What’s The Best Pool Thermometer？

In today's post you're going to learn all about why you NEED a pool thermometer ...

And how choosing the right one can help regulate the quality of your pool water.

You'll also learn some important things to look for when shopping, and my recommendations for the best pool thermometers out there today.

Let's dive in, shall we?

Why you need a pool thermometer

Water temperature may not seem all that important, but there are definitely some valid reasons why it should be.

Depending on who is using your swimming pool and why, there could be even more reason to regulate the temperature than you think.

Swimming in water that's too cold

Getting into water that’s less than 60°F can feel like taking a dip in the arctic in a swimsuit.

While 60 degrees Fahrenheit doesn’t sound all that cold, remaining in water temperatures this low can often lead to cold shock.

According to Livestrong, water this cold widens the blood vessels so that warm blood will flow more freely to increase body temp.

But then your body will start shrinking them after a while to save your organs.

Since your body can’t maintain this state of restricted blood flow for long, when they do open back up, cold blood starts flowing through, which is the condition that can lead to hypothermia.

Yikes!

Swimming in water that's too warm

You might be thinking it’s difficult for water to be too warm since hot tubs are perfectly fine, but the truth is that hot tubs were never meant for prolonged use.

Also, you are usually not as active in a hot tub, so there is less risk of dehydration.

When you’re swimming or exerting energy in water over 90°F, your body temperature rises quickly and releases sweat.

Profuse sweating, as we all know, can lead to dehydration, cramps and muscle spasms.

So, what's the appropriate temperature?

Essentially, this depends on the age of the people using the swimming pool and the purpose for which it’s being used.

For example, small children and older people probably need the water to be a little warmer, while swimmers training for competition or exercising might prefer it a little cooler to keep from overheating.

Mayo Clinic suggests that it’s best to keep the pool between 83° and 88°F, taking into account the factors we just mentioned.

Take note!

Temperature & water quality

Now that you know the effect of water temperature on your swimming humans, you might be wondering if it really matters for the health of your pool.

Well, guess what? It does!

The main chemical you should be (and probably are) using is chlorine. Chlorine is the most effective agent for killing off harmful bacteria and algae in your pool.

But there are a number of factors that can decrease chlorine’s effectiveness, causing you to spend more time and money replenishing it.

Heat is one of those main factors. The higher your swimming pool water’s temperature, the more quickly the chlorine molecules are being consumed.

Temperatures consistently above 90°F can lead to scaling and algae overgrowth.

Because not only do warm temperatures break down the chlorine, but algae loves warm water and tends to set up camp in these conditions.

ypes to choose from

So, what’s a pool-owner to do?

Well, invest in a pool thermometer of course!

It's a cheap and easy way to help keep your pool chemistry levels regulated while maintaining comfortable swimming conditions for your family.

There are two types to choose from: digital and analog. So, which is better? You decide…

Digital

Digital models are the most popular types of thermometers because of their technology.

They display temperature either on a separate display console or with some models, even a smartphone app.

Pros: accurate, technologically advanced

Cons: cost a little more than analog

Analog

Analog models are just the basic types of thermometers your mom used to keep in her medicine cabinet that use mercury to show the temp.

Pros: cheap, easy to use, last longer than digital

Cons: mercury can be damaged by direct sunlight

Floating and hanging types can be either analog or digital, but handheld thermometers are always digital. So, what’s the difference? Let’s see…

Floating

Floating models float on the pool surface and measure the water temperature with sensors inside of the unit.

They can be slightly less accurate than other types because they are not completely submerged underneath the surface and will pick up part of its reading from the air surrounding it.

Hanging

Hanging models are usually attached to the side of the pool or the ladder and are submerged a few inches under the surface of the water.

These can be digital or analog and usually give a fairly accurate reading as the temperature is taken from sensors completely submerged under the surface.

Handheld

Handheld models are usually held in your hand like a gun and an infrared laser is directed at the water to give a temperature reading.

These are considered pretty accurate as well.

Shopping tips

There are a few factors to consider when choosing the best thermometer:

Display

A thermometer won’t do you much good if you have too much difficulty reading it to know what it means.

And each display is different: some are different sizes and brighter backlighting.

It’s best to ask an associate to let you try one out or check out the display before you decide, especially if you have vision problems.

In addition to just being able to read the display, you need to decide if you'd also like to have a wireless version with a display you can keep inside.

Although not necessary, it is sometimes very convenient to be able to monitor this if you're waiting for it to heat up so you can swim. 

Battery

How is the thermometer powered?

Analogs don’t need batteries, but digital models will require some type of power source.

If you'd rather not mess with batteries, but prefer a digital kind, look for a solar-powered version.

If you don’t mind batteries, it’s still a good idea to find out what type it uses.

Keep in mind that button, or watch batteries are sometimes more expensive, harder to find and harder to install than AA or AAA batteries.

Accuracy

Obviously, there's not much point in using a thermometer if its readings are inaccurate anyway.

Buy the best quality unit you can afford and check online reviews to back up your decision.

Also look for reading frequency and supported channels.

Durability

Some cheap thermometers just aren't made to hold up to extreme conditions or long-term use.

So unless you want to replace it on a regular basis, look for one that is known for its durability: you can do this by checking online reviews.

Most people who purchase these products are all too happy to let readers know how long they lasted and how they held up.

Also, try to purchase pool products from well-known and respected companies in the pool industry.

You can usually tell who these are from the size of their product line and the amount of reviews they have.

And it doesn’t hurt to buy products that come with a longer than normal warranty; this is often an indicator that a company stands behind their product.

In addition to the above, here are three other features to consider when shopping:

• All other things considered equal, you can definitely compare prices to get the best deal.
• It’s always good to choose a thermometer that you can set to alert you any time pool temperature falls above or below a certain number.
• Extra features. There are some pool thermometers that do double duty and are equipped with things like pool alarms.

The best pool thermometer to recommend, click to check it out.

Source: pool care guy website.