How can you prevent pool water from evaporating?
It's absolutely natural for pool water to evaporate. This means the water level in your pool will drop, especially when the weather is really hot. How can you prevent the water level in your pool water from dropping? How can you be sure the drop isn't due to a leak? Here are some effective solutions to try out.
Why does your pool water evaporate?
The effect of extreme heat
Water changes from a liquid state to a gaseous one when its temperature is higher than that of the ambient air. It's very difficult to calculate how much water evaporates for a body of water, but it's sure this occurs anytime there's a heatwave and when the sun's rays hit the pool directly. In summer, up to 2 cm of the water level of a pool can evaporate per day. The water level will decrease especially during the night, when the pool water stays war and the outdoor temperature decreases.
Wind-related evaporation
Wind can increase the normal rate of evaporation of the water in an in-ground or above-ground pool. If the pool isn't covered by a pool enclosure, a cover or shutters, the wind can blow dry air over the pool, which speeds up evaporation. In this case, hygrometry (relative air humidity) is low, virtually drought-like.
The pool water heater
A heater ensures you keep your pool water at a stable temperature season-in, season-out, but it can also speed up evaporation. If you're swimming in a pool where the water's at 25 degrees Celsius and the ambient air is cold, and you have no pool enclosure or protective cover, you'll see steam rising from your pool.
How can you be sure that the drop in the water level isn't due to a leak?
If the amount of water that evaporates is significant, you'll need to check for leaks, to stop your water loss if possible. The first thing to do is to check the seals around the filtration system, the valves (taps) and connections between different equipment, as they're all subject to wear. You should also check your skimmers and make sure the filtration pump is connected correctly and that there's no leak, and change your pool filter if ever it's defective. A leak can also be caused by a lack of waterproofness in material, so you should look for any cracks in the pool liner and tiling. Last but not least, if the ground by the pool is muddy, the leak may come from the piping.
Add fresh water to avoid evaporation
A simple solution to limit general evaporation is to pour more cold water into your pool. These extra litres of water will lower the pool water temperature and prevent the evaporation process as the pool water will become cooler than the ambient air.
The benefit of a pool enclosure or cover to reduce the rate of water evaporating
Water-saving
Water evaporates much less in a covered pool or spa, and even more so if the glazing is UV-treated. To prevent even less water from evaporating, Mathieu Joulé-Charpentier, Abrisud Sales Director, also offers with the company's models "a condensation guide, which is a strip fixed to the panel of the enclosure above the coping, which collects the water as it runs over the glazing and then makes sur it trickles back into the pool."
Power-saving when keeping the water temperature stable
A pool enclosure or cover ensures the pool water temperature stays stable as it's not in direct contact with the outdoor air and it benefits from a greenhouse effect.
Less chemical products for good quality water
Covering your pool ensures that dead leaves and insects don't disturb you when you're having fun in your pool. As such, you'll clean your pool less often and use less chemical products to get rid of bacteria and algae.
Water protected during wintering
A pool enclosure or a removable bubble cover protects your pool water from bad weather over winter. Some enclosures mean you can even make the most of your pool all year round.
