Summer is in full swing, which means everyone is spending as much time as they can in the pool. Keeping your pool clean and refreshing is a tricky business, but it gets even more complicated when your pool is inside–ventilation is extremely important when there are humid spaces inside. Below is an introduction to HVAC for indoor pools, detailing how it works, proper maintenance and ventilation measures, as well as how to keep the process as sustainable as possible. Let’s dive in.
Dive Into Pool HVAC
What is Pool HVAC and How Does it Work?
By now, you know that HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. These three things contribute to controlling temperature and humidity levels, encouraging proper air circulation, and ensuring proper ventilation of your indoor pool. When it comes to temperature and humidity control, it’s important to note that you should be just as concerned with the temperature and humidity of the pool water as you are with the air outside of the pool. The key is to remove excess moisture, which pool HVAC systems do through the use of dehumidifiers and condensing coils. This ensures that swimmers are comfortable, there is less condensation on surfaces, and mold and mildew growth is prohibited. 
Air circulation, in part, also helps with these things, but its priority is concerned with other matters: evenly distributing heat or air conditioning, keeping chlorine and chemical odors or vapors from accumulating, and overall decreasing stagnant air. To do this, pool HVAC consists of strategically placed vents and fans. The ventilation process is similar to that of air circulation, but it does have slightly different functions and should not be overlooked. Ventilation is mostly concerned with the health of the swimmers. These systems exchange the indoor air with outdoor air, improving indoor air quality and ensuring that chloramines–which are formed by the interaction of chlorine with contaminants introduced by the swimmers–exist at a minimum. DID YOU KNOW: Failure to maintain proper ventilation can cause eye and respiratory issues, among other health problems.
Pool HVAC and Its Maintenance
Pool HVAC Maintenance
Like any other system, pool HVAC systems require maintenance to keep them running efficiently–and you don’t want to skimp out on it because it can adversely affect your health. The difficult thing about indoor pools is that they require 24/7 monitoring for proper temperatures with minimal evaporation. It is important to keep the air temperature above the water temperature and to make sure the water temperature doesn’t drop too much and throw off the pool’s chemistry. For this reason, the space needs heat almost all of the time. It can’t be stressed enough that humidity control is crucial for indoor pools. That being said, pool HVAC maintenance needs to be done by certified professionals. Most pool heaters require yearly maintenance–inspection, cleaning, and service if necessary–to ensure that the compressor is not in danger of burning out. 
Signs Your Pool May Require Maintenance
Here is a checklist of things to look for that may indicate your pool’s HVAC system needs maintenance:
- Higher-than-usual energy bills
- Bad odors or unusual noises coming from the HVAC system
- Inconsistent heating
- Airflow changes
- Broken lights, cracked walls, or other exterior damage
- Low energy efficiency
- Repetitive repairs
- If you’ve changed your pool usage, such as extending the swimming season
Pool HVAC & Energy Efficiency
How to Reduce Energy Costs and Waste
Here are some ways you can reduce energy costs and energy waste in your indoor pool:
- Understanding Evaporation: Pool water temperatures for active swimming should be between 78 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and general-use temperatures should be between 80 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit. To keep evaporation rates low, the air in the facility should be two to five degrees warmer than the pool water temperature. The relative humidity of the space should be between 40 and 60 percent. Installing a pool cover can help reduce evaporation.
- Ventilation: Consider installing a dehumidification unit to condition and control the air space while the pool is not in use so you can cut down on ventilation energy. Certain geographic locations may also be able to install a geothermal system to transfer heat from the ground into the dehumidification system, further reducing energy costs, but most should focus on temperature and humidity control during unoccupied pool time.
- Installing Auxiliary Devices: Circulation systems, lighting, filters, and pool water heating control can also reduce energy consumption.
- Variable Speed Pumps: Adjusting your water flow based on use can also cut costs–essentially, if you’re not using the pool, put all systems on an unoccupied pool time schedule. This includes lighting, filters, and heaters. Though you will need to keep dehumidifiers, heating, and ventilation going, you can do so at reduced rates.
Green Pool HVAC Technology
Overall, the two best ways to go green with your pool’s HVAC are by turning off or reducing unnecessary systems when the pool is not in use and by installing features that help you automate efficiency control. Here are some aspects to consider:
- High-efficiency fans and motors
- Geothermal heat pumps
- LED lighting
- Heat recovery systems
- Variable Speed Pumps
Conclusion
In conclusion, maintaining the HVAC systems on your indoor pool is no easy task. But luckily for you, there are certified professionals who are ready to help. When speaking with a professional about the HVAC systems you need for your space, keep in mind that choosing energy-efficient systems from the start will decrease your energy costs by a long shot. It’s also important to remember the relationships between temperature, humidity, and ventilation so the pros can help you choose the right units for you. Happy swimming!