HVAC Dehumidification Indoor Pools

Moisture control in swimming pools/indoor pools

Getting the PERFECT BALANCE of water and air from construction to dehumidification

Much information has been circulated over the years about indoor pools, about “how” and “why” to properly control humidity in an indoor pool. Questions arise about what works and at what cost, from exhaust fans, exchanging outside air for inside air (waste venting), opening windows, plug-in basement-style dehumidifiers, 100% outside-air systems, to air-based dehumidification systems. in mechanical refrigeration. A pool room is like a pot of water boiling on a stove…warm, moist air leaving the pool as evaporation rises and stratifies the ceiling and wall areas of the pool room. If left unchecked, this 100% humidity eventually destroys all building materials and equipment, roofs collapse, mold, rot and mildew form.

Today’s heat recovery refrigeration-based dehumidification systems reduce this humidity to ASHRAE’s recommended guidelines of 50-60%, maintain temperatures, provide heating and cooling, and add free “reheat” resources to 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, equipment that is not appropriate for this type of structure is installed and in a short time it is evident that it does not work to control the environment. The costs of preventing pool room deterioration problems can be avoided at the design stage and are much less than the costs of future repairs. What we see today is a lack of knowledge in building envelopes, engineering, installation of dehumidification systems, and the properly sized supply air system installed to reduce humidity and control the pool room environment. the 365 days of the year.

Many companies have written articles recommending using 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 “if it’s a battle with water… water always wins”.

In the last 30 years we have experienced indoor swimming pools/natatoriums, manufactured enclosures that self-destruct in less than 5 years, due firstly to failure to take adequate preventative measures at the design and construction stages, and secondly to failure to install proper dehumidification. environmental control system. There are several areas to cover as you learn to understand the requirements of your indoor pool, building, and required dehumidification system. Don’t leave all the research to architects/engineers, builders and HVAC firms… most are not trained or educated on 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 we could use exhaust fans”, “We thought that we could use a plug-in dehumidifier like the one in our basement”…all of these myths can be easily dispelled with a little research. Budget for dehumidification: Do it now at a lower cost, or budget higher costs to demolish, replace drywall, windows and structural materials in less than 5 years. Many times 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 Refrigeration Engineers), ACCA, SMACNA, and other consortia in our industry. Under sizing and over sizing is common in this industry. This can also cause increased operating costs. Along with your design requirements, all aspects are considered to design the right size system. Construction Requirements: Standard construction materials may be used (Vapor barriers, negative pressure, lighting, windows, and mechanical space should be discussed with your consultant for application). Certain products will hold up better than others in a high humidity envelope. Most companies don’t have the knowledge to consult with you on the construction side of the equation. You’ll want to look for companies that provide consulting along with your dehumidification design and system. HVAC – the dehumidification system.

Many companies will tell you to buy a commercial grade dehumidifier, the lowest cost unit, with the lowest installed cost, buy a smaller unit that uses less electrical voltage than standard, the lowest operating cost, and maintain away from the complex options. This is a bit misleading for several reasons: dehumidification systems today are sized to fit all kinds of applications; There are residential projects with 5-50 Tons and small commercial projects with 3 tons. Whether it’s a residential or commercial application, you want a dehumidifier that’s designed for your application, its evaporation rate, airflow and design requirements. When companies want you to install a “smaller” unit because it’s less expensive or it’s a plugin style unit, your question should be to any manufacturer “does your system meet or exceed all ASHRAE guidelines for indoor pools”?

Air delivery (duct work). This is the most critical aspect of any installation. Large arteries bad for the heart. Without conduits, the heart (dehumidification) cannot function. Think about building a new house. As a homeowner, you wouldn’t install a furnace and outside air conditioning system and then do not connect it to the conduit system work to move airflow at certain rates of air turnover throughout the house. I also wouldn’t install ductwork in the living room and skip the rest of the house if you want the whole house to be comfortable. Energy efficiency, lowest operating cost, lowest equipment cost, are based on numerous factors such as the size of your natatorium, your utility rates, use of a pool cover, not oversizing or purchasing a pool system. dehumidification smaller than your project requires, refrigerant charge, equipment design, your building, heat loss/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 to maintain temperatures at recommended levels. Second, look at your design; Is it standard construction with insulated walls and ceilings, or is it glass? Building design also leads to a reduction or increase in utility costs.

Environmental Pool Systems, Inc. is an expert in indoor pool moisture control. Our company provides consulting to the natatorium 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 chris @ dry-air.com for specific questions! We are here to ensure that you will have a pool room that provides a healthy, stable, warm and dry environment for years to come!

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