Skip Phillips is one of the few people who has a thorough understanding of all aspects of the pool business. Skip Phillips, GENESIS cofounder, Certified Master Pool Build & Design Professional and former owner at Questar Pools, is well known for his design eye, but he began his career as a technician in the 1970s.
He has witnessed the dramatic improvements in automated equipment for pools over the years and how this equipment can simplify life for pool builders, maintenance and service professionals, as well as homeowners.
Phillips explains that a swimming pool is made up of only three components. The design component, structural component and mechanical component. The design aspect is often the one that gets all the attention, but structural and mechanical aspects are also very important.
The late 1970s and the early 1980s were a time when service and maintenance professionals realized the importance of sanitation and water quality, but technology was not up to date. Phillips says, “We’d treat a swimming pool and come back to it a week later hoping that the water hadn’t changed color.” If we added enough chemicals to make the water last for seven days, the finish of the pool could be destroyed, swimmers’ eyes may burn or there might be other side effects.
It is nearly impossible to maintain water quality between service due to all of these variables: wind, rain and temperature.
All that changed when manufacturers invented the variable frequency drive pool pump (VFD). Phillips says that the VFD pool pump was “incredibly innovative”. Most people did not know how to sizing a pump or a pipe. They could change the flow rate of a VFD to fit their equation.
Standard single-speed pumps have a rotation of either six or eight hours. The pool can remain stagnant up to 16 hours per day. Water that is stagnant can be a breeding ground for algae, mosquitos, waterborne bacteria, and other undesirable and dangerous bacteria.
A VFD can, however, run for up to 24 hour a day and can be adjusted according to different sanitation and filtering scenarios. The water is kept moving, resulting in a more balanced pH level, cleaner and healthier pool water, and a better balance of chemicals.
A VFD pump has the added benefit of making alternative sanitizers viable due to its longer running times. Phillips gives ozone for an example. “Ozone does not have life in water, unlike chlorine.” “If the pump is shut off, no residual remains.”
Phillips’ pool is programmed to prioritise sanitation methods. It starts with the option that does not use chlorine. The first thing that happens when his pool sensors detect the need for additional sanitizer is to activate ozone. The salt chlor generator kicks in when the ozone can’t keep up with pool needs. Liquid chlorine can be added to the water if more sanitizers are needed, such as on a very hot day, or if there is a large number of bathers. The automated system from Phillips can also add acids as needed to maintain the right pH level.
Other automated products, such as VFD pumps and automatic pool cleaners, have also made life easier for pool owners and service technicians. Phillips’ first job in the pool business was as a service professional. It was their responsibility to keep the water level at the right level. This could be a difficult task to accomplish from week to week due to rainstorms and leakages. Autofill systems, which can control and monitor a pool’s level of water, and overflow pipes (which manage and prevent overflow of water through a drainage system), have helped relieve service professionals of this burden.
Phillips explains that these technological advances, and others such as automatic pool vacuums actually help service providers by reducing liability exposures and improving homeowner experiences. “It doesn’t make their services outdated! These technologies help to keep the pool looking better between service appointments. Although my pool is fully automated, I still use a service provider. “I would never think of not having a pool service company,” says he.
Phillips suggests that pool builders include automated technology into their proposals, regardless of whether they build concrete pools, vinyl or fiberglass ones. Although the client may not purchase it, the pool builder must strongly recommend it. Automating the pool is a great idea for pool builders, as well, since a balanced pool will mean less damage to the surface and finish of the pool. Pool builders must explain to pool owners that adding automation is more expensive up front, but will save them a lot of money over time. VFD pumps are more energy-efficient than single-speed pump, and this is attractive to pool owners.
Phillips, a service company representative, explains to companies that they can add automation at any time. He says that remodels are the biggest industry market right now. There is plenty of opportunity to upgrade mechanical systems in existing vessels. Service companies can and should offer automation, provided they have the proper licenses to perform such work.
Phillips says, “Manufacturers are creating equipment that truly improves the experience of pool owners.” The technology is there. The pool builders and service providers are responsible for promoting and advancing the technology.
This article first appeared in the April 2023 issue of AQUA Magazine — the top resource for retailers, builders and service pros in the pool and spa industry.|”}”=”” Subscriptions=”” The=”” To=”” Top=”” 1″:259 }””=”” –=””>This first appeared in April 2023’s issue of AQUA Magazine, the industry’s leading resource for retailers and builders.} All industry professionals can subscribe to the print edition of AQUA Magazine for free. Subscribe by clicking here.
