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Best Pool Alarms
This is where alarm systems come in handy. These devices can be found floating in pools, installed to doorways or even on the wrist of a water-loving curious toddler. There are so many options on the market right now and it can get very overwhelming and confusing to choose which will work best for your needs. That’s why we are here, though, to take the guesswork out of pool alarm shopping for you. Read on to find which are the best options on the market right now and see what other criteria you should look for when you begin your hunt for the best alarm.
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Sound Quality
You need to be able to hear it in the event of an emergency.
How the alarm alerts homeowners that something (or someone) has fallen into the pool was one of the first criteria we looked at when compiling our list. We wanted to know how loud the device was and how likely it would be that you would be able to hear it in the event of a submersion. Though we were unable to find exact decibel levels for some of the products on our list, we were able to determine what the alarm sounded like through testing and reading through current user reviews.
Some of the styles of alarm in our buying guide come with wireless receivers. You would install these receivers in your home and if someone were to ever fall into your pool, the siren would sound in your house as well as at the site of the pool.
Value
There’s something here for every budget.
Though you can’t put a price on safety, we did consider the value of the products before including them on our list. In every case, the value that the alarm brings to the homeowner far outweighs the cost of the product. But there are some alarms on our list that are more affordably priced than others so we were sure to include options that will suit every budget.
Style
Choose a style that works best for your particular needs.
One thing you may notice right out the gate when looking over our top ten list is just how many different styles of pool alarms there are. We were surprised, too. There were four main types that we kept seeing as we performed our research so we were sure to include at least one of each in our list.
Floating Styles
These devices are designed to actually sit in your pool and float on top of the water. They will detect water movement and alert you if something has happened that has caused water to move in the pool.
Edge Styles
These devices are meant to sit on the edge of your pool. A portion of the unit will be touching the water so it’s able to determine whether or not there has been a submersion.
Door/Gate Styles
The devices that fall under this style category aren’t meant for use In the pool but are instead designed to alert you if someone were to enter the area around your pool. They are installed on gates or doorways and will alert you if someone enters your pool deck without you knowing. While these might not be the ‘typical’ pool alarm style, we felt it was important to include them on our list. A bonus that these alarms have over the other styles is that they can be re-used after your child is old enough to know not to use the pool unsupervised. You can reinstall them on your front door to alert you to any incoming/outgoing guests.
Wearable Styles
Only one of the options in our buying guide falls under the ‘wearable’ category. This style requires you to put a watch-like device on your child if you know they are going to be around the pool area. It will alert you if the band gets even the smallest amount of water on it. Though style might not be as effective as the other options on our list (unless you plan on having your child wear the band every day without fail), it does serve a purpose and is really great for traveling.
Features
What special features does the alarm have that sets it apart from other options?
Every alarm had its own unique set of features. Some of the door/gate alarm styles had adult bypass features that allowed the alarm to be turned off by an adult prior to tripping it. Some options had adjustable sensitivity levels that would allow users to adjust how much water movement would be required in order for the alarm to sound. A few of the options on our list were tamper-proof. This would come in handy in the event that your child tries to remove the alarm from the pool deck. Another great feature that a few options in our list had was low battery indicators. This is especially important because it would be a shame for an emergency to occur and not receive any warning due to dead batteries.
We believe it’s important to be sure you’re reading the product descriptions before choosing which alarm to buy. You may find that certain features work best for you and your needs.
Effectiveness
A pool alarm is only good if it works.
We wanted only to include pool alarms in our buying guide that work. It would be silly, after all, to include products on our list of the ’10 Best’ that were of poor quality or ineffective. That said, however, some of the options above work far better than others. The sensitivity of the alarm was a big criterion we looked at when taking in the overall effectiveness of the devices. Some of the options were too sensitive. Consumers complained that the smallest thing would set the alarm off. Some options were easily set off by inclement weather. This may or may not be an area of concern for you since you are purchasing a pool alarm for safety reasons. If the worst thing you have to deal with when it comes to your pool is having to turn off a false alarm, we think you’re all set. We would rather have alarms on our list that were too sensitive than not sensitive enough, after all. If you’re worried about having to get up in the middle of the night to fiddle groggily with a blaring false alarm, there are options in our buying guide that provide a way to adjust the sensitivity of the alarm.
Top 10 Picks
1. Lifebuoy
This option from Lifebuoy Pool Alarm is designed to sound an alarm whenever something substantial falls into the water. It’s comprised of several sensors that will detect any movement with its long-range radio frequency.
Read moreSound Quality
The sound and length of the alarm siren are controllable via the Lifebuoy app that accompanies this product.
Value
This product is the most expensive option on our top ten list. We loved its special features, however, and still awarded it the top spot in our buying guide because of its rave reviews and high-quality construction.
Style
The Lifebuoy is designed to float on the surface of your pool. This is one of the most technologically advanced options on our list as it is easily controlled and monitored with the accompanying Lifebuoy app. Through the app, you can change the sensitivity of the alarm as well as the length of the siren.
Features
This product is equipped with Swim Mode. It will turn off when there are swimmers in the water and once it notices that the water has been inactive for ten minutes, it will automatically reactivate itself.
Effectiveness
Some current users of the Lifebuoy state that this alarm is fairly sensitive. Some commented that if the pool pump is set too high, the alarm can go off. Though this might be inconvenient for some people, one must remember that the goal of this type of product is to save the life of a child. A small inconvenience now and then is worth it knowing that the alarm will work in the event on an emergency.
2. Safety Turtle 2.0
This highly portable pool alarm alternative is a great choice for families who are always on the go. The Safety Turtle 2.0 simply straps onto your child’s wrist like a wristwatch. It can be taken with you anywhere you go on vacation without having to worry about programming or installing it.
Read moreSound Quality
If at any time your child’s wrist gets wet, the alarm base will sound notifying you.
Value
While this product does require a bit of an investment, it’ll be worth it in the long haul to have peace of mind when it comes to pool safety. We loved that it was portable so you can take it with you to Mexico or anywhere you’re vacationing without worrying about your little one having an accident in the pool.
Style
This unique product is designed to be worn by your child (or pet) around their wrist (or collar). The wristband will trigger the system on as soon as the child’s wrist gets wet.
Features
We loved this product because it comes in a cute design that will make kids want to wear it. As an added bonus, if you have more than one child or pet, you can connect them to one system. No need to purchase a whole new system.
Effectiveness
The Safety Turtle system is very easy to use. Put the turtle on your child’s wrist and then place the base of the system within 200 ft of the pool and plug it in. It works well, almost too well some people might say. If your child is sitting on the ledge of the pool and their wrist so much as touches the water, the alarm will sound. This might be just a minor annoyance more than anything.
3. Poolguard DAPT-2 Door Alarm
This product is a little different than other options on our list as it doesn’t actually go in the pool but instead on your door. You will want to install this on the door that leads to your pool. This makes this product very versatile in that it can be used to protect your little ones from entering the pool area and also on the front door to alert you if your child is exiting that way.
Read moreSound Quality
If your child were to open the door that the alarm is installed on, a siren will sound within seven seconds until someone comes to reset it. Even if your little one were to close the door behind them, the siren will continue to sound. The siren sounds a bit like a smoke alarm so it’ll definitely be something that you will be able to hear.
Value
This alarm is very reasonably priced. It is one of the most affordable options on our list.
Style
As mentioned above, this alarm doesn’t actually get installed in or around your pool. It’s designed to be used on the doorway that your little one would be using to get to your pool deck.
Features
How annoying would it be if the door alarm were to go off every time you wanted to go in and out? This product has an Adult Pass-Through feature that lets adults go in and out of the door without setting off the alarm.
Effectiveness
This alarm is very effective at what it does. Many current users purchased this in order to pass inspections before opening their pool. They had no issues at all with inspectors after installing this product.
4. Techko S187D
This product is designed to monitor a door or gateway that children could use to access your pool deck.
Read moreSound Quality
This alarm will sound a 110 dB alarm when someone sets it off.
Value
This is the most affordable option that you will see in our buying guide. We loved that it provides consumers with the versatility that other pool-centric alarms cannot. For example, when your child can be trusted to not enter the pool without supervision, you can use the alarm on your front door to monitor when anyone is coming and going.
Style
Here we have another door-style alarm. It is designed to go off when the magnetic contact is broken (unless the adult bypass button is pressed). It comes with two sensors so that you are still able to have your patio’s screen door shut but the glass door open to allow airflow into your home.
Features
This product meets all standards for the Child Pool Safety Law and will help you to pass any and all pool inspections. The alarm is always in protective mode and will trigger the siren whenever the doorway is opened.
Effectiveness
This is a well-made alarm that will help consumers pass their pool inspections without any issues. Some consumers were annoyed with how well it worked but when you consider that this is a device meant to save lives, you can only be happy with its performance.
5. Poolguard GAPT-2
Here we have another product from Poolguard. This option differs slightly than the DAPT-2 in that it’s designed to be used outdoors on a gate. That said, it can also be installed on any door or screen.
Read moreSound Quality
The GAPT-2 alarm is always equipped and on. The siren is designed to go off in seven seconds or less if a child opens the gate. It will sound an 85 dB horn.
Value
This is a very affordable pool alarm option.
Style
This product from Poolguard is approved for outdoor use. We recommend installing it on the gate that leads to your pool deck.
Features
Similar to the DAPT-2, this product has an adult bypass feature that will allow adults to go through the gateway without tripping the alarm. It also has a low battery indicator so you know when it’s getting close to time to change the batteries.
Effectiveness
Many current users of this product rave about how well it works. Some thought that the 85 dB wouldn’t be loud enough if you were indoors and your child tripped the alarm. This may be something to take into consideration if your home is well soundproofed.
6. PoolGuard PGRM-2
PoolGuard is one of the leader’s in the industry when it comes to pool safety equipment and this option is certainly no exception.
Read moreSound Quality
This alarm is equipped with an 86 dB horn.
Value
This product is a bit more expensive than some of the other options we have recently reviewed on our list. But it is competitively priced when compared to similar products.
Style
This is a different style than what we have showcased in our buying guide so far. This product is designed to sit on the edge of your pool. It comes with a remote receiver that will sound an alarm in your home when the unit has been activated at the pool site.
Features
This option is tamper-proof. It will sound an alarm if it’s removed from the pool. It features a sleep mode that will allow you to swim in the pool without the alarm going off.
Effectiveness
This product works as advertised. Current users of this alarm mentioned in their reviews that it has helped save the life of neighborhood animals.
7. PoolGuard PHRMSB Safety Buoy
Here is another unique product from PoolGuard. Instead of being installed on a door or gateway to your pool deck, this alarm actually floats in your pool.
Read moreSound Quality
Current users report the sound that this device has is similar to a smoke detector.
Value
This is a fairly pricy little device. It is very sensitive, however, and will detect any and all movement in your pool. If peace of mind is important for you, we recommend this product.
Style
This product looks exactly like a traffic cone. It’s designed to be used in any above ground pool or hot tub, but it will work for some smaller sized in-ground pools. The PoolGuard PGRMSB floats on the water in your pool and utilizes sub-surface detection technology to determine when anything more than 18 pounds enters the pool. This device comes with a remote that you keep in your home up to 200 feet away from the pool.
Features
A really great feature of this product is that it’s the only alarm that’s NSF Certified for residential pool use. You can feel good about spending your hard-earned money on an alarm that has these credentials.
Effectiveness
Some current users had problems getting this device to work at first. It is a quite sensitive little device also so that should be considered before you decide to purchase.
8. SafetyTech SafeFamily Life Alarm
This device is designed to be used on the edge of your pool. It’s very portable, self-contained, light and easy to use.
Read moreSound Quality
The sound that this alarm will play in event of submersion is a loud pulsating siren. It will play the sound both at the sight of the device at your poolside and at the receiver inside your home.
Value
The price of this alarm is very moderate when we come it to other options on our list. We loved the style of this alarm.
Style
This device is designed to sit on the edge of your in or above ground pool. It arrives with a remote receiver that can be kept inside your home so long as its closer than 200 feet away from the alarm.
Features
This alarm is equipped with a tamper-proof feature that will sound the siren if the device is being played with or remove from the pool.
Effectiveness
Some current users found the product to be just the right amount of sensitive. Though it may still sound an alarm in the event of a severe weather event (i.e., wind), it is less likely to do so than some of the other options on our list.
9. Pool Patrol PA-30
If you have a larger pool (up to 20’x40’), the Pool Patrol PA-30 might be exactly what you’re looking for. This device made our list for a number of reasons but we really liked that the sensitivity level of the unit is adjustable – something not many other options on our list are able to offer.
Read moreSound Quality
This device boasts a whopping 100 dB of sound. This is one of the loudest options on our list. In the event of a false alarm, there is no panicky fiddling with buttons and remotes to turn the siren off. This device will just need its base to be rotated to stop the alarm.
Value
This is the second most expensive option in our buying guide. Though it does require a bit of an investment, we believe it to be more than worth it for the peace of mind you’ll have knowing that you’ll be alerted in the event of an emergency.
Style
This alarm is a floating style. Size-wise, it is around the same size as a dinner plate. It comes with a receiver that you can place inside your home or around the front of your house if you’re working outdoors. As long as the receiver is within 200 feet of the alarm, you will hear the siren if something (or someone) were to fall into the pool.
Features
We loved that the sensitivity of this product is easily adjustable. All users need to do is screw the black underside of the alarm either left or right to adjust how sensitive it is.
Effectiveness
We found this device to be one of the most accurate options on our list. The alarm sounded during our test phase when we threw tennis balls into the water.
10. SmartPool PE23
Taking up the last spot in our top ten list is this alarm system from SmartPool. It is made for use in either in or above ground pools.
Read moreSound Quality
This is one loud alarm system. It puts out 85+ dB, though we had it rating for over 100 dB in our testing.
Value
This product is the third most expensive option on our top ten list. We liked that one remote can be used for a number of different alarms.
Style
This device is designed to be placed on the edge of your above or in ground pools.
Features
The alarm comes with a receiver, just as with many other similar options on our list, however this receiver is only designed to work up to 100 feet away.
Effectiveness
This device is a little less sensitive than some of the other options above. In our tests, the alarm did sound when someone got into the pool but when we threw something a little heavier in (water-logged sweater, for example), it didn’t go off. This may be of concern for families who have little ones who aren’t quite that heavy yet.