How cold is too cold (weather wise) to use an outdoor heated pool

[greenwren]

Wondering how cold it gets before it’s just daft. Want to buy a house with one but thinks probably a waste in the U.K.!

Plenty of people swim (or dip) outdoors unheated all year round. Very invigorating!

Depends on what you’re using it for. If it was for exercise then I’d be ok Apr-Oct. But for just chilling probably at least 25 degrees.

I use my local outdoor pool when it’s 15 degrees or above and it’s fine.

well, many outdoor heated pools open for Christmas day and boxing day, don't they. The one local to us has a strict booking system, and it can be impossible to get a slot, it is so popular

If it's heated, you can use it all year round. But your energy bills will be astronomical! My friend, who has an outdoor pool, says that the summer months when the pool is on, her bills are more than the winter months when the pool is off but the heating is on. Plus, pools take a huge amount of maintenance and cleaning. (Better bet - get a lovely friend with a pool...)

Isn't it going to depend on the person? I know someone who swims all year round in open water without a wet suit, not something I'd do but she enjoys it

I did a few ski seasons in the alps. We swam from Nov to feb in an outdoor heated pool surrounded by snow.

Lots of open water swimmers swim all year round.

Just make sure you have the right swim wear!

You can use a heated pool all year round.

You can use a heated pool all year round.

I will warn you that the electricity bills even in summer are something else.

Yes it's costs the same to heat in the summer as the heating costs inside in the winter but it's not a lot of maintenance at all.

I'd buy a good wet suit and still swim in it.

Our local lido is open all year and only closes when temperatures go below 0 but swimmers have to wear wetsuits in the colder months.

Not sure Id want to keep heating it all winter though, energy bills would be astronomical.

If it's heated, all year round. You could update the heating system to use a heat pump, which might be more efficient. I've used the outdoor pool at my gym when they had to grit the surround because it was icy. It's lovely swimming in those conditions.

All year round! When it’s cold, it’s not the swimming bit that’s challenging, it’s the getting in and out. Make sure you sure you have a warm robe to slip off just before and put on again straight after and you’ll be fine.