Redneck Evaporative Pool Cooler

[Gladius Nova]

My water was about 75 degrees yesterday while the temp was 95 outside. We had run Skippy's pool cooling fountain overnight while the air temp was 70 degrees. Made the pool feel almost chilly next day!

Night time run is THE time to run for best cooling. Daytime (for us) helps some, but more for pleasure of the sound and visual in day time.

Maddie

So you want your pool water colder than 75 degrees?!

 

[red-beard]

So the "secret" is to pull the water before the filter, where it has some higher head. Interesting. I might have to try something like this.

 

[revitup]

So you want your pool water colder than 75 degrees?!

Would make me ashamed to admit the temp we keep our pool at.

 

[red-beard]

No. no. This could work. I have some old flower pots that look nicer than a 5 gallon bucket. Maybe a little paint on the PVC. I guess the only issue would be to run it during a time of low wind.

What size holes did you make in the PVC? I expect you want a stream, not a spray. I tried something like this with floating ring sprinklers and a submersible pump. I like the innovation of the pool pump.

One of my buddies has some similar devices coming out of his returns. It won't work on my pool since 6 out of 11 returns are in my hot-tub, which is at the same level as the pool. And you have to install the little flags on all of the returns! Upstream of the filter, with enough flow, should produce some reasonable head.

 

[johnw]

I drilled 1/16” holes.

 

[Gladius Nova]

Would make me ashamed to admit the temp we keep our pool at.

Uggh....85-87 degrees is our sweet spot.

 

[jark87]

I guess the only issue would be to run it during a time of low wind.

Spot on. While I never used anything that tall, my primary issue was the spray blowing onto the coping and nearby plants. Caused some very minor pitting in the coping, but was killing the plants. I had two misters that were about 3’ tall attached to returns on opposite sides and ends of the pool. I achieved some drops in temp, but nothing like what others in this thread are getting. At best, I got maybe 5 degrees overnight and I’d lose that as the day heated up.

 

[jark87]

My water was about 75 degrees yesterday while the temp was 95 outside. We had run Skippy's pool cooling fountain overnight while the air temp was 70 degrees.

75 is perfect! Unfortunately, our overnight low air temp is upper 70s to low 80s during summer. Now that the humidity has dried up, pool is staying just below 80 with the Glacier. Not perfect, but darn close!

 

[AndyTN]

I have my pvc pipe with drilled holes just hooked up to one of my returns. I just bought the same thread size as the eyeballs and got some elbows to get the configuration I wanted. Works well to reduce water temp and has a nice tranquil sound. Whenever we swim, I rotate it down to spray under the water but my son always complains because he likes to play in the fountain.

 

[TheDeuce]

How do you hook up a hose / pipe to the return? Is there some kind of pre-threaded adapter used for jobs like these?


m.

 

[AndyTN]

How do you hook up a hose / pipe to the return? Is there some kind of pre-threaded adapter used for jobs like these?

You can just take your threaded eyeball to the hardware store to find a pvc connector to match. I think 1.5 inches is pretty standard and you buy the corresponding pvc pipe and elbows to match. Although, I doubt someone in Manitoba would want to cool off their pool water...

 

[CircaSurvivalist]

I’m more curious about that Dynatrap setup haha mosquitos are a beast where I am...do you have success using this trap??

 

[TheDeuce]

You can just take your threaded eyeball to the hardware store to find a pvc connector to match. I think 1.5 inches is pretty standard and you buy the corresponding pvc pipe and elbows to match. Although, I doubt someone in Manitoba would want to cool off their pool water...

LOL - you're quite correct. I'm paying through the {insert orifice here} to keep our pool at 85 degrees but I think the kiddies would love having the sprinkler in the pool to jump through.

I'm so envying you guys in the south. I love my snowmobiling and pond hockey but I'd be ok trading that for the eternal summers you get.


m.

 

[red-beard]

Uggh....85-87 degrees is our sweet spot.

Yep! 88 is perfect. No shock getting in but still cool and refreshing! 92, not so much.

 

[TheDeuce]

Yep! 88 is perfect. No shock getting in but still cool and refreshing! 92, not so much.

Found that out the hard way when our heat pump cut out. I turned it off and on, no dice. Then I changed the temperature to 92 degrees. And left it there.

Two days later it was like getting into a bath. Our hot tub was only 5-6 degrees warmer. And we had a nasty algae bloom follow that completely undid my SLAM that preceded said temperature hike.


m.

 

[red-beard]

Found that out the hard way when our heat pump cut out. I turned it off and on, no dice. Then I changed the temperature to 92 degrees. And left it there.

Two days later it was like getting into a bath. Our hot tub was only 5-6 degrees warmer. And we had a nasty algae bloom follow that completely undid my SLAM that preceded said temperature hike.


m.

Someone was playing with our remote years back. Next morning I saw steam rising off the pool. 98 Degrees!!!

 

[TheDeuce]

 

[Andrew_D]

I agree with The Deuce.
75ºF water?????
My kids would love that!!!!

We are typically between 70-75ºF, although 80ºF on a stretch of hot days isn't unheard of.

I might do a small fountain just to keep the kids entertained when they are in the pool, but cooling sure isn't high on my priority list either!

Andrew

 

[johnw]

I’m more curious about that Dynatrap setup haha mosquitos are a beast where I am...do you have success using this trap??

It seems to help.

 

[red-beard]

I'm so envying you guys in the south. I love my snowmobiling and pond hockey but I'd be ok trading that for the eternal summers you get.

Come down here when it is 40, with a dewpoint around 27...

My pool is down to 31 from a high of 33.5.

And realistically, it is not an eternal summer here. Pool opens in April and closes in early November, unless I heat it. 21 is my limit these days and I really don't swim much below 27. When I lifeguarded in Upstate New York, pools were open from June 1 to maybe September 15th. And the water was rarely more than 15. Maybe 17-18. Maybe...

I think you'll find Miami or San Juan, PR and Hawaii are truly the only year round pools, without heating.