Less work and more fun with automated devices

By Patrick Caty, Greg Fournier, and Scott Petty

These days as families are spending more time working and staying indoors, it is a good idea to invest in your home and backyard. People are increasingly becoming aware of the many benefits of an outdoor space, which has shown to enhance mood and energy and improve one’s physical and mental health. You can take advantage of new technology such as hands-free voice control and app-connected smart equipment to improve your overall outdoor experience.

Save time and energy with smart devices

Creating or enhancing your backyard oasis without doing all the work may be easier than you think with the latest smart devices. You can control just about everything in your yard from the convenience of your mobile device. If you have not investigated the options recently, you may be surprised by the choices that run the gamut from pool pumps to patio heaters.

Backyard devices

Manufacturers have integrated smart technology into a wide variety of outdoor equipment programmed for optimal functioning and connected to your mobile device for easy access, including:

• Lawnmowers allow you to trim your yard automatically and effortlessly;
• Plant trackers can help you save time with automated monitoring and watering;
• Lawn sprinklers water your garden where and when it is dry and stay up to date on water usage;
• Smokers and grills automatically monitor temperature and cooking progress from your smart device, even if you need to step away;
• Theatres, when synced with your mobile device, offer up-to-the-minute viewing choices;
• Pools and spas can be monitored including sanitization, lights, cleaning, pump, heater, and more;
• Audio, such as your favourite music app, so you can enjoy your playlist on the patio, in the pool, or in the yard;
• Security automatically provides monitoring, surveillance, and alarm systems for your peace of mind;
• Lighting allows you to control the ambience in your yard, pool, and spa for safety, security, and drama; and
• Heaters warm your patio automatically so you can enjoy your outdoor space year-round.

Pool automation

You can also automate your pool’s work-intensive functions to save money, energy, and time. For this, you can use app or voice control for cleaning, filtration, heating, lighting, water features, sanitization, and pH balancing.

1. Pools and spas: Adding smart control allows you to schedule, adjust, and manage settings from anywhere, and the technology works with nearly every piece of backyard equipment including variable-speed pumps (VSPs), heaters, pool/spa colour lights, spa settings, sanitization systems, booster pumps, backyard lighting, and water features.
2. Pool pumps: A VSP is an easy, affordable way to add smart control to existing pools and spas. This pump integrates seamlessly with most brands and can control almost every kind of pool and spa equipment.
3. Robotic pool cleaners: These intelligent devices offer programming capability of your choice in scheduled cleaning cycles. You can choose from a range of cleaners for superior cleaning, reliability, and the convenience of smart control.
4. Sanitization: A wide range of solutions are available that provide water quality and purity so you can enjoy smart pool control integration, which delivers access, control, and management of your sanitization equipment from anywhere through your smartphone or via Alexa.
5. Water features: You can add a stunning arc of water, an arching stream from your pool deck, or a customizable waterfall effect with stunning water features. The technology also allows you to control and enhance your visual and acoustic environment from the convenience of your mobile or voice-activated device.
6. Yard, pool, and spa lights: Smart technology allows you to enhance your backyard’s appeal and pump up the drama with eye-catching colours or white lighting. You can control the ambience from anywhere and accent your backyard, pool, and spa with vibrant, energy-efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Backyard lighting adds style, safety, and security; it even brightens hard-to-illuminate areas and allows your outdoor space to sparkle.
7. Heaters and heat pumps: With these energy-efficient devices, you can extend the swim season and maintain your ideal pool and spa water temperature from the comfort of your home or office.

Robotic cleaners make pool maintenance easier

When it comes to the basic rules for taking care of your pool, keeping it clean is most often the first thing that comes to mind. Robotic pool cleaners offer peace of mind, relaxation, and effortless maintenance. These automated devices vacuum and scrub the floor, walls, and coves of your pool. Additionally, they can either work with your pool’s filtration system or completely independently.

There are three automatic technologies you can consider: robotic, suction, and pressure pool cleaners. That said, choosing the right device will depend on the shape and size of your pool, the type of debris that fall around your yard and, most importantly, your budget.

These energy-efficient devices offer several innovative features and advanced engineering designed for every pool type and budget.

There are many advantages of automated pool cleaners including:

• They use up to 94 per cent less energy than most pressure pool cleaners (about the same amount of energy as a standard light bulb);
• They are suitable for all pool types, shapes, and surfaces;
• The simple tool-free installation allows for easy “plug and play,” which means you can just let the equipment do its job without much interference;
• The stand-alone system operates separately from your filtration system;
• They can handle nearly all types of small and large debris;
• They can increase the circulation of water by using their own filtration system and pump; and
• Cleaning can be scheduled on many models.

Many robotic cleaners feature modern designs and cutting-edge capabilities such as filterless technology and touchless debris canisters for effortless cleanup. The device typically has an efficient cleaning program, powerful vacuum strength, and unique cartridge filter system that will last you for years to come.

VSPs: Your pool’s game changer

VSPs are not just a new trend; for today’s homeowners, they have become the expectation. The pump is the heart of your pool’s circulation system, rotating water and chemicals for a healthy, attractive swimming experience. Most older pumps run 100 per cent of the time. In contrast, VSPs respond to the load of the pool by running only when needed. It is similar to leaving the lights on in your house all the time versus just using them when you are in the room. You can imagine the resulting energy savings.

Many homeowners are considering adding VSPs to their pool setup in the coming season. Running pumps at lower intervals has multiple benefits including:

• Energy efficiency;
• Cost savings;
• Quiet operation;
• Reliability;
• Longer equipment life;
• Better filtration;
• Increased circulation of chemicals; and
• Longer filtration system life.

You can see why a VSP is a smart investment for your backyard. But how much will you save? You can reduce up to 90 per cent on energy costs and up to $1500 per year compared to single-speed pumps. In fact, VSPs can pay for themselves in as little as two seasons. In warmer climates where pools are used year-round, the cost savings can be even higher.

Less work, more fun

There has never been a better time to add the convenience, comfort, function, and fun of smart automation to your backyard than now. Not only will you enjoy the hands-free voice control and app-connected ease of operation that comes with these devices, you will also spend less time maintaining your outdoor space and more time enjoying your backyard and creating memories with your family.

Authors

Patrick Caty is the senior product manager for automatic pool cleaners for Hayward Pool Products. He is responsible for leading the automatic pool cleaner product line in the rapidly changing business environment of energy-efficiency, ecology, swimmer health, and customer convenience. For more information, visit www.hayward.com.

Greg Fournier is the senior product manager of controls and backyard synergy for Hayward Pool Products. He is responsible for developing products that maximize the homeowner’s backyard experience such as innovative controls and lighting. For more information, visit www.hayward.com.

Scott Petty is global product manager for pumps at Hayward Industries, and has been instrumental in the development and guidance of the new regulatory requirements along with other partnering manufacturers. For more information, visit www.hayward.com.