Pool maintenance: what you need to know about pool dehumidification

Covered and indoor pools have many advantages: ideal air temperature, year-round bathing, intimacy… However, they require specialist pool maintenance, especially when it comes to managing humidity. The key question is: how do you ensure the dehumidification of a pool? Let’s take a look!

Pool dehumidification: an essential step in pool maintenance

When we talk about humidity, we’re talking about the level of hygrometry: the quantity of water present in the air. For a healthy and pleasant atmosphere, there needs to be close to 60% humidity. A high level of humidity can have significant consequences for pool users:

an unpleasant feeling on the skin;
breathing difficulties;
in the long-term, a level of hygrometry that’s too high can cause sinusitis and joint problems.

Unchecked, humidity can also permanently damage the building that houses the pool: marks appear on the walls, mold spreads, paint peels, bad smells develop and the windows are constantly misted up.

To avoid these kinds of problems, you must not only create a suitable locale for the pool (compatible materials, appropriate window glazing, strong thermal insulation, waterproof walls, etc.) but also choose the right dehumidifying system for your pool.

Another crucial step for pool maintenance: detecting and managing leaks

Dehumidifying a pool: the solutions open to you

Natural or mechanical ventilation

While a classic ventilation system involves air entering from outside – via an open window, for example –, mechanical ventilation has the advantage of drawing air from the pool and renewing it with hygienic air, without pollutants.

This is a good solution for a room with a jacuzzi that’s only used a few hours a week. On the other hand, this is not enough to dehumidify a pool and will consume a lot of energy because it needs to reheat the new air.

A tarpaulin or isothermic cover

Whether it rolls out or has bubbles, a cover doesn’t just protect the pool from impurities and keep the water warm when no one’s bathing. It also significantly reduces evaporation. Although it’s an attractive solution, it must be coupled with another dehumidification system for optimal results.

Absorption dehumidifiers

Absorption dehumidifiers contain silica gel which brings down the level of humidity in silence and without consuming electricity. But this solution is only suitable for small pools: for a large pool, you would have to spend a fortune on cartridges and the system would not be very effective.

Condensation dehumidifiers

This type of dehumidifier recycles the air and condenses the water it contains. There are several kinds designed for different sized pools and various uses:

free-standing units for small private pools;
fitted for private or commercial pools of a larger size;
centralized for private and commercial pools of a significant area.

Choosing a condensation dehumidifier involves evaluating the air flow you need and the necessary extraction capacity.

Ventilation dehumidifiers

With a ventilation dehumidifier, warm, damp air is extracted in large volumes from the pool hall – its energy recovered – and replaced by dry air from outside.

This solution is very effective for large pools. It allows you not only to regulate the humidity in the most efficient way, but also to replace all the damp air with air from outside. In addition, a ventilation dehumidifier does require a certain amount of space.

For a better public pool maintenance, choose the right robot!

What regulations must you follow when dehumidifying a pool?

Regarding hygrometry

To guarantee the comfort of users and the longevity of the buildings, the water content must be less than 14.3 g per kg of air (which is equivalent to 54% humidity with an air temperature of 30 °C) – according to the German standard VDI 2089, which is widely used by European countries (1).

In terms of electricity

When an electrical appliance is used in a damp environment, extra vigilance is needed. There therefore exist, in certain countries, strict rules requiring a separation transformer or a differential switch, as well as regulations regarding the location of the dehumidifier in relation to the pool. Don’t forget to find out about the laws in your country!

What about heating your pool ecologically?

Still unsure about investing in equipment to optimize pool dehumidification? In the long run, such an investment will save you money and increase the trust of your pool users. Want to know more? Our expert dehumidification exhibitors will be happy to provide you more details at the next Piscine Global Europe trade show!

(1) Dantherm, Guide of pool dehumidifiers