Dry swimming pools!

Effective climate control in indoor pools reduces risk of structural damage
Michell’s WM33 and WM261 relative humidity sensors are used to keep thousands of swimming pools around Europe dry.

While the hot weather in the summer sends many of us want to cool off in the water at the local pool, the high levels of humidity caused by the water vapour and heat in indoor swimming pools create a nightmare for the facilities managers. Without effective dehumidification and ventilation systems to keep the air dry, indoor pools face attack from a host of humidity-related problems such as mould and corrosion – not to mention complaints from visitors that it is uncomfortable.

Failure to keep control over levels of humidity of may eventually cause structural damage as the warm air carries the moisture into the walls and ceiling. When combined with chlorine from the pool chemicals, the humid air becomes highly corrosive, attacking both metal and concrete.

Controlling the humidity levels of the air in a pool room is easier said than done, when the surface of the pool itself acts as a giant humidifier each time the dew point of the air falls below the temperature of the water. Without effective dehumidification systems, the air ‘sucks’ vapour from the surface of the pool to create just the humid atmosphere you want to avoid.

The WM33 and WM261 from Michell Instruments work as an integral part of a dehumidification system to help ensure that the surface temperature of the water remains lower than the air temperature, and the relative humidity is kept at a constant 50 to 60%. Both instruments are work effectively with long-term exposure to the aggressive atmosphere created by the pool chemicals. They are also cost-effective, easy to re-calibrate and maintain for long-term accuracy and reliability.