subject: How To Deal With Indoor Pool Humidity [print this page] Pool water evaporation is inevitable with an indoor pool (or spa) because of the combination of water and air temperatures. The effects of pool water evaporation are magnified because buildings are being constructed with more energy efficiency and are less likely to leak air, thus preventing air loaded with water vapor to escape.
When this happens, it causes multiple problems. Excess moisture means you will have more blistering of paint, rust, deterioration of structural supports, and equipment. Also it is an idela environment for unhealthy and unsightly mold to grow. Repair or replacement of damaged items can be quite expensive, as well as time and labor consuming.
If you do not deal with the humidity problem, users and staff of indoor pools must endure an unpleasant
environment. They are affected by the physical discomfort of high humidity. The mold, mildew,
bacteria and fungi that often grow in these moist conditions may affect their health.
A proven simple solution is to maintain acceptable indoor humidity levels by
removing excess moisture. This can be done easily with a high quality commercial dehumidifier.
Conventional indoor pool room systems often waste huge amounts of energy by exhausting large volumes of previously heated or cooled air to the outdoors.
There are points to consider in getting the proper commercial dehumidifier. It must be properly sized (talk to a representative for assistance with that). Purchase one with a small but efficient refrigeration unit will mean decreased operating costs.
Buying a unit that uses 110 volt electricity means there is no additional cost for new wiring to handle a 220 volt dehumidifier. The simplest to use are ones that just plug into any normal grounded outlet.
Do not attempt to use an ordinary home dehumidifier for an indoor pool or spa enclosure. You will very likely burn out the motor and use a huge amount of electricity. Plus it will most likely not keep up with the demand, so that solution is not recommended.
Let me give you a bit of information on how commercial dehumidifiers work: they usually use refrigeration to cool the incoming air flow below its dew point as it passes through the dehumidification (evaporator) coil. This cooling results in the removal of moisture and reduction in temperature. The cooled and dried air is used to pre-cool the incoming air flow resulting in a significant increase in overall efficiency. After the pre-cooling stage the processed air is reheated by passing through the condenser coil. The latent heat removed by the evaporator coil is returned to the air stream at this stage as sensible heat, resulting in an overall temperature increase from the incoming air.
If you purchase a unit that contain a blower switch that permits continuous blower operation independent of dehumidification, it is an added benefit.
A wise idea is to consult with a reputable dealer and knowledgeable person explaining your needs and situation. He/ she should be able to assist you in selecting exactly what is needed.
