool This Summer with a Pool Aerator
For many homeowners, swimming in their pool during the summer is a great way to keep cool. However, finding a way to keep your pool cool during the summer can be difficult if you’re unsure of what to do. If you want to make sure that the water in your pool remains cool at all times of the year, it’s recommended that you have a pool aerator installed. Aeration systems are designed to add air to water. While aeration systems can be used for a variety of different purposes, they are commonly used for the stabilization of wastewater in wastewater treatment facilities.
A pool aerator is a simpler version of the aeration systems that can be used in wastewater treatment facilities. When you attach an aerator to the side of your pool, it will add oxygen to the water, which helps to lower the temperature of the pool water by a few degrees. Reducing the temperature of your pool water can be highly beneficial during those hot summer days when you’re searching for a way to relax and get cool. While aerators are most commonly used in pools, they can also be outfitted in hot tubs and aquariums.
This article takes a closer look at pool aerators and how effective these systems can be at cooling the water in your pool.
What is a Pool Aerator?
A pool aerator is a highly useful yet very basic device that can easily be attached to the side of your pool. This device can be attached to the return line of your pool, after which a fountain of water will be sprayed into your pool via the pump. Since this process adds oxygen to the water, the water temperature will start to lower by several degrees, which can make a significant difference in how comfortable you feel when swimming during the summer.
Keep in mind that pool aerators work best in relatively dry climates but can still be effective in all other climate types. If you want the aerator to be as effective as possible, you should turn it on at night. You could also consider installing two or more aerators to your pool in the event that you have more than one return line. In general, you should expect the aerator that you use to lower the temperature of your pool by 3-4 degrees Fahrenheit.
How Does a Pool Aerator Work?
If you’ve recently had a string of days when the temperatures are in the mid 90’s, the water in your pool will almost certainly be warmer than you would like it to be. While the temperature of pool water takes some time to change after the air becomes warmer, it will slowly increase if exposed to warm or hot air on a consistent basis. Many homeowners use pool covers to reduce the amount of warm air that touches the pool at night.
If you decide to use a poor aerator, this type of system is designed to expose most of the water in your pool to cooler air, which will help to keep the water temperature relatively low even during the warmest parts of the day. All you need to do to begin using a pool aerator is attach it to the return line.
Once you turn on the aerator, it will introduce oxygen to the streams of water that are sent back into your pool. The oxygen that’s introduced to the water will start to decrease the temperature of the pool water immediately. When you want to switch on the aerator, the only way to do so is by opening the valve that’s connected to your pool equipment. The actual aerator doesn’t have its own switch that you would need to turn on. When the valve is fully opened, water will flow through the aerator before shooting upwards and into the pool. Though the process is simple, the benefits are many.
Who Needs a Pool Aerator?
It’s relatively easy to know when you should obtain a pool aerator. If you happen to take a swim in your pool and find that the water is warm or even hot, you should definitely take the time to shop for the right aerator. If you would like to know that it’s time to purchase an aerator before getting into the water, there are several factors that you should look out for, which include:
- High air temperatures
- Shallow water
- Having an above-ground pool
Higher Air Temperatures
For one, it’s important that you’re aware of the average temperature in your area. If the average temperatures are relatively high even at night, it’s recommended that you purchase a pool aerator. If, on the other hand, the temperatures dip at night, the water may remain at a reasonable temperature on its own. When the water in your pool is warm at all times of the day, an aerator is likely the only solution for lowering the temperature of your pool water.
Shallow Water
Many modern pools are outfitted with a design wherein the pool is always at the same depth, which means that there isn’t a shallow end and a deep end to the pool. If your pool is somewhat shallow, having less water in the pool means that the water temperature will increase at a quicker rate. While there are still measures that you can take to mitigate these issues aside from purchasing a pool aerator, having an aerator on hand is among the more effective ways to decrease water temperatures.
Above-ground Pool
Finally, you might need a pool aerator if you have an above-ground swimming pool. When a pool has been installed in the ground, the only way for the water to increase in temperature is when warm air touches the surface of the water. Over time, the water temperature will slowly increase. With an above-ground pool, the water temperature can also increase by heat transferring through the walls of the pool. If you have an above-ground pool, you should definitely consider purchasing a pool aerator.
Even though pool aerators are great at lowering the temperature of pool water, it’s important to understand that the temperature may not decrease enough for your liking. If you want the water to dip even lower in temperature, consider outfitting your pool with a pool chiller, which is a device that can cool pool water by anywhere from 8-10 degrees Fahrenheit. However, this device can be costly, which is why your first choice should be a pool aerator.
Alternative Options to Cool Your Pool During the Summer
While an aerator is a simple and affordable method that you can use to cool your pool during the warm summer months, there are a range of additional options available to you, which include:
- A pool chiller
- Using a cover
- Keeping the water moving
- Using a pool mister
Pool chiller
Aside from an aerator, the most effective option for cooling pool water is a pool chiller, which is very similar to a heat pump with the primary difference being that the pool water will pass through cold air when using a pool chiller. The chilled water will then be sent back into the pool. With this type of system, the water temperature could decrease by up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
Using a cover
You should also make sure that you cover the pool when you’re not using it. While covering the pool won’t significantly decrease the water temperature, it should keep the temperature from rising since the water won’t be able to interact with warm air. If you like the current temperature of your water, you should always keep a cover on your pool when it’s not in use. These covers are generally affordable and easy to place over a pool of any shape or size.
Keep the water moving
Another great way to keep your pool water cool is by keeping the water moving. Whether you add a small waterfall or decorative fountain to your pool, turning this water feature on at night should allow colder air to circulate through the water. If this water feature is kept on during the warmer part of the day, it’s possible that your water would increase in temperature as a result.
Using a pool mister
You could also decide to pair your pool with a mister, which is a type of device that constantly sprays mist when turned on. The mist that’s being sprayed into the air will eventually evaporate, which will cause the temperature of the water to decrease. All of these options are effective at lowering the temperatures of pool water. If you want to decrease the temperatures by a significant amount, a pool chiller or pool mister would likely be your best option. If you simply want to make sure that the pool water doesn’t increase in temperature by too much, you should cover you pool when you’re not using it or focus on keeping the water moving on a consistent basis.
Getting Started with a Pool Aerator
Pool aerators are available at pool supply stores as well as many online shopping destinations like Amazon. These aerators are inexpensive and should be easy to install. Once you’ve found the aerator of your choice, all that’s left for you to do is connect the aerator to the return line of your pool. The valve for the return line will then need to be switched on, which will allow for water to be circulated and sent back into your pool with the oxygen it needs to decrease temperatures. The temperature of your pool water should now be perfect for swimming.
Posted by Sensorex on May 12, 2020
Sensorex is a global leader in the design and manufacture of quality sensors for water quality and process applications. The company offers more than 2000 sensor packages for pH, ORP, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, free chlorine, chlorine dioxide, UV transmittance and other specialty measurements, as well as a full line of sensor accessories and transmitters. Its expert technical support engineers solve analytical sensor challenges with custom designs and off the shelf products.