Keeping Dry with Pool Enclosure Ventilation

Pool enclosure ventilation is one of those concepts that seem a bit ironic. You have a pool full of water for swimming where you can't wait to get wet, but you need ventilation to keep the surrounding area dry. Pools naturally create a lot of evaporation and moisture, and ventilation keeps the air and surrounding area dry and healthy.

Pool water has many chemicals and sterilizers in it to keep the water clean and free of bacteria. Chemicals like chlorine and other sanitizers keep the water clean of mold, but they also evaporate with the water. When a pool is enclosed, the water that evaporates has nowhere to go except on your walls, pool furniture or to linger in the air.

Pool enclosure ventilation is a method for keeping the evaporated water from accumulating in the pool area. When evaporated water and chemicals are not removed, the moisture can turn your enclosed pool area into a giant petrie dish growing mold and mildew. There are different kinds of ventilation systems that have been developed to remove the moisture.

Pool Enclosure Ventilation

One pool enclosure ventilation system is an air exchanger. It does exactly what the name implies – exchanges air. The motor pumps the indoor wet air to the outdoors through ventilation ductwork. They can be expensive to operate though, especially when you have spent money to keep your pool water and the surrounding area warm in the winter. In effect, you're pumping out air you paid to heat!

Another important component of pool enclosure ventilation is a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers draw the moisture out of the air and the collected water is then removed. The advantage of using dehumidifiers for pool enclosure ventilation is they are more energy effective.

Indoor swimming pools create an exceptional amount of moisture because the heated pool water is more humid than the air outside. When the water evaporates it takes pool water and many of your expensive chemicals into the air where it can eventually coat everything in the enclosed area. An indoor pool area not ventilated will eventually be covered in mold and mildew, including the enclosure, surrounding pool deck and deck furniture.

A pool enclosure ventilation system stabilizes the air and helps you maintain a comfortable indoor temperature year round. Though more water evaporates when it's heated, any indoor pool needs ventilation in order to keep the air clean and healthy and to control moisture. Even if you don't have an electric ventilation system, you will need to be able to open the doors and windows and at least have fans to circulate the air as a minimum.

An indoor pool allows you to swim year round making it possible to enjoy your investment no matter what the weather. But you need to make sure you keep the air circulating and free of moisture with fans, an air exchanger or a dehumidifier.