Average Swimming Pool Evaporation Levels In Arizona

Clearly owning a swimming pool in Arizona is a recipe for fun in the summer months. Most pool owners would agree that nothing feels more refreshing on a 100 degree day than diving into your backyard pool. However, it obviously feels awesome to cool off from the heat, that same heat can be causing your pool to lose water via evaporation at a scary rate. Pool evaporation drops are normal here in Arizona, but it's important to have perspective in how much and how fast the pool levels should drop from evaporating water.

How Much Pool Level Decrease Is Normal?

Here in Arizona, the average household swimming pool holds between 10-15,000 gallons of water. This does seem like a lot of water, but your pool can lose almost that much in a complete calendar year due to evaporation. Average that out, and your swimming pool can lose anywhere from 1/4th to 1 full inch of water each week in Arizona.

Our AZ climate is perfectly suited to maximize water evaporation also. It's constantly dry here which leads to more water evaporating off the surface of open water (aka pools). 

If you notice anything unusual and a larger amount of water disappearing from your pool, it might be time to have a pool leak detection diagnosis done. Major water loss is often the last sign that a significant issue is occurring inside the system.

Pool leaks can be caused from several key reasons and it's crucial you locate and fix them as soon as possible. If ignored, leaks can lead to costly damages both in your equipment and all around your property (think of your pool deck, landscaping, and even home foundation). 

If you're curious how much water your pool is losing, do a simple bucket test by filling up a bucket at the same level as a stair on your pool. Mark the water lines and see where they are one day later. Remember to turn off the auto-fill feature of your pool.

How Can You Slow Water Evaporation In Your Pool?

Water evaporation is inevitable here in Arizona, but there are a few key things you can do to reduce the amount of evaporation and same you some money.

Install Pool Covers (And Use Them)

The first option every homeowner should consider is pool covers. These are a great and easy way to control evaporation, but few people fully take advantage of them. And even more seem to buy them and never actually use them. 

Regardless of whether you buy a mechanically operated cover or a manual cover, just use it when the pool is not being used. Not only do pool covers help reduce water evaporation, they also help reduce debris getting in your pool which can clog filters and cause other issues. We always think that the less you need to call your pool maintenance company, the better. 

Get Windbreakers

This surprises many customers, but blowing wind can cause large water evaporation. Regardless of the wind speed, that breeze pushes more water out of liquid stage and into the vapor stage than anyone realizes. Windbreakers are an easy way to minimize that blowing wind across the surface of the pool. Think of pool fences, shrubs, landscaping, etc. as great options for cost effective windbreakers and you'll notice an improvement in your evaporation rate. 

Don't Overfill The Pool

When you splash and play, try to keep the water in the pool. The more water that can stay in the pool, the less you need the auto fill to work and put more water in the pool. Also, check the settings on the auto refill feature to make sure it's not overfilling the pool when you leave. Have your pool service company check the valves regularly to ensure proper operation.