Chicago Indoor Pool - Is It Right For Me?

You’ve probably figured out by now that swimming is one of the best possible exercises. It’s a great cardio workout, it shapes and lengthens muscle like no other workout medium, and it’s kind to your joints. A lot of other people have figured this out too, so you’ll need to get down to the the community pool first thing in the morning. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait for a lane. And if you’re like the rest of us, chances are pretty good that you’ve had to forget about your workout once or twice a week. Demand for pool time is at an all-time high. What’s a swimmer to do?

If you’re not living in a warm climate with plenty of access to clean, open water, you’ve probably considered getting a pool. A glance out your window this morning may reveal a certain amount of snow and ice, which means a pool is months away at the very least. So unless you’re a member of your local polar bear club, it’s time to consider an indoor pool.

Building an Indoor Pool in a New Home

If you’re just starting to realize this while laying the foundation for your new home, you’re in luck. You can just point to a spot in the floor plan, and say, “I want a pool to go there,” and start the work. If you don’t have that advantage, though, you can still have your indoor pool. You can build a glass enclosure almost anywhere, from a simple greenhouse natatorium that widens your foundation’s footprint a couple of yards, to an elaborate, home-like space designed for multiple uses. Indoor pools have been built in garages, in living rooms, even in upstairs bedrooms. If you really want an indoor pool, your builder will find some way to fit a pool into your home.

Cost of an Indoor Pool Installation

There is a sense in which an indoor pool can cost more than a traditional outdoor pool, but there are also advantages to building indoors. Your indoor pool won’t be subject to cycles of frost-and-freeze, which means your builder can use a broader range of materials, both for the pool itself and for the deck around your pool. Indoor pools require less maintenance and stay clean for longer periods, simply because the wind isn’t blowing leaves and debris into it, and it won’t become the final resting place for millions of insects.

Chicago Indoor Pool Air Quality

You should be aware that the most critical consideration in building an indoor pool will not be the engineering of the pool itself, but maintaining air quality. ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) has published guidelines for indoor pool design and implementation, and they’re available here. Take a good look at those guidelines, and take some notes. And if your prospective pool builder isn’t familiar with those standards, find somebody else.

Yes, an indoor pool can be quite a project, but the returns are great. Find the right builder, and you will be one happy swimmer.