78-80°F is the sweet spot.

Right around 78-80°F.

Any warmer and you’re basically in a bathtub. Any cooler and most people will hesitate to get in. At 78-80, the water feels refreshing without being a shock, and you can actually swim for more than ten minutes without either shivering or sweating.

Competitive pools are kept cooler (77-78°F) because hard exercise generates body heat. If you’re just floating around or playing with kids, 80-82°F is fine. But push past 84 and the water starts to feel heavy and sticky. Not fun.

If you’re heating a residential pool, don’t believe the “set it to 88” crowd. You’re paying for that gas or electricity, and 80 feels great once your body adjusts.

You don’t need it that warm. Nobody does.