Do you love swimming, but hate the idea of going to the local rec centre or gym? Are you one of those people who would install a swimming pool in their backyard if it wasn’t for the fact that we experience winter for a good six months of the year? Well, there might be a solution. Do you want to learn how to use a pool year-round? The answer may be easier than you think. Have you ever considered the idea of a swim spa? If not, hear us out.
What is a Swim Spa?
When you look at the entire range of backyard recreational water tanks, they start at full-sized swimming pools and get smaller in size through lap pools, swim spas and finally hot tubs. Swimming pools are great for properties that have a lot of space. The pool itself can fit a large number of people and can be used for a wide variety of activities.
However, because of its size, it's limited to the warmer months of the year. Below a certain temperature it becomes much too expensive to keep warm enough to be comfortable for swimming. Lap pools take up much less space than swimming pools but are still too large to continue running throughout the winter without blowing your energy bill through the roof. Hot tubs are small enough and the water is hot enough that they can be used all year round without too many economic consequences. But you'd be hard pressed to find yourself swimming laps in a hot tub. This is where swim spas come in. They’re small enough to run throughout the winter without causing undue financial hardship and they still allow you to stretch out and swim.
How can you swim in such a small space?
The key to the ability of a swim spa to allow you to practice your stroke in a small space is the generation of an incredibly strong current. This can be done by a paddlewheel, propellers or powerful water jets depending on the make and model. Because the current is so strong, the swimmer is held in place and never moves forward. This means you don't reach the end of the pool only to have to turn around and swim back to the other side. This is how the swim spa can have such a small tank while still allowing the motions associated with swimming.
What about using a Swim Spa in the winter?
If you're planning to use your pool year-round, you'll need to ensure its properly insulated for winter use. The extra insulation may cost you more up front, but it will allow you to run the swim spa in the colder weather without losing an undue amount of heat or causing your energy bills to become so large that it isn't worth your while.
The advantages of a good cover
Having a properly fitted and well insulated pool cover is another necessity if you're going to run your swim spa throughout the winter. It will work in conjunction with the rest of the tank's insulation to keep the heat in the water when the pool isn't being used. It will also keep snow and other debris out of the swim spa which will help keep the water warm and clean.
Running your heater
If you're using your swim spa in the winter, you'll want to keep the heater running even if the pool isn't being used. Allowing the water to freeze can cause significant damage to the plumbing, tank and other swim spa components. If you won't be using your swim spa for a length of time, consider shutting it down completely or just turning the heater down to a point where the water will not freeze.
