Hello World! Welcome Friends! Pool owners who need to protect their pools for swimming pool safety reasons have several choices regarding which product to purchase. Pool manufacturers and safety experts usually highlight three options for this reason – pool safety fences, pool safety nets, and pool alarms.
This time, we’d like to talk about their strong and weak points. We’ll also find out which tool is better for your pool.
Pool Fence
Pool fences are similar to common fences since they’re placed around swimming pools to prohibit access to these reservoirs. But unlike usual constructions, these barriers follow some safety requirements. They must have a certain height, solid fixing, self-locking gates pull to open (not push), non-climbable walls, and no gaps to crawl under.
Among the drawbacks, we note high prices and time-consuming installation. Besides, fences may overlap the view of your pool.
Pool fences are the best way out for owners of large inground pools who have small kids and pets. Before doing any of this, be sure the pool is well-maintained and secured. If you live in Florida, for example, looking up Sarasota Pool Repair should yield some decent results. This is important since a weak pool could counter the effects of any safety feature you add to it.
Pool Nets
Nets share some features with fences as they also make it impossible for people and pets to get into the pool and even touch the water. However, the net doesn’t surround the whole pool but covers its surface only.
Pool nets are more affordable and don’t spoil the view. They provide quite efficient anti-drowning protection. Still, nets may tire sometimes. We recommend them both for inground and above ground pools.
Alarms
Alarm systems belong to the category of preventive equipment. But they rather notify you of the already happened accident than prevent it.
You can install alarms on the entry doors or in the pool itself. Thus, a sound signal will work once your kid leaves the house for the pool or gets into the water.
As you see, a late reaction to the issue is a huge drawback. But alarms suit all pool owners, are affordable and easy to install, and don’t take much space. And unlike nets, they won’t disturb the operation of some pool cleaners with hose connections like Polaris 280 or 380.
Fences vs Nets
There are differences between a swimming pool fence and a swimming pool safety net. We’d like to assist customers in choosing which product will best serve their needs when it comes to protecting their children and beloved ones.
A pool safety net with high-impact polyvinyl-coated mesh is an excellent choice for people who live on the water and do not want to obstruct their view. In states where comprehensive barrier code laws have been passed, and pool owners must meet those barrier code requirements, a pool safety net is an excellent option.
Pool safety nets are also an option for grandparents whose grandchildren visit occasionally and want protection for their pool when little ones are around. A pool net is also an excellent option for those swimming pool owners whose children are close to becoming water-safe but still want to be able to keep their children out of the pool unless they are there to supervise.
A swimming pool safety fence is an excellent option for pool owners with small children because swimming pool safety fences create a distance and a more reliable barrier between a small child and the water, which is always the best option. Swimming pool safety fences, especially one with a self-closing, self-latching, key-lockable walk-through gate, provide the security of knowing that the barrier is always in place.
When choosing a pool safety net, pool owners should always keep in mind that the net must be fully removed when the pool is being used. This is important to keep in mind when very small children are around the pool because when the net is removed, the child has access to the water. Also, the pool net must be put back in place immediately after using the pool.
In short, when choosing between a swimming pool safety fence and a pool safety net, consider how often you will be using the swimming pool and the age and water-safe level your children have achieved.
Pool Fences vs Alarms
As we’ve already mentioned above, alarms are quite efficient when we deal with adults. You always know when someone leaves the house or approaches the pool. The pros convince many customers to choose this pool safety product.
But when it comes to kids, alarm systems definitely lose the battle with fences and nets in terms of safety. When addressing child safety out at the backyard swimming pool, there are three major reasons not to use alarms but rather to install a pool safety fence or net to keep a small child safe.
Children don’t respond to a door alarm or window alarm, especially once they have set the alarm off. Should anybody doubt this, try telling a three-year-old child not to go through a door to the pool area.
An alarm tells you you’re having a crisis – a pool safety barriers PREVENT a situation. By the time the alarm sounds, you already have a problem – by the time you respond, the child is in the pool. The premise of swimming pool safety is to prevent entry to the swimming pool, not allow access and then take action.
Besides, there are chances the adult would not even hear the alarm (and not because of the weak sound). When a hardwired alarm system is installed, a homeowner cannot open a door or window without the alarm going off – usually 85 decibels or higher. Therefore, many homeowners disconnect the alarm system so they can enjoy going in and out of their sliding glass doors to the swimming pool area without setting off the alarm. Once the alarm system is disconnected, there is no safety system in place to protect a small child from a potential disaster.
An adult’s awareness and a child’s awareness of alarms are totally different. This is why alarms do not work as a preventative measure for keeping a child from entering a swimming pool. Most children are very excited and very curious and don’t pay attention to an alarm, especially if parents are not present. There is no substitute for parental supervision.
Conclusion
What is our winner among the three? Let’s consider.
You’ll now agree that alarms are the least efficient option. We can recommend alarms only as an additional, supportive safety measure. You can combine it with other pool safety products but never use it alone if you have kids.
Nets take second place in our rating. They protect children from getting into the pool. But many parents still worry kids can come so close to the pool without their supervision, accidentally remove the net or tire it.
A swimming pool safety fence has proven to be the best protection both when you’re with a child and in the event no parent is supervising the child.
When states like Florida passed the Swimming Pool Barrier Code, they envisioned that the barrier would consist of some type of fencing or block wall or some obstruction that would block a child’s entrance under the age of five years from entering undetected into a swimming pool. A removal pool safety fence seemed ideal – it is strong, fully removable by an adult only, and durable. It is the only option that creates a real barrier between a small child and the water.
Again, the key to water safety is to prevent a crisis, not manage a crisis once it’s occurred. Swimming pool safety fences and nets accomplish this goal.
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