Climate and Weather Considerations for Outdoor Concrete Pools

While historic weather data determines the average duration of the swim season in the vicinity of your residence, it's the daily weather that decides pool comfort. Relative coolness or warmth of outdoor concrete pools is also, to some extent, influenced by the orientation of the house and pool. For these reasons, it is advisable to analyze the climate patterns in your local area as well as regional weather models.

Compare meteorological data

You will have a good idea about the climate in the region with regard to the days of sunshine in a year, snow or rainfall pattern, and average temperatures. You can check your impressions by comparing them to regional data from sources like the websites of meteorology departments at local universities, public utility and power companies, US Weather Bureau and even Local Climatological Data.

Regardless of the amount of official information that you collect, take steps to assess local weather conditions too through other means. Your immediate neighborhood will almost definitely show variations compared to recording stations. Talk to senior citizens in your community who can expand your knowledge and perception of the local climatic conditions.

Sunlight and shadow

If you live in the northern hemisphere, an outdoor pool enjoying a southern exposure will prove to be warmer than if it is oriented north. A west-facing pool will be warmer compared to an east-facing one. In the final analysis, the warmest is the south facing pool.

However, in desert regions where daytime temperatures are very elevated during many months of the year, a pool with a north exposure cannot be categorized as cooler by any means. In certain coastal strips, south and west-oriented outdoor concrete pools can end up being cold due to exposure to chilly ocean winds and cold fog banks rolling in from the sea. In the event that you want to build a lap pool, have it oriented in a north-south direction to decrease the reflection of sunlight that can cause eye strain from glare.

The wind factor

Wind is nearly as important as the sun when considering a site for placement of a pool. Both too little wind on a hot day and too much breeze on a cooler day can be uncomfortable for outdoor pool users. Wind also speeds up evaporation and thus pulls heat from the water and also causes chemicals to evaporate, which increases your power and operating expenses.

Position the pool such that you use the winds to greatest benefit, and then try to gain some control of the wind with the addition of plants, trees, screens or fences. For instance, clumps of trees planted strategically at certain spots around the pool can dissipate and divert the wind, making other forms of screening superfluous.

Pools in almost every outdoor location serve their owners well during peak summers. However, with prudent placement and design, the swim season of outdoor concrete pools can be extended by many weeks – sometimes months. In some warmer locations, once a very good plan is implemented, you will not need to winterize your pool at all.

For more information on commercial swimming pools in Toronto or patio furniture in Toronto, contact a swimming pool specialist at Bonavista Pools.