What are pool alarms?
Keeping a swimming pool requires the duty of assuring safety around the swimming pool.
Pool alarms are excellent means to accomplish this task. Pool alarms are devices that alert whenever there is an intrusion of pool water.
A pool alarm is a detector that identifies an uninvited entrance into the swimming pool.
Effective pool alarms are a must to ensure the safety of children and pets. Besides this, the pool alarms bolster protection from intruders as well.
A pool alarm is a worthwhile investment when you own a swimming pool. With a pool alarm guarding your swimming pool perimeter, the risk of accidents almost vanishes.
The device senses sudden movement around your swimming pool area. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, with built in sensors, pool alarms offer a warning, and in turn, provide an extra layer of safety then say just a fence, which of course, can be jumped.
However, there is not just one type of pool alarm to keep an eye over the swimming pool perimeter.
There are four main categories of alarms to assist in watching over swimmers. These are categorized according to their placement and the purpose they serve.
Types of pool alarms:
Depending on your needs, the types of pool alarms can ensure more safety.
Pool door / gate alarm:
Also known as entry point alarms, standard pool alarms have a mounting device that is fixed onto the entry door or gate leading to the swimming pool.
This pool alarm acts in a similar way to home door alarms. These use infrared beams to sense activity.
The pool door alarms work by blowing a powerful/loud warning for owners to hear. Some even will even send you a text to warn that there has been an intrusion.
These are affordable. However, door pool alarms can be rendered when someone enters by jumping the fence. Something to keep in mind.
Pool surface action alarm:
Pool surface action alarms work using a detector joined with a remote receiver. These sense wave action on the water’s surface. Then, the sensor transmits a sign to sound an alert.
The alarm lies on the pool deck. It spreads to rest on the surface of the water or right under the surface of the pool water.
The alarm rings when something interrupts the pool water. They rarely give a false alarm. The object intruding the water has to be of a certain weight to make the alarm ring.
Lifebuoy pool alarm:
Lifebuoy pool alarms have an underwater motion sensor that works inside the swimming pool.
The device is usually a 90-degree shape that remains on the edge of the swimming pool.
It comes with one downward arm immersed in the water. The submerged pool sensor records water displacement.
Comparatively, it has lesser false alarms than a floating swimming pool alarm. They rarely scare you for no reason. In addition, they need removal before you plan a swimming day.
Wearable pool alarm:
The personal immersion sensor is useful when it comes to watching over your beloved kids or pets.
Wearable pool alarms come in the form of a wristband for a kid, as well as for pets, the first component is a collar.
The base control unit makes the other part. The sensor of this kind is only capable of alerting when the kid is wearing the wristband sensor.
It has no bearing for other intrusions into the pool. They are a suitable secondary security system. However, it is not sufficient as a primary detection and safety system.
Pool alarms aid in preventing tragedies and unwanted intrusion in your home swimming pool. While they may seem like over-reactive alarms that are annoying, but in the end, it is best to go for the pool alarm that alerts you when a young child that doesn’t know how to swim gets a little carried away.
How do pool alarms work?
Pool alarms operate in varied ways to inform the pool owner of an unexpected intrusion in the swimming pool.
There are four common types of alarms. The sensor makes a loud noise when it detects movement. The wearable alarms operate using two components.
In addition, the sub-surface detection alarm works by utilizing a detector connected with a remote transceiver. For the underwater pool alarm, it uses a sonar grid to sense activity. The entry point alarms use infrared beams.
When you own a swimming pool in your home, it comes with added responsibility. Also, the potential for accidents is even higher when you have kids and pets.
A pool alarm is an easy yet effective way to keep a check over unanticipated entry into the pool. They serve as great safety pieces of equipment.
There are door or gate pool alarms used at entry. Then the others require placing them over the pool where they watch over for surface breaches.
The other category are submerged pool alarms. Then there are the wearable ones. They react when they get into contact with water.
I have researched the functioning of the pool alarms. Here is an in-depth idea about the whole process.
The workings of pool alarm
Pool alarms sense action in the water. The device comes into function because of a change in water movement.
This, in turn, rings the alarm. There are several varieties of pool safety alarms. However, the result remains the same.
All these devices make a loud noise when they sense a change. The first three pool alarms involve direct contact with water.
The personal immersion sensor:
These are wearable devices. The alarm has a base station. The other part that is wearable is a bracelet/wristband or a collar.
The wearable part consists of a detector. Within the wearable component, there is a sensor.
The detector communicates a signal to the base unit. The base unit receives a signal when the kid gets inside the water.
The control unit secures into a wall with the help of a USB cord. It comes with a wall adapter.
Lifebuoy pool alarm:
These alarms utilize a sonar grid under the water’s surface. The grid monitors fluctuations in water pressure.
After detecting movement, the equipment sends a signal to ring the alarm. They use sonar technology and are less prone to false alarms.
They also allow us to adjust the sensitivity. One can permanently install these. The underwater alarms re-arm themselves automatically after the pool water calms down.
Surface pool alarms:
These pool alarms work utilizing a sensor and a remote receiver. These sense wave movements on the surface of the water. Then, the signal is sent to the sensor to ring the alarm.
The installation is along the poolside. One end is inside the water, and the other end remains floating.
These come in a different form where the alarms keep floating on the surface like buoys. The sensors detect the surface activity.
The door pool alarm:
Pool door alarms alert before there is actual contact with water. The entry-point pool alarms are suitable for homes with pools that have a door leading to swimming pools.
The first ones alert using a loud sound when the magnetic connection breaks. The connection breaks when someone enters through the entry point.
Some of the entry point alarms operate using infrared beams to identify some action. They are great options for any entry point to the pool. It includes a backyard door, garage door, or windows.
Pool alarms help you be at ease when you own a swimming pool. The pool door alarms or immersible pool alarms work in different ways yet serve the same purpose.
Are pool alarms required?
With the benefit of minimizing the danger of a tragedy, pool alarms are useful devices. They are essential safety equipment that provides a layer of protection, but they do not reduce the responsibility on you the pool owner / parent to be always vigilent when young children are around pools.
Pool alarms watch over and avert any chances of unexpected drowning in your pool. They are equally useful to check for intrusion of unauthorized people.
The pool safety alarm makes a loud sound and alerts beforehand. While there might not be a legal requirement in every state that you have one, it is a social and personal responsibility to install a pool alarm.
Owning a swimming pool in your backyard sounds like a dream come true. There is no denying it.
However, I feel it comes with some responsibility. The duty to ensure protection and safety around the pool area is crucial.
So, investing in a pool alarm that is suitable for your requirements is imperative.
Let me walk you through a few reasons why pool alarms are essential.
Why are pool alarms necessary?
Children are curious and playful. With a home that has a pool, it comes with the threat of a child possible drowning.
Here are some stats on the number of drownings that occur in residential swimming pools:
The bottom line from those stats are there are too many unintentional and unnecessary drownings that occur each year in those countries.
It is impossible, or at least very difficult, to be personally present at the pool area or keep a watch over children every second of the day. There are simply too many distractions in that type of setting.
Luckily, the pool alarms are real saviors in this context.
It can ease the mind of the responsibility to look at your children and pets from dangers around the pool. Homes with kids and pets are more prone to drowning related accidents.
They also ensure safety for guests as well as neighboring children. It is essential to keep a check on the pool area to avoid accidents.
However, it is impractical to be present in the perimeter all the time. When guests come over, and you have neighboring kids visiting your home, pool alarms are a relief.
Not just kids, but pool alarms are necessary to ensure safety for swimmers of all ages. Swimming pool alarms offer safety to everyone from accidental/unintentional drowning.
Apart from drowning, falling into water can also lead to other accidents, such as head injury. The pool alarms can keep a check on unexpected activity around the pool.
The law also states the same. The law for most of the cities demands owners to have a functioning pool alarm.
Pool alarms allow the owners to be aware of any intrusions from uninvited guests. The door pool alarms are the best option in this regard. They alert the pool owners about any breach in the privacy around the pool area.
Why choose a pool alarm?
Choosing a pool alarm not only makes the pool owners relaxed but it also avoids any tragedy from taking place.
I recommend pool alarms for the very reason that they are an excellent backup to ensure safety for kids and pets in the swimming pool area.
There are several types of pool alarms available. They all inform the owners by a loud sound or, in some cases with the help of a text.
The pool alarms prevent unwelcome guests and intruders from the pool area. Also, they are great safety devices as they inform the curious children entering the pool. These are life-saving devices.
Having a pool alarm according to your needs is a crucial investment when you have a pool or a spa.
They are necessary for peace of mind by watching over children and pets. But, getting a pool alarm is not enough. With my experience and research, I feel, picking the best pool alarms is as crucial as getting a pool alarm altogether.
These are as necessary for the home as other safety devices. According to the law and for the safety of your loved ones, it is necessary to get a pool alarm.
Are pool alarms effective?
Pool alarms are safety barriers that ensure safety for kids, pets, and people of all ages. They are useful in keeping a watch over a breach in the pool area or pool water.
However, they come with the limitations of false alarms or less sound, pool alarms still prove to be effective.
They are functional and mandatory according to the law for homes with pools or spas. They help avert tragic incidents and stop the intrusion in the pool area.
Choosing the best pool alarm, depending on the needs, can guarantee maximum safety.
When you own a swimming pool, it comes with the added duty of keeping a watch over children or anyone else getting into the pool water.
One needs appropriate measures to avoid accidental drowning or fatal accidents. A swimming pool alarm system is a primary safety measure in this context.
While providing the extra layer of protection, pool alarms certainly allow peace of mind to pool owners. Pool alarms are a solution to watch over children and pets wandering around the swimming area.
It is a step to ensuring a reasonable level of safety around your swimming pool.
There are choices of pool alarms available. The function of all these pool alarms is the same. But, functioning and uses vary. Some come into action even without direct touch with water. The others alert when there is real contact with pool water.
Types of pool alarms and their effectiveness:
The entry pool alarm:
These are affordable and quite popular. These are useful too. The alarms make a loud sound when someone enters through a door. They can be useless if someone takes another route. Or when children or pets jump off the fence. But, they allow a lot of time to act.
The surface action pool alarms:
These are more expensive than the gate pool alarms. They remain floating at the surface of the pool water. These alarms ring when the surface of the water has contact with a body.
These alarms allow comparatively less time to react than the entry pool alarm. False alarms are usual when the sensitivity of these pool alarms is set on high. They can ring even if a leaf drops on the pool water.
The underwater pool alarms:
As the name suggests, these pool alarms ring when someone has entered the pool. There are no chances of false alarm in this case. However, it allows an even narrower time for reaction. Also, these alarms need to turn off before you plan a pool party.
Personal immersion alarms:
The wearable alarms allow no chances for a false alarm. All you need to do is, put wearable alarms on members of the family. Particularly, those who need supervision while swimming. These are good for homes with pets as well, however remember they are useless if the child removes the wearable part.
Pool alarms can sometimes give a scare for no valid reason. There are ways to keep a check on it. In some cases, pool alarms do not ring. When the battery is dead or dying, the ring can have a low sound. Also, for gate pool alarms, the alarm may not ring when there is jumping around fences.
It is highly unlikely that a pool alarm will not ring when there is a breach in the pool water or pool area.
Further, it is advisable to keep a check on the batteries and connections of the pool alarms. This guarantees proper functioning.
However, no pool alarm is entirely fail-safe. Parental vigilance is the best and most effective way to ensure maximum safety. What the pool alarms do is provide a little help while you are not present to keep a check.
