When summer hits full force, nothing sounds better than a dip in the pool, until you jump in and realize the water feels more like a lukewarm bath than a refreshing escape. Pools that get full sun exposure or have dark plaster finishes can easily climb into the 90s°F during peak summer months.

If you've ever wished your pool could stay cool and crisp through the hottest days, you're not alone. While most people focus on heating their pool for the shoulder seasons, cooling it during summer is just as important — and often overlooked.

And for those embracing the cold plunge trend, there's even more good news: you can turn your hot tub into a chilled plunge pool.

Whether you're looking to beat the heat, support recovery, or just enjoy a pool that actually feels refreshing, this guide will show you how to:

• Drop your pool’s temperature by up to 15°F

• Turn your spa into a cold plunge as low as 40s–60s°F

• Do it all with one smart piece of equipment that heats, cools, and automates your setup

Let’s dive in.

Why Cool Your Pool?

When most people think about pool temperature control, they think about adding heat, not taking it away. But if you’ve ever dipped into 90+ degree water on a blazing day, you know: sometimes you need the opposite.

Here’s why cooling your pool can be just as valuable as heating it:

• Comfortable Swims, All Summer Long
  Cool water is refreshing and energizing. A pool that actually cools you down makes summer afternoons way more enjoyable — and swim sessions last longer.

• Better Water Chemistry
  High temperatures accelerate chlorine burn-off and can create a breeding ground for algae. Cooling your pool helps stabilize water chemistry and reduce chemical costs.

• Protect Your Pool Finish & Equipment
  Prolonged high temps can degrade plaster, tile, and other surfaces faster. Equipment like pumps and filters also benefit from more moderate operating temperatures.

• Cooler Water for Pets & Kids
  If your dog uses the pool to cool off, or your kids are in and out all day, cooler water is more comfortable and safer on scorching days.

• Bonus: Prepping for a Cold Plunge Setup
  Keeping your main pool cooler can make it easier to manage a cold plunge zone, especially if you’re using shared systems or partial automation.

Cooling your pool isn’t just about luxury, it’s about control. And it can make a huge difference in how often (and how much) you enjoy your backyard setup.

Why Some Pools Get Hotter Than Others

Not all pools heat up the same — and if yours feels hotter than your neighbor’s, there’s probably a reason for it. Two of the biggest factors that contribute to excessive water temperatures are sun exposure and pool finish color.

☀️ Full Sun = Full Heat

Many pool owners trim back trees to reduce maintenance and keep leaves out of the water. While that helps keep things clean, it often means the pool is left fully exposed to the sun all day long — especially in open backyards.
More sun = more solar gain = hotter water.

🎨 Dark Pool Finishes = Heat Absorbers

Dark-colored plasters and finishes have become extremely popular — they look modern, sleek, and give the water a deeper, richer appearance.
But those good looks come at a cost: dark surfaces absorb and retain significantly more heat than traditional white or light finishes.
Combine that with full sun, and it’s no surprise many dark-finish pools hit the mid to high 90s°F in the summer.

So while it might look great, that modern dark pool could be working against your comfort — unless you take steps to actively cool it down.

What’s Possible? How Much Can You Cool?

So how much of a difference can you actually make when it comes to cooling your pool or spa?

With the right equipment and a few simple strategies, you can:

• Drop pool temperatures by up to 15°F
  That means taking a 92°F pool down into the high 70s — turning it from steamy to super refreshing, even in the dead of summer.

• Turn your spa into a cold plunge
  Smaller bodies of water (like a 500–1000 gallon hot tub) can be chilled dramatically. Depending on your cover, conditions, and circulation, you can reach temps in the:

  • 60s°F (easy to achieve)

  • 50s°F (very doable with good insulation)

  • 40s°F (possible with the right setup and a high-performance chiller)

• Maintain consistent temperatures
  With the right system, you don’t have to chase the ideal temp. Set it and let the unit do the work — automatically adjusting to hold your desired range day and night.

Whether you’re looking for cool water to beat the afternoon heat or want to dive into serious cold plunge territory, modern heat/cool systems make it totally achievable.

Enter the Raypak Crosswind V: Your Heat/Cool Solution

If you want full control over your pool or spa’s temperature — whether it’s cooling it down in the summer or warming it up in the shoulder seasons — the Raypak Crosswind V is a game changer.

Unlike standard heat-only pumps, the Crosswind V features both heating and cooling capabilities, so you can adjust your water temperature in either direction, any time of year.

💡 Why the Crosswind V Stands Out:

• Dual-Mode Operation
  Automatically switches between heating and cooling to maintain your desired water temp — great for climates with wide swings between day and night.

• Powerful Cooling Performance
  Can chill pools by up to 15°F, and bring small bodies of water like hot tubs or cold plunges into the 40s and 50s°F range with the right setup.

• WiFi-Enabled Control
  Comes with built-in WiFi and connects to the Raypak app, so you can:

  • Monitor water temperature remotely

  • Adjust heating/cooling modes

  • Turn the system on or off from anywhere

• Built-In Automation System
  No existing automation? No problem. The Crosswind V includes a control board that can:

  • Operate one variable-speed pump

  • Manage pool lights and actuators

  • Serve as a complete WiFi-enabled automation system — no need for a separate controller

⚙️ All-in-One Simplicity

With the Crosswind V, you don’t need to piece together multiple systems. You get temperature control, automation, and smart features in one clean package.