Color changes the look of a pool, but in Texas I also want homeowners to think about how the finish may affect the way the water feels in July and August.
If you strongly prefer a dark plaster or dark EcoFinish color, think about water-temperature control at the same time. In my field experience, darker interiors can contribute to warmer water during peak Texas summer. Lighter finishes are often easier to live with if naturally cooler water is a priority.
What is a pool “swamp cooler”?
Homeowners sometimes call an evaporative pool cooler a “swamp cooler.” It is a more modest cooling option than a dedicated chiller. My rough planning estimate is around $2,500 installed, depending on the equipment, plumbing and pool. In the right conditions, it can do a decent job taking the edge off hot summer water.
“A swamp cooler is like a ceiling fan. A chiller is like an air conditioner.”
What about a pool chiller or heat-pump/chiller?
If you want stronger temperature control, a dedicated chiller or combination heat-pump/chiller costs more. My rough planning estimate for the type of system I am usually talking about starts around $7,500 installed, depending on equipment and installation.
I look at a heat-pump/chiller mainly as a season extender. In spring and fall it can knock the chill off the water, and in summer it can cool water that has become uncomfortably warm. As a field rule of thumb, I tell homeowners not to expect a heat pump to turn the entire swimming pool into a hot tub in cold winter weather. Actual heating and cooling performance depends on the equipment, pool size, air temperature, humidity, wind and operating conditions.
Can a heat pump make a pool hot-tub warm?
Usually not in the way homeowners mean when they ask that question. In my experience, the systems we are discussing are much better for extending comfortable swimming weather than for taking a full-size pool to true spa temperatures when it is cold outside.
When I am giving homeowners a rough expectation, I often use a 20°F-above-ambient rule of thumb for ideal heating conditions and roughly 10–15°F of summer cooling from hot water temperatures. Those are my field-planning numbers, not universal equipment specifications. The actual performance curve of the specific unit is what matters.
Should finish color affect the decision?
Not enough to choose a color you hate. If you love a dark interior, I would rather help you plan for temperature management than talk you into a color you do not want. But it is worth having that conversation before the pool is finished, especially in Texas.
Choosing a pool finish color?
We can compare finish type, color, feel, long-term maintenance and the way you actually plan to use the pool.
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