When you have a swimming pool you need to take safety seriously to prevent injury or accidental death. Choosing one of the best swimming pool alarms will provide extra protection for your family and save lives.
Every year there are too many young children losing their lives drowning or becoming brain damaged from near drowning in backyard swimming pools. Pool fencing has reduced the issue but a good pool alarm is the only way to guarantee that you will know immediately when someone has entered the pool water. Those vital seconds between entering the water and being rescued make the difference between life and death.
Table of Contents
What is a Swimming Pool Alarm?
A swimming pool alarm is an electronic device that warns pool owners when someone or something enters the pool water. Some alarms are triggered by the opening of the pool gate, the surface movement of the water, or more sophisticated alarms detecting underwater movement.
Why Do I Need a Pool Alarm?
Most people think a pool alarm is only necessary when you have children but there are many other reasons to have a pool alarm.
You will most likely want a pool alarm for the following reasons:
- There are young children in your household
- You have grandchildren visiting your household
- There is an elderly person at home
- You have a physically or mentally disabled person at home
- The neighbors children swim in your pool
- You have pets at home.
- You rent a room in your home.
- Guests or relatives frequently stay at your home.
- Some countries or states require a pool alarm by law.
Read our article about Swimming Pool Enclosures
How Effective are Pool Alarms?
Modern swimming pool alarms can be very effective to warn pool owners that someone or something has entered the pool area or the pool water. However, no pool alarm is a substitute for effective barrier pool fencing and proper adult supervision of young children.
In my experience I have found that the surface wave alarms can give false positive results especially in windy and rainy conditions. The sub-surface alarms are generally more accurate and reliable because they are not affected by the weather or other influences like a leaf falling in the pool.
How Do Swimming Pool Alarms Work?
Surface Wave Pool Alarms
What is a floating pool alarm?
A floating pool alarm is the same as a surface wave alarm.
These inexpensive alarms come in two components.
The detector unit is a waterproof, battery operated device that floats on the surface of your pool water. It detects wave disturbance when someone has entered the pool. Place the alarm unit inside your home in a central location, like the kitchen, to alert you of someone entering the pool.
When you are using the pool simply remove the floating detector and replace it back in the pool when you have finished. Frequently replace the detector’s batteries to ensure the alarm works correctly.
Note: The detector will not detect someone if they slip very quietly into the pool.
Sub-Surface Pool Alarms
Sub-surface alarms are more expensive than a surface alarm and the detector is usually a permanent fixture in the pool being mounted to the side of the pool. Some models can be removed from the pool while other models are remotely armed and disarmed. These alarms are highly sensitive and accurate at detecting any movement within the pool. Place the remote receiver alarm unit inside your home in a central location.
Wristband Immersion Pool Alarms
This alarm is also in two components. The detector unit is a wristband or ankle bracelet that is attached to a young child, handicapped or elderly person. Place the receiver alarm unit inside your home. The alarm is triggered when the wristband detector becomes wet. As these alarms are portable you can take them with you when you go on outdoor excursions to lakes, waterways or the beach. Attach the alarm to your dog’s collar for safety near waterways.
However, this alarm mechanism can easily be bypassed by the person removing the wristband. There may be false alarms when the person washes their hands or inadvertently splashes the unit.
Pool Gate Alarms
These alarms operate by detecting when the gate in your pool fence has been opened. There is a sensor on the gate frame and on the gate. Separating the two sensors triggers the alarm.
These alarms can be more nuisance value than protective of young lives because you have to keep disabling and re-enabling the alarm every time you open and close the gate. A simple lock on the gate that is locked when the pool is not in use is more effective.
Also I don’t believe they provide much protection to prevent a child drowning in a pool as a child may climb over the fence to enter the pool.
Read our article about Swimming Pool Fencing
Passive Infrared Detector Pool Alarm
A passive infrared detector alarm will detect any person within the pool area and sound an alarm. These are components used in standard burglar alarms and can be used for indoor pools and outdoor pools where there is a patio cover or covered pergola.
The main issue with an outdoor system is you can get false alarms from pets, birds or other wildlife triggering the alarm. I recommend passive infrared detector alarms for an indoor pool or underneath a patio cover.
How to Choose the Right Pool Alarm
The right pool alarm depends on:
- your pool type (inground or above ground)
- location of your pool
- the type of pool fence
- the type of fence around your yard
- whether you have pets
- the person(s) you are trying to protect
- the size of your house and property
- whether you want battery operation or mains power
- whether you want a portable or fixed solution
- the required sensitivity of the detector
Conclusion
A pool alarm is one of the best safety products you can buy to help protect your family from accident or injury in or around the pool. The type of alarm depends on what risk you are trying to prevent occurring. If you have handicapped or elderly persons at home maybe a wristband alarm is most useful. If you have young children a surface or sub-surface detector may be the best option.
My recommendation is to purchase a sub-surface pool alarm as it covers virtually every type of risk while minimizing false alarms. These are the best swimming pool alarms on the market.