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Swimming Pools and Spas (Hot
Tubs)
A swimming pool is
an artificially enclosed body of water intended for recreational or competitive
swimming, diving, or for other bathing activities that involve swimming, e.g.
play, wading, water exercise, floating on inflatable toys, cooling off on hot
days, or just sitting and entertaining around.
The chemical
chlorine is most commonly used as a sanitizer, primarily to control algae,
bacteria and pathogens. Alternative pool systems use saltwater or UV
treatment systems to maintain sanitation.
Swimming pools can
be constructed either above ground (generally constructed from plastic and
metal), or in the ground (usually formed either out of reinforcing steel bars
concrete and lined with sprayed or pumped concrete, prefabricated sectional
walls and a vinyl lined interior), or a one piece fiberglass shell.
A spa or hot tub is
a large manufactured tub or small pool full of heated water and used for
soaking, relaxation, massage,or hydrotherapy. In most cases, they have jets for
massage purposes.
There are two
different styles of hot tubs:
Simple
wooden-staved soaking tubs
One piece plastic
tubs (usually referred to as "spas")
Hot tubs are
usually heated using an electric or natural gas heater, though there are also submersible
wood-fired heaters, as well as solar hot water systems.
Water sanitization
is very important in hot tubs, as many organisms thrive in a warm, wet
environment.
Maintaining the hot
tub water chemistry is also necessary for proper sanitization and to prevent
damage to the hot tub
Water Use
The amount of water
used to fill and maintain a swimming pool throughout the year is affected by a
variety of factors including:
Size of the pool
(surface area and depth)
Amount of
evaporation (related to local climate)
Frequency of
backwashing
Leakage
Frequency and
method of pool and pool deck cleaning
Splashing
Presence and use of
a pool cover
Temperature of pool
water (warmer water evaporates more easily)
Presence of a
fountain or waterfall
pH and chemical
content of pool water
Individual
maintenance habits
Because of the
variability of conditions listed above it is difficult to determine how much
water a swimming pool will use.
By comparing homes
with and without swimming pools and correcting for differences in landscape
size its estimated that homes with a swimming pool use about 58 percent more
water outdoors than homes without a swimming pool (Maddaus and Mayer,
2001).
This research
indicates that the addition of a swimming pool results in a substantial
increase in water use.
A few simple
methods can save precious water in and around your pool
Use a pool cover.
It will reduce water loss due to normal evaporation. The cover can also reduce
heating bills by preventing night heat loss and will save on chemicals too.
Pool covers come in
a wide range of types and costs. Consult your pool service company, builder or
pool retail store. Make certain that it fits properly.
The cover is the
number one water and energy conservation device!
Repair any swimming
pool leaks. Even a small leak in either pool equipment or the pool's structure
represents a substantial waste.
In fact, an
inch-a-day leak in a 15-by-30-foot (4.6-by-9.1 m) pool can waste
approximately 102,000 gallons per year (386 m3)!
If heated, reduce
your pool and spa water temperature to save water and energy costs. Warmer
water evaporates more quickly.
Shut down
unnecessary fountains and waterfalls. The effect of aeration loses a
significant amount of water to evaporation.
Manually clean your
filter. You'll do a more thorough job and use less water. The average backwash
uses between 250 to 1,000 gallons (.95 m3 to 3.78 m3) of water -- without
completely cleaning your filter!
Curb diving,
splashing and water fights in your pool and spa. Boisterous play causes
inordinate amounts of water loss due to splash-out.
Maintain proper
chemical levels and adequate circulation time. Not only will your pool water be
safer and cleaner, but you'll avoid the need to drain your pool or use
excessive water to correct conditions of neglect.
When you are
filling your pool, be sure to keep an eye on your water level. Forgetting to
shut off fill water can make for a costly waste of water.
Plug the overflow
line when the pool is in use and always when adding water. Keep the pool water
in the pool.
Turn off the
tile-spray device on your automatic pool cleaner. Its splashing invites
evaporation losses, and overspraying can send water right out of the pool! A
good deal of that spray evaporates before it hits the tile.
Reevaluate the
frequency of backwashing if your pool has no separation tank. Most people
backwash more frequently than necessary. This wastes water.
Some pool filters
do not have to be backwashed at all; they can be taken apart and cleaned, even
though this process is less convenient.
In a severe drought
you may be restricted from adding any water to your swimming pool, backwashing,
etc. This may effectively shutdown your pool for the year. The bad news is the
swimming season is over.
Consult your pool
specialist before removing water from your pool, as some pools require a
certain amount of water to maintain structural integrity.
The good news is
that you can use the water in your pool to water your plants! Allow the
chlorine level in your pool to drop to a level that won’t damage your plants.
Use a siphon hose
or buckets to distribute water across you landscape. Keep using your pool cover
to prevent evaporation.
Swimming pools and
spas use energy to heat water, to run filtration systems, to pump water into
the pool and through water features, and for lighting.
You can reduce the
energy consumed by your swimming pool by implementing the following
recommendations:
Use a pool cover.
It will reduce heating bills by preventing night heat loss and will save on
chemicals too.
Some pool covers
are designed to use solar energy to heat the pool. Make certain that the cover
fits properly. A cover is the number one fossil fuel conservation device!
If heated, reduce
your pool and/or spa water temperature. Some pool covers are designed to use
solar energy to heat the pool.
Shut down
unnecessary fountains and waterfalls to reduce pumping costs.
Manually clean your
filter. You'll do a more thorough job and use less energy.
Reevaluate the
frequency of backwashing if your pool has no separation tank. Most people
backwash more frequently than necessary. This wastes water and energy.
Some pool filters
do not have to be backwashed at all; they can be taken apart and cleaned, even
though this process is less convenient.
Install a solar
water heating system for your swimming pool.
Your savings will
vary depending upon your specific swimming pool and situation, but by
implementing a few simple efficiency measures it should be possible to save a
substantial amount of energy in your swimming pool.
It is estimated
that the energy costs to heat the nation's 5.7 million pools and spas run in
the billions of dollars annually.
Outdoor pools use
high amounts of energy to heat water, which loses heat during the evening and
through evaporation. Indoor pools use a lot of energy for systems that remove
evaporation-caused humidity.
A pool cover can
dramatically reduce energy use by a swimming pool. A pool covered just half the
time can save up to 50 percent in annual energy costs.
A basic pool cover
with enough material for a 30-foot by 15-foot (4.6-by-9.1 m) pool will cost
around $80.
A storage reel for
the cover costs about $160. A high quality insulating pool blanket can cost up
to $700 for a 30-foot by 15-foot pool.
Reducing the water
temperate just four degrees, from 82 to 78 degrees (27.2 C to 25.6 C), can
cut your pool's natural gas costs by as much as 40 percent.
If you live in a
sunny region you might consider installing a solar heating system for your
pool.
Table 1 shows some
savings estimates for pool covers.
To use this table
to estimate costs for you pool, divide your pool's surface area (sq. ft.) by
1,000 then multiply this number by the heating costs and savings figures for
your pool type in the location that most similarly matches your local climate.
For example let’s
say you live in Chicago and have an outdoor pool that is 30 x 15 feet. Your
pool’s surface area is 450 square feet. Divide 450 by 1000 to get a value of
0.45.
From the table you
find the annual heating costs for an outdoor pool in Chicago is $1,024.
Multiply this by 0.45 to get an estimated annual heating cost of $461.
Table 1: Estimated
Swimming Pool Heating Costs and Savings (from the U.S. Department of Energy
RSPEC! pool efficiency program)
*Fuel cost assumption: Gas, $0.50/therm
Even minor swimming
pool leak can cause substantial damage and result in huge water bills and it is
estimated that one in every 20 swimming pools has a leak.
All pools, hot
tubs, fountains and water features are subject to leaks.
Common locations
for leaks are where the pool and pipes are joined, at separations along the
pool top, in the water supply and return lines to the filtration
system, and in the liner, sidewalls and floor of the pool
itself.
Leaks are also
found around the pump seals and o-rings. Installing a water meter on
the pool makeup line is the most effective way of monitoring water use and
detecting leaks.
The approximately
$150 meter installation cost can save you thousands in unecessary water
losses.
For commercial and
public pools, a meter on the make-up water supply line is vital
to efficient pool operation and maintenance.
Just how serious
can a leak become? A pinhole-sized leak in a pool plumbing system with 40-pound
pressure (psi) will lose approximately 970 gallons (3.67 m3) of water in a
24-hour period.
This comes to about
30,000 gallons (113.5 m3) a month or 360,000 gallons per year (1,361 m3).
That's enough to drain and refill the average residential swimming pool more
than a dozen times.
In addition to an
astronomical water bill, there are other warning signs of hidden leaks in pools
and spas.
Among them are a
loss of one-eighth inch or more of water in a 24 hour period, algae formation
too soon after chemical treatment, loose or falling tiles, pool deck cracks,
gaps and cracks in the pool shell, a settling of the whole pool or spa
structure into the ground or constantly damp soil surrounding the pool and/or
under the house.
Another leak
indicator might be a letter from your neighbor's attorney advising you that
your leaking pool is destroying their foundation. Pool leaks can erode
soil under home foundations, causing catastrophic damage to your home, or your
neighbor's home.
Many people believe
that water loss in a pool or spa is due to evaporation instead of a leak. If
you are among these believers, here's a neat trick that will help solve the
mystery.
Place a bucket on
the top step of the pool and fill it with water to the pool's water level.
Also, turn off the water to the automatic water refill system if your pool has
such a device.
After a day, if the
water level in the pool is lower than the bucket, there probably is a leak in
the pool structure or plumbing system.
To further detect
whether the cause is the structure or the plumbing system, measure the water
loss with the pump running for 24 hours and again with the pump off.
If more water is
lost when the pump is running, the plumbing is probably the cause.
Thanks to state-of-the-art
technology, most pool or spa leaks can be found and repaired without major
disruption or the need to take out a second mortgage.
Sophisticated
detection equipment along with a qualified technician can often find even the
smallest leak - even one only the size of a pinhead.
The latest in
high-tech leak detection equipment uses a special television camera that is
snaked through plumbing pipes to spot leaks.
The camera delivers
a clear picture on a video screen showing the problem while a transmitter
located in the camera head pinpoints its location.
Although this
system is used primarily for sewer and drain leak detection, it is also used to
detect leaks in swimming pool pipes.
Another modern
means of detecting leaks below concrete pool decking or in pool walls is a
super sensitive microphone.
By injecting air or
inert gas into a pipe, then listening electronically for sounds of air or gas
escaping, the technician can precisely locate the leak.
Once the location
has been determined, the repair can be made with minimal damage, often in an
area as small or smaller than one square foot.
When a television
camera or sound won't do the trick, air can save the day. With this method,
compressed air is used to pressurize a pipe.
The air displaces
the water in the pipe until it reaches the leak, at which point bubbles escape
from the hole to reveal the problem area.
Or, where a pipe
fails to maintain a constant air pressure, a leak exists. Caution:
Exposed plastic pipe should never be pressurized with air above 5psi.
A not-so-new method
of detecting cracks in a pool structure is the use of dye. The key to this
method is to monitor the flow of the dye in the water.
Once a leak has
been found in a pool wall it can be repaired with an epoxy or high-pressure injection
system that will fill even microscopic fissures along the entire length of a
crack.
Many of these
techniques can be performed even while the pool is full of water-another water
saver.
You should expect
to pay about $175 to $250 for high-tech leak detection, depending upon the
location and complexity of the problem. Repairs are extra.
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