Pool and backyard renovations are set to be a major trend in 2025. Pool professionals are anticipating a decline in new pool construction next season. Still, with millions of existing pools—many outdated in style and equipment—there’s a significant opportunity for outdoor living designers and pool professionals. By updating these pools, they can help homeowners bring their spaces into the modern era. Along with new pool liners, decking, and lighting, offering an automation system is the perfect way to integrate the latest technology into swimming pools and outdoor living areas.
Embracing automation
Backyard automation is a rapidly growing market, following the trajectory of HVAC, home security, home entertainment, and lighting automation systems within the home. If homeowners have no resistance or objection to technology, backyard automation will seamlessly integrate into their lifestyle.
Targeting a specific age bracket for selling is unnecessary, as anyone can express interest in connected automation features. Younger Gen Xers, millennials, and even baby boomers who are into gadgets seek these devices to have more control over their homes. The prominence of smart thermostats, security systems, and lighting features online and in big-box stores has significantly increased awareness.
Customers routinely inquire about pool automation, often starting the discussion by asking if there is a way to remotely control their pool water temperature. This is typically followed by questions about whether there is an app for that. Most clients are primarily interested in controlling their heaters, pool lights, and water chemistry. Customers have also expressed the desire to control multi-port valves to enable water features and have a general understanding of what is happening at the pool when they are away. They have also expressed a general sense of consumption, such as how much energy and water is consumed, corroborating that with monthly water and electricity bills.
The smartphone has driven the consumer’s desire to control all the elements of their home from anywhere, all in the palm of their hand. Exterior landscape lights, pool lights, hot tubs, pool temperatures, and control over pool and hot tub water chemistry are all manageable through mobile devices. Providing simple automation helps ensure client satisfaction by offering a trouble-free, easy-to-maintain pool. Automation simplifies the maintenance of the homeowner’s backyard, allowing pool owners to ensure the pool is managed correctly without having to go outdoors to check before bed.
One common obstacle is understanding what part of the equipment pad is automated and how the automation system enhances the equipment it is connected to. Other things include comfort with technology and using the smartphone app associated with automation systems. A question that might need to be asked is, “Are there other devices that might impede the automation system (e.g. an old-school time clock)?” Finally, just because the pool equipment is now automated does not mean all issues are solved, so monitor the equipment and its performance.
Simple solutions
The benefits of backyard automation include enabling remote control over various aspects of the outdoor living space, providing alerts and updates in case of malfunctions, and analyzing multiple systems in detail. Simpler automation systems tend to be the most effective for most customers. Intuitive, easy-to-operate systems are key to keeping customers happy. These systems must offer enough features to satisfy the homeowner’s needs while remaining simple enough to avoid requiring technical support after installation.
Fortunately, control system interfaces have become more user-friendly, even as their capabilities expand. Understanding a client’s routine and preferences allows professionals to offer solutions tailored to their needs. While many customers are technologically savvy, most rely on trusted outdoor living/pool and hot tub experts to help them comprehend and recommend optimal solutions for modernizing their pool.
Some of the best ways pool professionals can stay current with automation technology are through tradeshows, trade magazines, working with local sales reps, equipment manufacturers, and even customers. These are great ways to stay abreast of all the new developments in automation.
The trend toward smart homes has accelerated, fueled by increased time spent at home, boosting demand for home networking, entertainment, and environmental control systems. This shift has also driven the growth of outdoor living spaces, with homeowners seeking backyard resorts. Automation and modernization are now inextricably linked.
Modernizing with automation offers cost-saving benefits
Automation simplifies chores associated with pool and hot tub ownership and brings cost-saving benefits. Timers for outdoor and pool lights help reduce electricity costs, as does regulating pool and spa water temperatures. Automated pool and hot tub water chemistry dosing and control prevent overdosing or imbalance, minimizing the need for excessive chemical use and reducing overall expenses. Maintaining balanced pool water chemistry is especially critical for plaster pools, as unbalanced chemistry can lead to costly repairs.
Automation allows one to react to a pool’s water chemistry needs quickly. Whether there is a change in pH or chlorine levels, automation systems can promptly address the pool’s needs and can be adjusted remotely. This takes the waiting for a service professional to come and test out of the equation. Automation systems that can read pH and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) levels will be best suited because they can gauge and give readings, subsequently dosing when needed.
Many clients with salt chlorine generators often experience issues when their salt system shuts down due to pH imbalances in the pool water. This problem typically arises because improper pH levels lead to scale build-up on the salt cell assembly, which causes the chlorine generator to shut off.
A pH automation controller can be installed to measure and dose the pool water to address this issue, ensuring proper pH levels are maintained. A compact, user-friendly pH controller with app-based notifications is ideal, as it alerts users when the water goes out of range, allowing for necessary adjustments.
Many pool professionals agree that automation systems can help avoid problems that increase a pool’s operating costs. While automation doesn’t replace regular service, systems like chemical controllers and feeders ensure all systems function correctly between service calls.
Service professionals can enhance the service they provide. By not only having more access to real-time equipment status and remote access in some cases, service professionals can get information on their routes and pools before time, meaning that each service call is more meaningful and impactful. Additionally, with monitoring services, service professionals can provide customers with a higher level of personalized, premium service that goes beyond standard expectations, not only upselling opportunities but also strong customer relations.
There still need to be maintenance checks on equipment and chemical refills (UberEats for chemicals is not ready just yet!), and perhaps just general visual checks on the pool, but it does cut down on time, and with more time, more pools are serviced.
Automation systems also provide valuable data, enabling service professionals to identify issues, such as pH imbalances or malfunctioning lights, before they escalate. This proactive approach gives service companies a competitive advantage by allowing for more specific discussions with clients rather than general inquiries about backyard conditions.
Customer satisfaction
Many pool professionals agree that offering and installing simple automation systems helps modernize pools for customers while differentiating their businesses from competitors. Automation can be a game-changer for independent pool and spa professionals. In addition to upgrading pools, automation fosters customer loyalty by empowering clients with greater control and enhancing their sense of ownership over a more modern pool experience.
As mentioned, it also allows for a deeper understanding of what is happening with the customer’s equipment and distant visibility. Technically, an automation system almost gives the client’s pool constant monitoring and care capabilities around the clock. Additionally, contract provisions could allow this monitoring to be down to an additional dollar figure. The author has seen service professionals offer equipment upgrades and monitoring components, which has been an excellent driver of top-line revenue for them.
Offering pool automation boosts customer satisfaction and excitement about their backyard investment. These systems simplify pool maintenance and make operating other components easier, even remotely. Automation enhances the backyard experience with features like colourful lighting, optimal water temperature, and chemistry when clients jump into their pools.
Now is the perfect time for pool and hot tub professionals to consider offering simple backyard automation. The off-season is ideal for exploring new automation systems so professionals can modernize their clients’ pools in 2025.
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