The 4 Best Pool Thermometers

An important part of pool maintenance is that little pool thermometer. You’ll find them tied to ladders or floating in the middle. With a quick glance at its display, you can know the water’s exact temperature.

If you have a pool, you need a pool thermometer. If you’re in the market and need some direction, read on to learn the top pool thermometers you can buy today.

Why Do You Need a Swimming Pool Thermometer Anyway?

Sure, you can gauge if your pool is a tolerable temperature by a quick toe dip, but you can’t get an exact numerical reading from your foot. But why is that important? If you can stand to swim in it, isn’t that the best temperature?

If only it were that simple! For the optimal pool experience, you have to keep the water at a certain temperature range. The ideal temperature, for the health of the swimmers and the pool, is between 80 and 88 degrees. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children swim in water above 87 degrees.

What about those who like a warm pool? Warm is certainly fine, but swimming pools should never reach above 95 degrees. Once it’s the temperature is that high, the water becomes the perfect environment for algae and calcium scaling.

On the other hand, how dangerous can cold water be? What are the potential risks beyond some goosebumps?

Jumping into a cool pool is the perfect way to relax on a hot summer day, but you can’t jump into freezing cold water. In fact, experts recommend you stay out of any water that’s below 70 degrees.

70 degrees is warm though, right? That’s short-sleeve weather. Not quite. When it comes to water, 70 is cold and swimmers should be outfitted in wetsuits for warmth. Very cold water makes it hard to control your breathing.

Having a thermometer and checking it for a safe temperature range is vital to a comfortable and safe swimming experience. On that note, what thermometer should you buy?

The Best Pool Thermometers

Best Budget Option: Floating Buoy Pool Thermometer with Jumbo EZ Read Display

Pool thermometers today have so many extra features beyond giving a temperature readout. You’ll learn more about some of these thermometers in the rest of this list.

Still, what if you don’t want a high-tech thermometer that’s packed with additional features? If you’re looking for a simple thermometer that gets the job done (and for a reasonable price), then this is your next purchase.

Splashtech offers a no-frills thermometer. It’s a simple white color and only 9” tall. It floats on top of the water and doesn’t sink. The display is easy-to-read, thanks to its jumbo size, and it’s completely shatterproof.

It does come with an included cord so you can secure the thermometer to the pool’s ladder for safekeeping.

1. Most Versatile: Aquatix Pro Large Pool Chemical Dispenser with Thermometer

Pools tend to have a lot of things floating in it. I’m not just talking about dirt, leaves, and 97 pool noodles. There are also thermometers and chlorine dispensers.

You could always kill two birds one stone. The stone is this Aquatix Pro chemical dispenser with a thermometer. Instead of having two devices floating around, this one product does the job of two: a chemical dispenser and a thermometer.

If you’re worried about children getting into the chemical tablets inside, don’t stress. The container has a locking lid that keeps little hands out.

This dispenser will float freely in your pool, dispensing dissolving chlorine tablets into the water. At the same time, when you need to know the water’s temperature, you can peek at the side of the dispenser and read it either in Celsius or Fahrenheit.

2. The High-Tech Option: Ambient Weather 7-Channel WiFi Remote Monitoring Weather Station with Pool Thermometer

If you’re a bit of a techie, a simple and plain pool thermometer may not cut it for you. You’re typically out for something more advanced. This one is for you.

If you purchase this product, you don’t only get a pool thermometer. The thermometer is part of a larger weather system. You also receive a weather sensor device and a display device for use inside the home.

With this Ambient Weather system, you can view your pool’s temperature on your phone, tablet, or desktop computer without ever stepping outside. It also shows on the included display device.

Beyond the pool’s temperature, you can check if its swimming weather because it also tracks the humidity, heat index, and dew point. It even works with your home’s smart speakers, such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa!

Of course, the thermometer part floats on water. The sensors that read the temperature stay submerged underwater while in use. The pool thermometer does require batteries.

3. The Fun One: Floating Pool Thermometer by Bigbanker

Pool thermometers don’t have to be boring! If you’re a pool owner with a goofy sense of humor, then you’ll be into these thermometers with silly character toppers.

This thermometer comes in several styles, including a turtle, a rubber ducky, and a goldfish. The best toppers are the sunglasses ones. These have an alligator, a seagull, or a shark rocking some shades.

It’s shatterproof, so you can expect this thermometer to weather some storms or just maybe a couple of drops onto the ground.

Meanwhile, you’ll be guaranteed an accurate reading. It’s easy to use - just let it float in the water undisturbed for a minute or two and then read.

In case you’re also a proud fish owner, this thermometer can also be used in aquariums if you feel like buying two.

Final Thoughts

A pool thermometer is a small purchase that can be easy to overlook when buying or constructing a new pool. It’s especially easy to forget when moving into a new house with an existing pool.

However, if you want to maintain a clean and safe pool, you need to regularly monitor the water temperature. Along with adding more chlorine and skimming the pool, make sure to include temperature checks in your regular maintenance routine.

After your pool is nice and toasty be sure that everyone in your household knows how to swim! At Sunsational Swim School, we bring the swim school to your pool in over 40 metro areas Nationwide. Check and see if there is a Sunsational swim instructor in your area and get started today!