Help with ? about poor air quality in pool - coughing swimmers
Former Member
I work out at a small YMCA pool. We have had increasing problems with our swim team kids and some of the masters swimmers struggling to breathe in the pool area during workouts (more than normal!). We get an asthma-like coughing response when working hard, and some kids now get it as soon as they walk in the pool room. My observation is that the problem has worsened recently. When asking the obvious questions of the staff, there has been no known change in the chemicals, etc. We get mostly shrugs of denial from the YMCA.
This really concerns us as parents and swimmers about what we are doing to our athletes' respiratory systems.
How can I get this problem diagnosed? What sort of professional could evaluate the problem? It could be an air quality issue caused by a chemical treatment problem, or an HVAC air handling problem, or both. Poor ventilation has been one theory.
Any suggestions?
Former Member
An air handling unit is the primary piece of equipment that provides heating and cooling to the space where the pool is (and possibly other areas). It will have a fan, filters, a means of heating and a means of cooling. The fan will push air that is heated or cooled through ducts to the pool area.
It is similar to a furnace in the basement of a home. Just larger and with different bells & whistles.
As for getting people to shower, ask the Y to put up signs letting everyone know the benefit of taking a shower first (skin will absorb shower water instead of the chlorinated pool water). The Y where I swim put those signs up and it seems to help some.
You gotta love the hairdo ladies. After all, you have to look good when you are getting a workout!
Scansy-
I think you are right; our signs for taking showers could be improved to be more informative.
I'm not sure if they put in a real new air handling unit or just a fan. I didn't get a lot of information talking to parents in the hall last night after swim team practice on the way home to a late dinner.....
2 cents on the new air handler...
As the new unit forces more air into the pool area, the existing return air ducts should begin to suck (in the good sense) a little more on the intake. By forcing more air into the space there's going to be a build-up of pressure in the building. Even if the ducts are undersized they should be working more efficiently. There's no other place for the used, stanky air to go but out.
Hope it solves your problems. If anything, perhaps now the water ballerinas might not be polluting your pool so badly.;)
On some HVAC units there are settings for the amount of fresh air being added to the return mix. It is possible those have been lowered to save energy costs in the winter.
Chloramines are ironically caused by too LOW chlorine levels in the water. Make sure the water is being checked for combined chlorine levels frequently. If it is bad pool chemistry testing can determine that.
