Proper relationship of air to water temperature in an indoor pool
Former Member
I have been monitoring the water and air temperatures where I swim. Last winter the water temperature seemed to fluctuate wildly between too cold and too hot, so this year I decided to try to quantify my suspicions.
What I've found so far is that it seems to be the air temperature, not the water temperature, that is making the difference in the comfort level. Below is the data I have so far.
My question is, is there a "rule" for the proper air temperature in an indoor pool? This pool is used for competitive swimming as well as water aerobics and little-kid swim lessons.
Date, Water, Air
--------------------------------
10/06/03 82 76
10/08/03 83 76
10/09/03 82 74
10/11/03 80 73
10/13/03 79 72
10/15/03 80 69
10/22/03 82 80
10/25/03 82 70
10/27/03 82 69
10/29/03 82 74
11/01/03 82 66
11/05/03 82 83
11/06/03 82 68
Anna Lea,
You have inspired me to start a log of air/water temperature also. My gut reaction is that I can tolerate either air or water to be too hot, but not both. When the air is cool, I tolerate 84 degrees with no problem. But when the air is warm, I overheat. Last week I got out when the water was 86 and the outside temperature was warm. I wish I knew the air temp in the pool that day. I'll take my trusty thermometer and I'll keep a record.
Betsy Durrant
Hi Anna Lea,
Not sure on a 'rule' for pool and air temp, there are some variables that play into things when the pool and natatorium where constructed. Most of it has to do with air flow and ventilation. The facility I manage right now doesn't have any air heating or cooling - the natatorium temp is kept in check by the pool temp, when we have drastic swings in the outside air temp it does affect us inside a little, our control of humidity regulates what our inside air temp is (feels like), so our air temp is always within a few degrees of our pool temp. One thing to remember is the warmer the air the cooler the water is going to feel (or the cooler the air the warmer the watre will feel). I think your pool operators need to look at or work on their heating/cooling system - ideally there should only be a few degrees difference between air and water temp. Hope this helps out, good luck.
Jeff
Now this is for competition...
USA Swimming
103.7.1 /m/ water temperature between 78 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit shall be maintained for competition
103.7.2 Air temperature within 8 feet above deck level in indoor facilities shall be not lower than 76 degrees Fahrenheit, with relative humidity maintained at about 60%, and air velocity at about 25 feet per minute.
Betsy,
That is the same conclusion that I've reached. We've (my teammates) all noticed that when the water is 82 degrees, we feel fine if the air is at least 76 degrees. Those days when the air was much colder, we all felt "cold" (even after we did our warmup) and everyone was surprised when my thermometer showed that the water was 82 degrees.
