Artificial grass can get hot, whether you live in an area that stays warm throughout the year or only during the summer. It might debatably be one of the major shortcoming of an artificial surface. When a synthetic grass surface is exposed to sunlight for extended periods of time, it can get hot and take a while to cool back down. But because of a lot of research and testing, Southwest Greens has the answer — Hydrochill.
WHAT IS HYDROCHILL?
Hydrochill is an innovative technology that’s added to the turf's infill that uses the power of evaporative cooling. Evaporative cooling works in the same way as how sweating cools you. As the artificial turf is warmed up by the sun (solar radiation), moisture that’s present in the surface treated with Hydrochill evaporates to remove the heat and leave a cooler, more comfortable surface.
HOW DOES IT ACTUALLY WORK?
Ambient heat outside doesn’t entirely rule surface temps. Over time, the sun’s angle, solar radiation (sunlight), wind, cloud coverage, and several other elements contribute to surface temperature. Hydrochill utilizes moisture to provide a cooling effect. This moisture comes from rainfall, dew, or irrigation to keep a synthetic turf surface chill for days, based on local weather. It provides its greatest benefit in the hottest time of the day.
Based on actual lab and outdoor lawn thermocouple data, Hydrochill has reached 30 - 50 degrees cooler surface temperatures in comparison to regular turf systems. Additional tests were performed by a FLIR-Certified Thermographer employing the most sophisticated camera images and technology. Forward-Looking Infrared readings indicate just how much cooler the surface is with Hydrochill, diagram below.
This advanced engineering comes in two forms — as spray and as a pre-coated sand infill. Both are equally good at cooling the surface. Hydrochill will naturally hold moisture and can be activated from sprinkler systems or a simple spray from a garden hose. It’s non-toxic and doesn’t have negative environmental effects.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES?
LESSENS HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES
According to the CDC, heat stroke and heat exhaustion can be highly dangerous. Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to a heavy loss of water and salt — usually while sweating. Heat stroke is even more unsafe, that happens when the body is unable to maintain its internal temperature, which causes the sweating systems to fail. A synthetic turf cooling system can help to lessen these conditions by decreasing the surface temps.
MORE COMFORTABLE
Even if it’s not a very hot and sunny day, synthetic grass temps can still get warm enough to feel unease. Hydrochill will operate constantly to ensure your synthetic yard at a lower temp if you live in a weather system that has history of frequent rain. If you live in a dry environment, a quick rinse every few days will make sure it is operating perfectly. It will be much more ease for both children and pet’s feet.
BETTER PLAY
If you’re considering Hydrochill for a sports field, it’s one of the best investments you can make. Humidity and heat could create problems for athletes by elevating their body temp too much and causing dehydration. When synthetic grass is cooled using a high tech system like Hydrochill, players will perform better by positively affecting their stamina.
LEARN MORE
Ready to discover more about synthetic turf or adding Hydrochill to your artificial turf? Call us today for a hassle-free consultation. We’re here to help.