Backyards are transforming into extended outdoor living spaces. More and more homeowners are downsizing, entertaining at home, and opting for “staycations.” You’re excited to get going on a fun backyard theme. However, when you start envisioning all of the components of the overall design scheme, you quickly become alarmed by budget constraints. Don’t start cutting your wish list just yet. One idea is to forego the traditional in-ground pool and choose a more cost-efficient, eco-friendly option: the plunge pool.
Recently, plunge pools have become an increasingly popular pool option for many families. As space in most backyards is somewhat limited, many families are turning to smaller pools like plunge pools for a solution. If you’re wondering whether a plunge pool might be the best choice for your family, this article details the benefits of plunge pools, and everything else you might want to know before making your purchase.
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Contents
What is a Plunge Pool?
A plunge pool is shallower and more compact than a traditional pool. Its purposes are mainly for aquatic exercise, hydrotherapy, and relaxation. This more cost-effective option is great for those who may need aquatic rehabilitation or low-impact exercise. Plunge pools are also very popular among athletes who use them for efficient recovery after intense workouts.
Most plunge pools range by about two to seven metres long by two to four metres wide. They vary substantially in depth, with shallower pools available starting at just one to two metres and ranging virtually as deep as you’d like.
One of the most common identifiers of a plunge pool is that unlike a full-sized swimming pool, plunge pools contain large seating areas. This makes them more ideal for sitting and relaxing than for serious swimming. Many people use their plunge pool as a cooling place to unwind or a space in which to practice underwater stretching or water aerobics.
A plunge pool can be customized any way the homeowner plans to use it. For cooling off, entertaining friends or letting the kids splash around, a plunge pool might have steps to enter or a wraparound bench seat. If you plan to use the pool for aqua-aerobics or other low-impact exercise, you may want a deeper pool.
You may wish to consider adding powerful jets to create a resistance current to swim against, making it similar to a spool pool. Adding massaging jets and a heater makes a plunge pool a larger version of a hot tub. You can also install a plunge pool indoors.
How Big are Plunge Pools?
A small backyard doesn’t have to be a barrier to owning a pool of your own. A plunge pool offers all the benefits of a regular swimming pool in a compact size, perfect for backyards where space is at a premium. It offer you a generous amount of swimming space, with extra depth, enabling you to benefit from a wide variety of water-based activities while also providing you with the perfect place to relax. It also makes a highly attractive design feature, which will increase the aesthetic appeal and value of your property.
The space you need depends on the exact model you choose. An eight by eight round basin only needs a perimeter around 10 feet including the enclosure. If you want to add water features or a patio around it, you’ll need more space.
Plunge pools are small pools which are primarily designed for relaxation rather than serious swimming. Plunge pool size tends to range between 2 metres and 7 metres in length, by 2 or 3 metres wide. Many plunge pools are also fairly shallow, although some are created deeper in order to allow better exercise within a relatively small stretch of water.
In order to assist with the relaxing experience, plunge pools also tend to have fairly large seating areas, such as wide bench seating, so you can sit comfortably and enjoy the de-stressing effects of the water.
How Deep are Plunge Pools?
To get the proper benefits of hydrotherapy, your plunge pool must be deep enough to submerge your body in. So it’s important to pay close attention to the depth options available and select one that will work for you.
Average plunge pools are around 7 feet by 12 feet and 54 to 60 inches deep. They are fully customizable from 6-foot square to 9 feet by 15 feet. Standard depth options run to 51 inches; Pool engineers can help customize an even deeper pool
With all of these choices, it’s easy to find the perfect plunge pool that will fit in your space.
What Temperature is the Water in a Plunge Pool?
One thing that’s required of a plunge pool is a reliable heating system. This can help maintain the temperature during those unexpected temperature changes due to a change in season. Having a heating system will ensure that your pool stays at an optimum temperature always. Most plunge pools come with an electric or gas heater. Also, your fiberglass plunge pool can be built as a smart pools. The smart pools concepts considers the requirements to easily control and maintain your pool, using intelligent devices and the self-cleaning system.
During intense exercise muscles experience microtraumas or tiny tears within individual muscle fibers. When microtraumas occur they trigger an increase in cell activity which generates muscle fiber repair. Over a period of time and with repetition, this process helps strengthen muscles. Microtraumas are beneficial however they can also cause inflammation and Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS).
Hot Plunge Pools: Hot plunge tanks used before working out help increase blood flow, flexibility and loosen muscles. Increased flexibility leads to less muscle strain and a more productive exercise session
Cold Plunge Pools: The low water temperatures in cold water plunge pools help minimize muscle inflammation. Used post exercise, athletes gain the beneficial effects of microtraumas without the pain of DOMS.
Cold Plunge Pools: The low water temperatures in cold water plunge pools help minimize muscle inflammation. Used post exercise, athletes gain the beneficial effects of microtraumas without the pain of DOMS.
The Contrast Therapy: – This post workout technique uses both hot and cold water plunge pools. The premise behind contrast therapy it is that muscles constrict in cold water and blood vessels expand in a hot water. By systematically moving from a cold water tank to a hot water tank, blood flow increases which stimulates circulation. As this occurs muscles flush out inflammation mediators, accelerating the healing process and decreasing the long term effects of DOMS hot and cold plunge pools create the ultimate conditioning, recovery and rehabilitation environment. The cold plunge pool’s chiller keeps water temperatures at a therapeutic 50°F (10°C) to control joint inflammation and enhance muscle recovery. The hot plunge pool keeps the water at temperatures up to 104°F (40°C) to help muscles relax.
Benefits of Plunge Pools
The benefits of installing a plunge pool include:
#1 Unified Design Aesthetic
Man-made plunge pools can emulate the peaceful, relaxing ambiance of the real thing. They can be designed in an aesthetically pleasing way, using tile, field stone and other naturally looking materials. The materials can coordinate with other elements of your outdoor design scheme.
#2 Greener Choice
The plunge pool can be a great way to conserve and introduce energy-efficient steps. Considering that the plunge pool uses 3,000 gallons of water, versus 30,000 for a traditional swimming pool (90% less), you’re already being kind to the environment. Variable speed pumps circulate the water and use 80 percent less energy than those used in an in-ground pool.
#3 Timely Construction and Delivery
Plunge pools can be ready to enjoy much sooner than traditionally constructed pools. Many pre-cast pools typically take several days to two weeks. Typically, a contractor and/or landscape professional will help the client with site analysis, design aspects, planning the construction and installation.
#4 Therapeutic Benefits of the Plunge
Plunge pools are often used for “cold water therapy,” which involves dipping into cold water after soaking in a sauna or hot tub (to promote mood stimulation and blood pressure stabilization.) Many athletes use plunge pools following workouts with the theory that exposure to cold water after heat can control joint inflammation and enhance muscle recovery.
#5 Space and Cost Effectiveness
Having a pool that does not monopolize backyard space in the off season can be nice. Best of all, the plunge pool can save you thousands of dollars. The standard plunge pool typically costs $20,000. Keep in mind; it’s going to be a permanent fixture that will add equity value to your home—an investment that can generate a substantial return.
How Much Does a Plunge Pool Cost?
The cost of a plunge pool depends on a number of factors. For starters, the plunge pool size will be a large contributor in determining its cost. The plunge pool’s brand, build quality, special features, materials, and installation process are other factors that can drastically affect the cost of a plunge pool project.
In general, in-ground plunge pools tend to range from $13,000 for a small model, all the way up to $50,000 for a large, top of the line model. While some people are surprised at the expense of such a small pool, it’s important to remember that installing a plunge pool requires almost identical technology and methods to installing a large pool. Like a full-size pool, a plunge pool is a serious investment that will increase the value of your property and bring your family joy for an entire lifetime.
As mentioned, there are vinyl plunge pools on the market for substantially less money, however, their quality and durability is typically lower compared to fiberglass and concrete pools.
The smaller size of plunge pools means less maintenance and ongoing expense compared to full-size pools. Plunge pools use less water and fewer chemicals, and can be cleaned with a net and a handheld pool vacuum. No need for an expensive pool service or a “robot” pool cleaner.
Installing A Plunge Pool
#1 Pool Size And Space Needed
The popularity of plunge pools has skyrocketed in recent years because they allow homeowners with limited space to transform their yard into one they can swim in. Because of the different sizing options, you really just need a small area of space (as little as a 4 meter by 2-meter area), and you could potentially install your own plunge pool. This allows you to turn what was once an undesirable part of your yard into an impressive feature, just remember to pick a sunny spot where the pool is still in view from your home.
#2 Design And Materials
Most plunge pools are noticeably minimal, to make maximum use of the area they do take up with what’s typically a small, rectangular pool. There are round models, but they are less common as they provide a much less-optimal use of space. In terms of material, concrete is usually the most common choice, as it can be constructed to fit any particular area, and with the right maintenance will last for 30 to 40 years. Fiberglass resin and vinyl models are the other options, and both of these types of pool are capable of being installed in-ground or above.
#3 Building And Running Costs
While you’d be correct in assuming the installation of a plunge pool is generally cheaper than a traditional swimming pool, it’s still a significant expense. Where you’ll find savings are in the smaller area needing to be excavated, purchases like installing all of the decking, fencing, and the heating elements and pump and filter will all represent an expense much like a traditional swimming pool. Of course, the ongoing running costs of a plunge pool are far lower. You’ve got less water to treat so you can use fewer chemicals, and this also means you can run a more economical water filter at lower power. This all translates to a lower monthly running cost, especially if you’ve got a heating element in your pool.
#4 Additional Features To Consider
Because of their smaller size, many plunge pools are constructed with design in mind to generate the kind of “wow” experience pool owners are looking for. You can find options for aesthetics that will turn a simple plunge pool into a water feature complete with waterfalls and running water. Or go the alternative route and install relaxing massage jets and seating options to turn your plunge pool into a relaxing, oversized jacuzzi. You can even buy resistance flow jets if you plan to use the pool for exercise, to create a current that you can swim against, allowing you to do “laps” in a small plunge pool.
Can I DIY My Plunge Pool?
These days, it seems like people are always keen on the idea of taking the DIY route in just about any home-related project. Whether it’s a bathroom, kitchen or bedroom makeover, or even turning a garage into a home office, homeowners are more than willing to take a full hands-on approach.
One of the obvious benefits is cost savings as you get to save on labour, which is a major expense in home building or renovation projects. However, can this DIY approach be implemented when it comes to installing or building a plunge pool?
Despite their size, plunge pools are pools. This means that all of the same structural and design requirements that are necessary to install a successful pool are needed to install a plunge pool. For most people, installing a plunge pool successfully is simply beyond their skills.
Depending on where you live and how large the design of your plunge pool is, there may be building codes that apply and building permits that are required. You may also need the help of a design professional if you want to customize your pool’s shape, size, or features. Even if you choose a standard size and have no building codes to comply with, simply installing a pool properly requires a certain amount of skill and expertise.
Getting started on a project and then having to hire someone to finish it, or worse, start all over again, can cost you tens of thousands of dollars more than it would to just hire a professional in the first place. For this reason and others, it is best to find a great builder and work with them to create your vision.
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