Regardless of economic conditions, commercial aquatics facilities have always searched for ways to become more economical and efficient. As a result, the industry has discovered and implemented many innovative cost-saving solutions. Liquid pool covers are proving to be one solution that has seen impressive results.
How Evaporation Affects Your Pool
Water evaporation occurs in all pools, whether they are indoor or outdoor, and it has a wide range of effects.
For unheated pools, the most noticeable consequence is usually heat loss. The average, well maintained pool, will lose approximately 70 percent of its heat through evaporation. You will notice heat loss most significantly overnight, leaving your water chilled in the morning.
Heated pools also lose heat this way, but the heater maintains a set temperature, so the loss is not always as immediately obvious. It is apparent on your energy bill, however, as your heater continues to work hard to maintain the desired water temperature.
Evaporation also causes water loss, as you can well imagine. In some areas of North America, it is estimated that the entire contents of an outdoor pool will be evaporated in a single season.
Retain Heat, Conserve Energy
By lowering the amount of evaporation your pool experiences, you will also enjoy the added benefit of reducing the heat your pool loses. For pools that do not use an external heat source, this will help keep the water temperature consistent and comfortable.
If your pool does use a heat source, reducing the amount of heat loss caused by evaporation will moderate the energy the heater uses to maintain a set temperature. The less energy a heater consumes, the more money you save and the more efficient your facility becomes.
Save Water to Save Money
Losing water from your pool has multiple consequences. First and foremost, water itself is becoming more expensive and, in some areas, scarce. Lowering the rate of evaporation is a great way to significantly decrease the amount of water your pool loses.
A slightly more hidden consequence occurs during the process of adding make-up water to your pool. More often than not, the water you add is colder than your desired temperature and will either take time to heat back up using the sun’s energy, or will require your heater to work over time to warm up the fresh water.
Using a Liquid Pool Cover
Using any type of barrier over the surface of your pool will reduce the rate of evaporation, but not all barriers are made equal. A liquid pool cover is a safe, easy and convenient solution that is both practical and efficient.
Liquid pool covers have been in use worldwide for over 20 years, and there are many case studies that prove their efficiency. Professional pool associations, utilities providers, and many facilities have been able to track results that show significant savings, such as:
- Reduced overnight heat loss by 50 percent.
- 30-50 percent conservation of water.
- Savings on energy bills that reflect up to 40 percent reduction in energy usage.
In addition to the financial savings, liquid pool covers are convenient. They will form to any size or shape of swimming pool, so they are just as easy to use on a free-form swimming pool, an Olympic-sized pool or a small, indoor fitness pool. As a biodegradable and green product, they are safe for use in any location with any demographic of swimmer.
The liquid can be added to the pool water automatically by using a metering system, or it can be dosed manually in seconds. There is no effect on chemicals or equipment, and your customers won’t even realize it is there.
It All Comes Down to the Bottom Line
At the end of the day, using a pool cover — liquid or plastic — will benefit your facility. Using a liquid cover will allow you to maximize the hours of coverage a day, and minimize the amount of physical exertion required to achieve the savings you want.
Not all liquid pool covers are made equal; researching your options for an established product line with proven safety and efficiency data is always recommended.
Monique Nelson is the Sales & Marketing Manager of Flexible Solutions. For more information, visit www.flexiblesolutions.com, call (800)-661-3560, or e-mail monique@flexiblesolutions.com.
Stay ahead in the fitness industry with exclusive updates!
Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.
