Imagine a world where technology elevates every aspect of pool maintenance. Well, imagine no more. This is the reality for today’s pool professionals who are leveraging smart systems like chemical automation to transform routine pool care. These innovations do more than simplify tasks; they provide insights that enhance service quality and efficiency. Importantly, they don’t replace pool professionals — they enhance their role.
AI and robotics
Advancements in chemical automation have revolutionized pool technology, making it easier than ever to achieve ideal water chemistry.
Systems like Pentair’s IntelliChem manage water chemistry through user-friendly automation, ensuring stability that prolongs pool components’ lifespan and reduces the need for frequent replacements or repairs. Automated cleaning robots equipped with AI adapt to various pool shapes and sizes, ensuring thorough cleaning while optimizing cleaning paths based on real-time water chemistry data. AI-powered tools predict potential issues like equipment failures and chemical imbalances so professionals can offer preemptive solutions.
Clients are familiar with these dashboards, which provide an inroad to starting conversations about chemistry, pool surfaces, cleanliness and more. There is common ground when sharing the readings and alerts with clients, which elevates their findings out of a place of opinion and into true science.
Integration with home automation
The fusion of pool automation with home automation systems allows customers to remotely adjust their pool’s temperature or synchronize pool lights with outdoor lighting systems, all from the same app that controls their thermostats, security cameras and sound systems. This convenience is possible with platforms like Pentair’s IntelliCenter, which provides a centralized interface on smartphones.
These systems can even allow for remote access by the pool professional, which can increase customer service in moments when a client is requesting support or troubleshooting. For example, GL Pools does this routinely when someone calls in because their heater isn’t working or the pumps are running at the wrong time of day. Many scheduling and feature issues can be dealt with remotely, reducing fuel and time and increasing client positivity as their backyard party continues.
A sustainable plus
Both pool pros and customers can enjoy easier pool management and better care insights when they use the right technology. For example, a pool professional could optimize settings to use less energy and conserve water, addressing environmental concerns, especially in regions like California where water conservation is a priority. This could look like:
- Running water features on a reduced schedule to cut water loss through decreased vaporization.
- Lowering filter pump run speeds and increasing total hours can reduce energy costs by allowing the system’s amp draw to be lower.
- Reducing water waste through sensible water management. A balanced water chemistry approach can help prevent issues like rising salt or cyanuric acid levels, both of which require expensive reverse osmosis or water waste through drains and refills.
The pool pro is still crucial
While advancements in smart technology and chemical automation make life easier and safer for pool owners, they also demand the expertise and knowledge of pool service professionals. These systems, though automated, require regular expert maintenance — weekly visits to calibrate and clean equipment and sensors to ensure uninterrupted flow and verify chemistry levels with secondary tests to catch occasional inaccuracies that automated systems might miss.
Integrating new technologies into existing pool systems also presents challenges. Compatibility issues, the complexity of installation and the need for specialized knowledge can be obstacles. However, working with established companies that offer robust support and ensuring new technologies are compatible with existing systems can mitigate these issues. To handle these intricacies and ensure homeowners are not wasting their hard-earned investments, pool service professionals can be the lifeline needed to meet the expertise and precision these systems require.
Adapting to a smart era
The integration of advanced technologies into pool care is a win-win for the industry. It not only makes maintenance more efficient but also enhances the expertise of pool professionals.
As smart technologies evolve, the service professional who keeps up with them will not only have cleaner and safer pools but also a distinct advantage over competitors who lag behind.
