Night swimming often seems more relaxing and magical than splashing around in the sun.
Before you just dive right in, it’s a good idea to prep your pool a little to make the experience more enjoyable.
Not only will you have more fun, but it’ll be safer. The good news is you don’t have to do much more to make your pool nighttime friendly.
Install Ample Lighting
The single most important thing to do to prep your pool for night swimming is install ample lighting. There are a variety of ways to do this, such as:
- Tall lights around the pool deck to light the entire area
- Lights inside the pool to see clearly in the water
- Deck lights around railings, paths and the edges of the pool
- Lights in and around your pool landscaping
LED lights work best as they’re more energy efficient and last longer, meaning far less time replacing lights. For most pool owners, it’s easier to have a professional install the lighting, especially inside your pool.
There are also a wide variety of solar lights, including ones that float on the water, which are great for parties and ambiance. If you’re looking for a way to install lights on your own and make replacing them easier, solar is a great option.
Use A Pool Heater
Even in Hawaii, temperatures dip as much as 20 degrees cooler than what many people would prefer for their water. This is especially true for seniors and kids.
So, consider installing a pool heater. You don’t have to run it all the time. However, running late in the evening to prepare for night swimming works well. This keeps your water a comfortable temperature. Plus, you get to control just how warm it is.
If you’re looking for a relaxing swim after a long, hard day, warmer water is the perfect way to make your swim better. Ideally, the temperature should be around 80 degrees or above. You can even install a temperature gauge to easily check the temp at any time.
Repel Insects
While insects are a problem during the day, you have to have lights on for night swimming. This means more annoying insects like mosquitoes trying to bite you. Of course, it’s not just biting that’s the problem. If you have lights in your pool, you might end up with a pool full of insects to clean out.
Citronella torches or lemon grass oil burners and candles work well for repelling insects. For torches, add decorative, weighted pots near the corners of your pool. This makes the area look nicer, while keeping bugs away.
You can also plant citronella and lemon grass within your landscaping as a natural repellent. It’s not quite as strong as torches, candles and oil burners, but it’s a good alternative if you have small kids that might accidentally run into something and get burned.
As a word of caution, insect repellent sprays and lotions don’t always work so well in pools. They wash off easily. Even the waterproof versions can leave residue in your pool.
Install A Security Camera
This one might sound odd, but a security camera is a great safety precaution for night swimming. For instance, if you have older kids swimming, but you don’t want to, you can keep a check on them with your camera.
Plus, you’ll get notifications if anyone tries to get in the pool without your permission. Sadly, some people see a well-lit pool as an opportunity to sneak in a swim. Kids may also be attracted, which is why a fence is so important.
If you live alone, give a friend temporary access and have them check on while swimming. You could easily slip and knock yourself out. Since it’s dark, no one may notice you until the next morning. Having a friend check in every half hour could save your life.
Whether you’re swimming during the night or day, a clean pool is always important. Contact us to help keep your pool looking its best so you can spend more time swimming and less time cleaning.
Image: Humphrey Muleba