Sound the alarms before you open the gates to your pool this year
Swimming pool alarms alert you when someone enters your pool, helping prevent drowning accidents and providing essential peace of mind for families with children.
Pool alarms cost $60 to $400, with an average of $180, while subsurface alarms run around $280 for more reliable detection.
Your pool alarm needs proper sensitivity testing to avoid false alarms from rain or branches while ensuring it alerts you during actual emergencies.
Hiring a local alarm system professional provides reliable guidance on pool alarm installation and helps you choose the right system for your pool.
As spring gives way to summer swimming weather, the first thing on your mind may be to hop into your sparkling pool. But before you do, you might want to consider adding a safety feature to your pool to keep swimmers of all ages safe. Here’s how pool alarms can help provide safety to your pool this summer.
Pool alarms are safety features that notify you when someone (or something) has entered the pool, which helps prevent pool-related accidents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the second-highest cause of death in children under five and the second-highest cause of accidental death in children under 14.
Pool alarms are a good idea for several reasons. First and foremost, they protect children and pets from drowning and offer significant peace of mind for parents. With a pool alarm, you can be assured that your child or any local animals are not in the pool unsupervised—or on accident. These devices are easy to install and adjust to your needs, plus there are several different types, ensuring you can find one that suits your budget. Some options are even easy to take on the go with you, so you don’t have to stay in one place to avoid worrying.
Pool alarms work by using sensors, which alert you if certain motions are detected in or around your pool area. The kind of alert you’ll receive and the mechanisms that activate the alarm depend on the type of pool alarm you choose. There are four common types of pool alarms.
There are four main types of pool alarm systems: surface wave detection alarms, sub-surface detection alarms, wearable water detectors, and threshold alarms. Here’s how each works so that you can choose the one that best fits your needs.
Surface wave alarms float on the surface of pools to detect disturbances in the water. These could be waves, splashes, ripples, or surges of water levels. You can use these alarms in below-ground pools, above-ground pools, and inflatable pools, making them a flexible option for pool safety. They’re also easy to install and remove, as they simply float on the water.
The main downside to surface wave alarms is that they’re not as sensitive as sub-surface alarms. You might need to add multiple alarms in a larger pool to help detect an unsupervised pool entry.
Sub-surface or pool immersion alarms detect disturbances in the pool’s water. Just so much as dipping your legs into the shallow end of the pool can set this alarm off, making it one of the most reliable options on the market. Subsurface alarms attach to the edge of the pool or railing where they monitor the water for disturbances that would indicate someone has entered the pool.
The disadvantages of choosing a sub-surface alarm are that they are more permanent, need a strong edge, deck, or railing to attach to, and have a higher price point than other pool alarms, coming in around $280. But in this case, you get what you pay for, as this option is the most reliable.
Door and gate alarms are threshold alarms that alert you if someone has entered the enclosure around your pool. They work via a two-part proximity sensor: one part attaches to the frame of the enclosure and the other part connects to the door or gate.
If the two parts separate, the alarm activates and emits a sound. There’s usually a bypass system for adults to disable the alarm. This may be a button, code, or even a wireless alarm that can be disabled via a smartphone.
The downside to these alarms is that they only work for pools that have a gate or door surrounding the perimeters.
Wearable water detectors, or immersion wristband alarms, work by alerting you if your child or loved one enters a pool. They can be worn on the wrist or the ankle as a bracelet, and you can easily take one of these to a public pool or the beach for extra security while near a water source.
The downside of this option is that it has to be worn for you to receive an alert, making it a temporary or event-specific option rather than a long-term investment in pool safety.
Once you’ve installed your pool alarm, you’ll want to make sure you use it correctly so that it works if there’s ever an emergency. Follow these best practices for using a pool alarm:
Make sure the alarm you choose is compatible with your pool. Above-ground pools might not work with a sub-surface alarm if there’s not a secure place to attach one, whereas large, in-ground pools might require a larger alarm sensor.
Test the sensitivity levels. A sensor that is too sensitive will send out false alarms from small triggers like branches or rain, while a sensor that isn’t sensitive enough won’t alert you in times of an actual emergency.
Choose a pool alarm that is user-friendly to avoid fiddling with confusing buttons while your alarm blares at you (and your neighbors).
Speaking of alarms, check the volume! If your alarm is too quiet, you might not hear it.
Make sure the battery is charged. Some alarms have a battery alert to remind you it’s time to replace the battery.
Factor in the complexity of your pool alarm before you buy it if you don’t want to spend all day figuring out how to install one.
Contact an alarm company near you to help if you’re not sure if the alarm will go off during an emergency.
How much you spend on a pool alarm depends on what type you choose, but on average, expect to pay about $180, though it can range from as low as $60 to as high as $400.
A few cost factors for pool alarms include:
Type of alarm: Alarms connected to pool fences are the most budget-friendly, costing as little as $60, while sub-surface alarms cost up to $400.
Number of alarms: Though some options are more cost-friendly, like floating motion sensors, you may need two of these sensors to thoroughly monitor your pool. This can add up to around $400.
Upgrades: Some alarms come with a remote-control system, Wi-Fi connection, child-proof pool sensors, and more, which can increase the cost.
Installing a pool alarm generally doesn’t require a professional. Most homeowners can install a pool alarm themselves by following the instructions. However, it’s a good idea to contact a pool service company near you to conduct a pool inspection while you’re upgrading your pool’s safety.
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