Help with pool temperature

Our pool director just jacked the pool temp up. He said he is responding to complaints from the aquarobic folks and because the local schools are bringing kids in for lessons. He said it was 82 today, but I don't believe it. It's usually between 80 - 82, and it was a whole bunch warmer today. We couldn't really work out at all, and ended up just going back and forth. I ditched my cap for the first time in maybe 6 months, but it didn't help. We all got overheated anyway. Bill, First, search the old threads. I recall commenting in previous threads. We had this issue where I used to swim. The pool manager argued that to be "certified" by the Arthritis Foundation, they had to keep the pool warm. I did a little research and found that the Arthritis Foundation requires a minimum of just 83 degrees. That's tolerable for working out, in my opinion. So a pool doesn't need to keep it any higher than that. Second, you need data. You can't just tell the pool manager, "it's a whole bunch warmer." You have to be able to give him numbers. I bought a pool thermometer, which I carry in my bag. At one point in time I was checking the pool temperature every time we swam, and recording it in my handy USMS Planner (free from USMS; see the home page today to order yours). This is the thermometer I bought. Note that it's a "kid magnet" in the pool, so keep an eye on it while it's floating around.... www.swimoutlet.com/.../5127.htm If your pool has their own thermometer, check it and record its temperature in your Planner, too, for comparison purposes. After a month or so you will have enough data to see any trends. (Does the temperature fluctuate, overshooting and undershooting? Does it stay constant during the week when the regular manager is there, but then vary on the weekend when the assistants are in charge?) If the temperature has been consistently high, or if it's been seriously overshooting, you will have good data to present to the pool manager. Personally, I've never had to compile and present the data to anyone. What I've found is that when the pool staff sees that someone is checking the pool temperature, they suddenly start paying a lot more attention to keeping it where it should be. Another thing we learned from my measurements is that a lot of our comfort depends on the relationship between the water temperature and the air temperature. Our pool is an outdoor pool in the summer; in the winter it's covered by a fabric, air-supported dome. It's difficult to maintain the air temperature inside, especially when it's 20 degrees outside. 83-degree water can feel great if the air is somewhat cold, but it can feel too warm when combined with 92-degree air. Anna Lea

Our pool director just jacked the pool temp up. He said he is responding to complaints from the aquarobic folks and because the local schools are bringing kids in for lessons. He said it was 82 today, but I don't believe it. It's usually between 80 - 82, and it was a whole bunch warmer today. We couldn't really work out at all, and ended up just going back and forth. I ditched my cap for the first time in maybe 6 months, but it didn't help. We all got overheated anyway. Bill, First, search the old threads. I recall commenting in previous threads. We had this issue where I used to swim. The pool manager argued that to be "certified" by the Arthritis Foundation, they had to keep the pool warm. I did a little research and found that the Arthritis Foundation requires a minimum of just 83 degrees. That's tolerable for working out, in my opinion. So a pool doesn't need to keep it any higher than that. Second, you need data. You can't just tell the pool manager, "it's a whole bunch warmer." You have to be able to give him numbers. I bought a pool thermometer, which I carry in my bag. At one point in time I was checking the pool temperature every time we swam, and recording it in my handy USMS Planner (free from USMS; see the home page today to order yours). This is the thermometer I bought. Note that it's a "kid magnet" in the pool, so keep an eye on it while it's floating around.... www.swimoutlet.com/.../5127.htm If your pool has their own thermometer, check it and record its temperature in your Planner, too, for comparison purposes. After a month or so you will have enough data to see any trends. (Does the temperature fluctuate, overshooting and undershooting? Does it stay constant during the week when the regular manager is there, but then vary on the weekend when the assistants are in charge?) If the temperature has been consistently high, or if it's been seriously overshooting, you will have good data to present to the pool manager. Personally, I've never had to compile and present the data to anyone. What I've found is that when the pool staff sees that someone is checking the pool temperature, they suddenly start paying a lot more attention to keeping it where it should be. Another thing we learned from my measurements is that a lot of our comfort depends on the relationship between the water temperature and the air temperature. Our pool is an outdoor pool in the summer; in the winter it's covered by a fabric, air-supported dome. It's difficult to maintain the air temperature inside, especially when it's 20 degrees outside. 83-degree water can feel great if the air is somewhat cold, but it can feel too warm when combined with 92-degree air. Anna Lea