With the rising focus on sustainable and cost-efficient energy solutions, solar pool panels have emerged as a game-changer for pool owners worldwide. But these ingenious devices not only allow us to heat our pools efficiently during the day, but some of them have introduced a technique to cool down the pool during hotter summer days that we call "Nocturnal Cooling".
Did you know that your solar pool panels can also be used to help cool down your swimming pool during the hot summer months? In some areas, nocturnal cooling is critical to create the ideal, enjoyable outdoor experience. Yet, with the sun blazing down all day, it can be hard to actually have a cool, refreshing swim. Consider how you can use a solar pool heater to adjust pool temperature and extend your summer swimming season to enjoy a nice refreshing swim when the outside temperatures are at their hottest.
What Is Nocturnal Pool Cooling?
Nocturnal pool cooling is simply running your solar pool heating system in the evening and allowing the cooler air at night to pass over the panels, pulling heat away from the system and sending cool, refreshing water back to your pool. It’s as easy at running your system at night, nothing extra is required! Automation controllers (like the Pentair SolarTouch®, has built in nocturnal cooling functionality, allowing you to automate your system for this added benefit)!
This is a valuable investment for many people, especially in areas where the temperature remains consistently high, such as Florida or Texas. The benefit of using this technique is that it allows you to cool the water rather effectively, but it also does so at a fraction of the cost associated with other types of cooling methods. The only thing you pay for here is the cost to run your pump. It helps create a more enjoyable experience for you without a lot of time or money spent on the process.
How can a Solar Pool panel cool down my pool?
Solar pool panels work by using the sun's energy to heat circulating water during the day. However, when night falls and the ambient temperature decreases, the panels can keep circulating water to release the accumulated heat from the pool water into the cooler night air, reducing its temperature and providing a refreshing swimming experience the following day. This straightforward and eco-friendly approach minimizes the need for conventional cooling systems and promotes energy efficiency.
How Does Nocturnal Pool Cooling Work?
By running a solar panel heater (yes, really a heater) during the night hours, when the sun is not present, you can actually pull out some of the excessive heat that is in the water. This works by exposing the pool water to colder air temperatures as it moves across the solar panels. This creates heat loss.
A key reason this works is that the solar panels will absorb the heat from the water at night as it flows over them. As the water flows, there’s heat exchange. Done over a period of time, nocturnal cooling helps reduce all of the heat that’s trapped in the water, allowing for a much cooler swimming pool water temperature.
The Importance of Nocturnal Pool Cooling
If you live in an area where temperatures are very hot during the day, that’s likely to create an intense, sauna-like experience for you. When you dip your feet into the water, it feels like a hot, sticky bath instead of a refreshingly cool experience. With a nocturnal pool solar panel heating system, you reduce this.
Nocturnal pool cooling is not just a good idea for creating an enjoyable experience, but it also helps with improving pool maintenance and performance. If your pool temperature reaches over 90 degrees, scale formation becomes a significant problem. Most of the time, heated pools – or those in areas where the temperature is significantly high most of the time – typically need more routine maintenance and upkeep because of these risks.
Benefits of Nocturnal Pool Cooling
A cool pool sounds good right now, right? While that is one of the best benefits of using nocturnal cooling for your swimming pool, you also have to consider the other benefits of using it.
Using a nocturnal pool cooling system will help you reduce energy costs by not requiring that your pool work as hard during the daytime. It also helps to reduce water evaporation, which is a common concern when water temperatures are high on a consistent basis. As noted, the use of this method also helps reduce overall pool maintenance, saving you time and money. Overall, using your solar panels at night to help create cooler water ends up saving you money and prolonging the life of your pool.
Nocturnal Pool Cooling FAQs
Does running your pool at night cool the water?
If you run the water filter of your pool at night, it will help to bring down the temperature. However, this system is not always enough – using a solar panel system to do this will create a longer, more effective result.
How much will a pool cool down at night?
This really depends on the current conditions and local weather events. If the air temperature in the area is significantly lower at night, that’s going to help reduce the pool’s temperature faster than if the temperature is higher.
What is the fastest way to cool down a pool?
On a consistent basis, the best way to cool down a pool is to use nocturnal cooling or running the pump at night.
Implementing Nocturnal Pool Cooling
To implement this amazing benefit, all you need to do is run your solar pool heater at night when you’d like to cool down the temperature in your pool! If you have your pump on a timer, simply set the timer to filter the pool at night instead of during the day. If you’d like to take the benefits a step further and automate the entire process, a number of pool controllers are available with this functionality preprogrammed that allow you to put the process on auto pilot. Most often, this simply means the inclusion of a couple sensors, one to detect the temperature of your pool water, and another to detect the temperature of the outside air at your solar panels. When you turn on the pump (or have it set on a timer), the sensors will tell the controller when to turn on or off. It is best to work with a pool supplier to determine the best type of product for your needs. Typically, you’ll want to look for a solar controller from the same manufacturer as your pump, and has nocturnal cooling preprogrammed. Pentair® has a few options available; the SolarTouch®, EasyTouch®, IntelliTouch®, and IntelliCenter®
Comparing Nocturnal Pool Cooling to Other Pool Cooling Methods
There are other ways to cool down a pool. For example, a common method is to install a shade over the pool. If you live in an area where the temperature is very high often, this is a viable option for lowering the pool water temperature by about 10 degrees. However, that’s not going to work when temperatures still get high enough since it’s the air temperature that can impact water temperatures.
Other options exist as well, including chilling devices and misting systems. Though they provide a range of benefits when used and can be helpful during the day, most often, these systems are expensive to run (as they use a lot of power in most cases), and they can be difficult to maintain over the long term. Misting systems, for example, don’t do much to cool the water itself and need to constantly be running to create a more enjoyable space. Chilling devices must be designed for the size pool you have, and you’ll need to use them consistently to get results.
Factors Affecting the Effectiveness of Nocturnal Pool Cooling
Like with any project you may have, the use of nocturnal pool cooling solutions has to be made based on the circumstances present at your location. Generally, nocturnal pool cooling will be necessary in hot climates, but how well it works depends on factors such as humidity. The higher the humidity is, the longer it takes for heat to cool and water to evaporate.
Also note that wind speed can also play a role in this function as if the wind is blowing hard, that will move more air across the panels and help pull more heat from the system, cooling your water faster. If the air is stagnant and warm, it may be more difficult for the system to lose heat.
While these can seem like challenges in some areas, the good news is that you can have your pool system adjusted so that you're able to best optimize to the conditions commonly present in your area.
Which solar pool panels are best for Nocturnal Cooling?
Solar pool panels are a remarkable innovation that extends beyond merely heating pools, but some stand out if you are looking to also cool down your pool like Solar Pool Supply’s SwimJoy.
The SwimJoy solar panels are a great choice for their ease of installation and efficiency, but there is more to their ingenious design. By being composed of multiple individual tubes, the SwimJoy allows the air at night to pass through them, cooling your pool down.
The "Nocturnal Cooling" technique showcases the versatility of our solar pool panels and how they can provide a sustainable and efficient solution to regulate pool temperatures day and night.
Experience the Ultimate Pool Comfort with Nocturnal Pool Cooling
To improve your ability to use your swimming pool consistently, even when the temperature gets very high, consider investing in a solar pool heater system. You’ll gain the benefit of a longer swim season in spring & fall, while a more enjoyable, refreshing swim in summer! This is also a great option for those seeking an eco-friendly solution with a long-term, cost-saving method that allows for minimal maintenance and upkeep. Now you can enjoy your pool more during the hottest times of year, in addition to the cooler times of year!
