Outdoor Swimming Pools

Many households in North America have outdoor swimming pools in their backyards. However, many people do not consider the many factors that affect the environment, such as wasting energy, which in return add to the environment's problem with the air. Pool covers are an excellent way of reducing heat loss and it minimizes evaporation. In addition, less chemicals are used in the swimming pool and it saves approximately 30-50% of the water.

Wind breaks also prevent evaporation of the swimming pool, by planting trees and shrubs surrounding the pool, it helps minimizes the evaporation when the pool is open (pool cover is not used). Other methods, such as fencing can help as well. In order to decrease evaporation, I highly recommend keeping the wind breaks close to the pool. Also, by placing wind breaks high, there is an elimination of turbulence, but remember to allow sunshine to also heat the water.

You can save money by using a solar heating system from solar energy to heat your swimming pool. Since swimming pools already use a minimal amount of heat, solar collectors heat the outdoor swimming pool efficiently. There are two types of collectors, unglazed and glazed. Glazed and unglazed system vary by price range, generally, glazed systems cost more due to the its copper absorber plates opposed the unglazed plastic/rubber material.

In order to heat the swimming pool when using a glazed system, freezing transfer fluid (non-freezing) is needed. A heat exchanger must be present in order to move the existing solar heat to the swimming pool. On the other hand, for unglazed systems, the heated water is spread through the collectors. However, there are similarities as well, both of the systems doesn't need a storage tank, the pool is the storage tank. I suggest using glazed collectors for year-round pools, although they cost more than unglazed collectors, they provide needed heat during the winter season. Both unglazed and glazed collectors can be used for outdoor pools, but unglazed collectors are primarily used.

To further reduce wasting energy and costs, reducing water heating temperature will help lower costs, by lowering the temperature to 95, people will use less amount and time of water. I also suggest putting in shut-off valves that are turn off themselves and low-flow showerheads, it lowers the amount of water used and it saves energy. Moreover, shower water heaters equipped with insulation will decrease the heating expenses.

Another practical way of saving energy cost is by using high efficiency pool heaters. There are a variety of high efficiency heaters out in the market; for instance, there are a 6.0-8.0 co-efficient range electric heaters. Also, gas heaters with state efficiencies up to ninety-seven percent are effective as well. I suggest shopping around for a heater that will best suit your swimming pool needs. When operating a swimming pool, it is best to consider both environmental and economical factors to help you and the environment in the future.

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