Why Automate Your Swimming Pool?

Automating your swimming pool does one primary thing, it simplifies everything.

Depending on the severity of your swimming pool and how many water and light features you have, will determine the size and cost of your automation system.  The more water features (fountains, waterfalls, spas, cascades, wet decks …) you have the larger the system you need with more relays.  While automating your entire swimming pool can be costly, there are ways to benefit from an automation system without getting ridiculous.

Penguin Pools generally puts a Pentair EasyTouch 4P automation system on each new build to help customers reduce utility costs.  By putting in an automation system you can control key components like when you want your pump and light to turn on / off , what temperature to set your pool at (provided you have a heater), or controlling your salt water system.  Manual timers work well to control your pump, that is until they fail and never turn the pump on (algae growth) or off (wasted energy).
By only running your pump enough to turn your water over 2-3 times day, you can save money rather than running your pump 24 hours a day . . . which people do.

When building a new inground swimming pool, Penguin Pools will actually charge more to run the electrical without an automation system (additional $400).  The Automation acts as an electrical sub-panel by the pool, if you don’t have the automation control panel then the electrician must create his own.  That equates to more wiring and hardware that the automation panel already provides, plus you get all the features of it.  The cost of the automation system installed is only $900, but you are saving $400 compared to not having it installed.
With the automation system installed, the electrician will bring a single 20 amp circuit to the panel and run everything off of that.  The EasyTouch, and all other automation systems, has knockouts for the breakers making the installation very easy.  The pump, heater (electric, gas, or solar), salt generator, lights (pool or outdoor), auto cleaners, water features . . .  get hooked up directly to the automation system.

When plumbing your equipment and pool, make sure you plan ahead to include everything you want automated.  By placing valves in the plumbing, you can control what water features get water and which don’t.  WHY?  Maybe you don’t want your spa, pool, waterfall, and fountains to run at the same time . . . maybe they are on different pumps.  The automation system can simplify the process of turning each feature on and off for you.
Adding valves that can accompany actuators, the automation system will actually open and close valves to turn on and off what features you want.  Penguin Pools always valves each water feature separately and will also design the pumps needed for each feature.

Basically it comes down to cost, convenience and ease of use.  Using an automation system on any pool will make life easier for you, your builder & electrician.  The minimal cost in the automation system is well worth the money, especially since you are spending a pretty penny to get the pool done.

If you really want to add convenience you can add a wireless remote control to operate your pool.  Now you can show off to your guests while sipping a drink next to you pool and never have to get up.  Little things like automation systems really jazzes up a pool, even if you don’t have separate water features.  Most pool owners like to have a pool they are proud of and not a plain water hole that looks naked.