How safe is your Arizona swimming pool? If that question gave you any kind of pause, you need to talk with your swimming pool service contractor from SwimRight Pool Service & Repair the next time they pay a service visit. If you’re a DIY when it comes to pool care and maintenance, give us a call and we can pay a visit and let you know about how to make your pool safer.
It is easy to be “blind” to potential safety hazards of your own pool simply because you see it every day. A fresh set of — trained eyes — will show you any potential hazards as well as offer you ways to address those deficiencies. Safety needs to be a priority and many municipalities mandate minimum safety regulations for pool owners.
One of the many layers of protection for a swimming pool are pool alarms. These can help keep everyone safe when you’re not in physical proximity to the pool. Alarms can also alert you to someone, or a dog, in the pool when you’re not home! With the myriad types of pool alarms on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the best one.
Consider the following from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, it tested three different pool alarms:
- Subsurface disturbance sensors; subsurface sensors attach to the side of the pool with a portion of it submerged
- Surface wave sensors; Surface wave sensors float on the surface of the water
- Wristband sensor is worn by the child and the alarm goes off if the wristband goes into the water.
How safe is your Arizona swimming pool?
The CPSC study tested different alarm devices in six different types of backyard pool shapes and depths. Its goal was to determine whether surface and subsurface wave sensors would alarm when a test object entered the pool. It also tested whether the wristband would alarm without fail when exposed to the pool water. It also tested for false alarms like rain, wind, a pool toy or debris dropping into the pool.
The results showed:
- Surface sensors didn’t operate with as much reliability as the subsurface sensors did.
- Subsurface sensors were more consistent in alarming when they were supposed to and less likely to trigger a false alarm.
- Wristband sensors reliably sounded an alarm each time it was submerged to pool water and other water sources – a hose or faucet. This could be a lot of “false” alarms
Here are a few things to think about when determining which kind of pool alarm is right for you:
- Ease of installation
- Tamper resistant/tamper proof
- Remote receiver range
- Low battery indicators
- Choose one recommended for the size, shape and depth of your pool
- Ability to detect an object a light as 10 pounds
- Choose one that has an alarm loud and distinct enough to not be mistaken for background noises and one that sounds within 20 seconds
Once you’ve made your decision and had your alarm installed by a qualified and experienced pool contractor, you will want to test it regularly to ensure it is working and will work when necessary.
