A Cheap Pool Cooler

If it is a bit small you could wrap duct tape around it to get it to fit a bit better too.


I love duct tape.:cool:

"This is a great idea, but my inground pool is old and has no eyeball fitting. The returns appear to be simple non-threaded openings in the side of the pool. Can I remove the existing non-threaded pipe that seems to be in the returns, or do I need to do something to get a threaded pipe in place? Any ideas would be helpful."
Years ago and still done today, a slip fitting was used. This was not threaded, but rather, just a compression fit into the 1.5" pipe. You may not be able to do this aeration cooler with those types of returns...

I got inspired by your post as well. Any ideas if it's possible to get something to attach to a copper return?

Edit -- I found I can wedge 1/2" PVC in one of my returns. It's kinda odd--it enters the pool at a 45 in the middle of the pool. Gotta go get some more 1/2" PVC and some elbows and T's and have some fun!

http://www.reedsconstructionspecialt.../wwpoolfit.htm has the inside the pipe eyeball fittings. They are a tight friction fit in the pipe I take mine out at the end of the season to winterize.

Dave (or anyone :) ), I want to give this a try.

Potential problem is, my pool only has one return, so I would need to aerate my entire flow. What would you suggest for this approach so I don't constrict my pump?

I was thinking of calculating how many 1/8" holes would fit into a 1 1/2" pipe, taking a straight seciton of pvc about 8' out of the return (half the width of my pool), then a 90* elbow turning it towards the deep end (32' length), a 2' section of pvc with a capped bushing taking it to 3" (if possible) and drilling the required number of small holes into the cap, in effect making a big shower head. This I would angle up to the sky to get the best affect, and only operate it at night when it's not windy :)

What do you think?

Don't worry too much about restricting the flow a little. Your filter pressure will rise and your gpm will drop some (you'll also use a little less electricity) but what you get in return is "hang time". You need to get the water up as high as possible so the evaporative process will have the most effect. (mine goes up about 20-25 feet). I have 4 1/4" holes and am probably running about 65-70% of my water thru the evaporator. The shower head idea will work probably as well....what you'll trade off in vertical height you may well make up for in droplet size.

I'm not sure you get the most "bang for your buck" running at night. The relative humidity is VERY much higher at night so less evaporation is possible. I run mine daytime only. Yesterday was about 93 degrees and the pool got up to around 83. Today and tomorrow will be 100......I'll be happy if I can stay below 86.

You may do somewhat better in Illinois and the folks in the desert could probably cool down into the 70's if they chose.

Dave,

I ordered 2 of the coolers from the other thread on water temps and I received them a few days ago. I had to go buy a "key" yesterday. My question is if I have these on my returns, won't this greatly reduce the effectiveness of my skimmer? The water won't be circulating around the pool, instead it will be going in the air. My skimmer doesn't work too well to begin with, so I guess I will be skimming my pool a lot more often. Do you leave yours in all the time, or remove and replace as needed? TIA.

VOL,

Your thinking is exactly what I have observed also. My circulation and subsequent effectiveness of the skimmers, is reduced by redirecting the return flow up into the spray.

My "device" unscrews pretty easy, so I take the sprayer off around 6:00pm and circulate the water normally for a couple of hours. The cooler ends up not quite being "free" to operate because I run my pump a little longer. For me, it's a small price.......water has yet to exceed 84 degrees.

Thanks. Hopefully I'll get a chance to play with this soon.

I had assumed the cooler night temps would offset the higher humidity.

FYI--- I ordered a fairly inexpensive pool fountain from Target.com that fits into the 1 1/2" pvc return of my inground vinyl pool. It has no hose and doesn't interfere with my Kreepy. :) It works great and for those of you who are not handy men- go to Target.com and check it out.