One of the most overlooked security alarms around the homes is the swimming pool alarm.  Swimming pool alarms are so important for the safety of your family and pets, as well as others in your neighborhood.  Unfortunately it is one of the most under utilized home security alarms.    A swimming pool alarm is an efficient way to signal when a person or animal has fallen into your swimming pool.

Not only are they a good idea, swimming pool alarms are legally required in certain states, including California, Conneticut, and New York.  There are many different types and makers of pool alarms but the three main types are listed below.

Types of Swimming Pool Alarms

There are three types of swimming pool alarms and some work better than others and have different uses:

Floating Swimming Pool Alarms: These alarms detect waves on the surface of the poool when something falls into it.

Underwater Swimming Pool Alarms: These detect waves under the surface after someone falls in.

Wristband Alarms: These are generally worn by children and the alarm goes off when exposed to water.

While all three types function effectively, in a study by the CPSC, it was shown that the underwater swimming pool alarm was the most effective, in that it always detected and alarmed, and had far fewer false alarms.  The floating pool alarms were more susceptible to false alarms due to wind and debris waves causing the alarm to go off.  The wristband alarm, while very effective when worn, depended on the caregiver of the child making sure the wristband was worn at all times.   This is not convenient at night or other non swimming times when the child would not be expected to wear the pool alarm wristband, but could still end up falling into the pool unexpectedly.

There are  several reputable companies out there who specialize in the manufacturing of swimming pool alarms, including, but not limited to the companies listed below.  These companies passed the Good Housekeeping Pool Alarm Tests:

PoolGuard (www.poolguard.com)

Safety Turtle (www.safetyturtle.com)

MG International Sensor Espio and Swim Alert

RJE Technologies AquaGuard

The following pool alarms failed in the Good Housekeeping tests:

Smartpool (www.smartpool.com)

Driven Designs Pool Patrol PA-30

Allweather Pool S.O.S

So if you own a pool, and regardless of whether your state requires you to have one, please consider adding a pool alarm in your backyard swimming pool this year!

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