Humidity control in indoor swimming pools / swimming pools
How to get the PERFECT BALANCE of water and air from building to dehumidification
Much information has been distributed over the years on indoor pools, on the “how” and “why” to properly control humidity in an indoor pool. Questions arise about what works and at what cost, from exhaust fans, outdoor air exchange for indoor air (residual ventilation), opening windows, plug-in basement dehumidifiers, 100% outdoor air systems, to dehumidification systems based on mechanical refrigeration. A billiard room is like a pot of boiling water on a stove … the warm humid air coming out of the pool as evaporation rises and stratifies in the ceiling and wall areas of the pool room . Left unchecked, this 100% moisture eventually destroys all construction materials and equipment, roofs collapse, mold, rot and fungus form.
Today’s heat recovery cooling-based dehumidification systems reduce this humidity to ASHRAE recommended guidelines of 50-60%, maintain temperatures, provide heating and cooling, and add a free “reheat” resource in the room and the pool while they are in operation. In many cases, dehumidification is an afterthought or after moisture problems become apparent. In some cases unsuitable equipment is installed for this type of structure and in a short time it becomes evident that it does not work to control the environment. The costs of preventing deterioration problems in pool rooms are preventable at the design stage and are much less than the costs of future repairs. What we see today is a lack of knowledge in enclosure construction, engineering, installation of dehumidification systems and the properly sized air supply system installed to reduce humidity and control the pool room environment 365 days a year. anus.
Many companies have written articles recommending the use of expensive and unnecessary building materials, which are not really “bulletproof” or waterproof against “mother nature’s heat pump.” An engineer specializing in indoor swimming pools and dehumidification once said that “if it’s a battle with water … water always wins.”
In the last 30 years we have experienced indoor / swimming pools, manufactured enclosures that self-destruct in less than 5 years, firstly due to not taking adequate preventive measures in the design and construction stages, and secondly, not installing adequate dehumidification. environmental control system. There are several areas to cover as you are introduced to understanding the requirements of your indoor pool, the building, and the required dehumidification system. Don’t leave all your research up to architects / engineers, builders, and HVAC companies to provide … most are not trained or educated in indoor pool buildings or dehumidification systems. They do the same research that you should do. We often hear … “They never told us about a vapor barrier” … “They never told us we needed a system” … “They told us we didn’t need a dehumidification system that we could use exhaust fans”, “We thought we could use a plug-in dehumidifier like the one in our basement” … all these myths can be easily dispelled with a little research. Budget for dehumidification: Get it now at a lower cost, or budget for higher costs to tear down, replace drywall, windows, and structural materials in less than 5 years. Often the cost of a properly designed dehumidification system is less expensive than renovating the structure.
Sizing a system is based on specific guidelines provided by ASHRAE (American Society of Heating and Cooling Engineers), ACCA, SMACNA, and other consortia in our industry. Under and oversize is common in this industry. This can also lead to increased running costs. Along with your design requirements, all aspects are taken into account to design the right-sized system. Construction Requirements: Standard construction materials can be used (vapor barriers, negative pressure, lighting, windows, and mechanical space should be discussed with your consultant for application). Certain products will keep better than others in a high humidity envelope. Most companies don’t have the knowledge to consult you on the construction side of the equation. You will want to look for companies that provide consulting along with your design and dehumidification system. HVAC: the dehumidification system.
Many companies will tell you to buy a commercial grade dehumidifier, the lowest cost unit, with the lowest installation cost, buy a smaller unit that uses less electrical voltage than standard, the lowest operating cost, and stay away from complex options. This is a bit misleading for several reasons: Dehumidification systems today are sized to accommodate all types of applications; there are residential projects with 5-50 tons and commercial projects with small 3 tons. Whether it’s a residential or commercial application, you want a dehumidifier that is built for your application, your evaporation rate, your airflow, and your design requirements. When companies want you to install a “smaller” unit because it is less expensive or a plug in style unit, your question should be to any manufacturer “Does your system meet or exceed all ASHRAE guidelines for indoor pools”?
Air delivery (ducts). This is the most critical aspect of any installation. Great arteries with heart problems. Without ducts, the heart (dehumidification) cannot function. Consider building a new house. As a homeowner, you would not install a furnace and outside air conditioning system and then do not attach it to the duct system working to move air flow at certain air renewal rates throughout the house. You also shouldn’t just run the ducts up to your family room and skip the rest of the house if you want the whole house to be comfortable. Energy efficiency, lowest cost of operation, lowest cost of equipment, are based on numerous factors, such as the size of your swimming pool, your utility rates, the use of a pool cover, not oversizing or buying a pool system. Smaller dehumidification than your project requires, refrigerant charge, equipment layout, your building, heat loss / heat gain, etc.
These are some of the variables that must be taken into account. It is difficult for any manufacturer to guarantee the lowest operating cost of any system when “how it is built” also affects operating costs. The most effective way to reduce operating costs is to use a pool cover when the pool is not in use and keep temperatures at recommended levels. Second, look at your design; Is it a standard construction with insulated walls and ceilings, or is it glass? The design of the building also leads to a reduction or increase in utility costs.
Environmental Pool Systems, Inc. is an expert in indoor pool humidity control. Our company provides consultancy to the swim industry and has been building dehumidification systems since 1985. Feel free to browse http://www.dry-air.com, for additional construction information, call Chris Leonetti at 800 -514-7051 or email [email protected] for specific questions. We are here to make sure you have a billiard room that provides a healthy, stable, warm and dry environment for years to come!
