What Is The Ideal Pool Temperature?
Published Sept. 24, 2022
Florida is a state that’s famed for its tropical climate. In fact, the state is the warmest in the U.S, with average temperatures that are well above freezing point. Unbeknownst to many though, is that Florida can sometimes get quite chilly too, especially in the northernmost parts of the state.
As you probably already know, swimming in a cold pool can be uncomfortable. In addition, it has the potential to get you sick. Meanwhile, a hot swimming pool can serve as a breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria. Therefore, it is best to maintain an ideal pool temperature at all times.
So what’s the perfect average pool temperature? In this article, we’ll talk about just that so you will be able to swim comfortably at any time of the year regardless of the ambient temperature.
The Importance Of Pool Temperature
Heat breaks down chlorine faster and facilitates the rapid growth of algae and bacteria. Thus, a pool with water that’s too hot can cause a plethora of health problems and become discolored due to the development of algae, which boasts a distinctly green color that is rather unsightly.
In comparison, pool water that’s too cold can also cause lots of problems. For instance, it’s been stated by the National Center for Cold Water Safety that temperatures below 78 degrees have the potential to affect the respiratory capacity of swimmers. This fact is especially true if the swimmer has underlying lung diseases like asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, and COPD.
So What’s The Ideal Pool Temperature Range?
The water temperature of most swimming pools runs between 78 and 82 degrees. Anything that is above or below this range will cause discomfort for those swimming.
With that said, it’s best to keep your pool water at a steady 80 degrees to make sure everyone remains comfy as they swim. Furthermore, this temperature isn’t hot enough to rapidly break down your swimming pool’s chlorine and let algae alongside dangerous bacteria to develop.
The Benefits Of A Properly Heated Pool
Earlier, we talked about the downsides of pool water that’s not at the ideal temperature range. In this section, we’ll discuss the benefits of having a properly heated pool:
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Comfort
Cannoballing into a pool with cold water can leave your body shocked. Meanwhile, a pool that is too warm can be uncomfortable to swim in.
By controlling your swimming pool’s temperature, it’ll be guaranteed that you’ll have a good swim. Also, you will be reducing the safety risks that come with taking a dip.
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Sanitation
As mentioned, a swimming pool that’s heated to its ideal temperature reduces the chances of chlorine rapidly breaking down. On top of that, it slows the growth of algae and bacteria.
Therefore, by adjusting your pool to the right temperature, you’ll be making it cleaner and also a lot easier to clean. Aside from that, you won’t need to clean your pool as often as normal.
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Safety
Pools can be a hotbed for harmful bacteria if they’re not kept at ideal temperatures. Because of that, it would be in your best interests to maintain your pool’s water temperature at optimum levels for safety’s sake. After all, nobody would want to get an illness after a nice swim.
Putting It All Together
Keeping your pool temperature within the ideal range is not only good from a comfort standpoint as pool water that’s at the right temperature is much safer to swim in.
It harbors fewer bacteria and also halts the growth of algae. Hence, you become less prone to getting sick after taking one badly needed swim, even during Florida’s cooler months.
(Related: How to Heat a Pool Fast DIY: A Beginner’s Guide)
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About The Author
Christian Cruz is an experienced blogger with a deep passion for the outdoors. He has a fascination with engineering that fuels his research for the Excel Pool & Patio Solutions blog.