How Pool Automation is Transforming the Industry for Pool Owners and Professionals
Home automation products like smart thermostats, doorbells, and robot vacuums have changed the way people live — making daily tasks simpler and more efficient. Pool automation is doing the same for backyard living, giving homeowners complete control and giving pool professionals new ways to improve service, grow profits, and strengthen customer relationships.
Whether you’re managing a full pool service route or helping homeowners design their dream pool, automation and remote monitoring can help you stay competitive, improve efficiency, and increase revenue.
The Rise of Smart Pools
Today’s pool owners want the same convenience they get from smart home devices. With Pentair EasyTouch, IntelliCenter, and IntelliConnect systems, they can control everything from pumps and lights to heaters and sanitizers right from their smartphone.
- From anywhere in the world, pool owners can:
- Adjust water temperature before heading home
- Turn on spa jets or lighting with a tap
- Monitor filtration cycles
- Manage schedules for energy efficiency
While the upfront cost may cause hesitation, once pool owners experience the 24/7 convenience and control, they rarely go back to manual systems. As Israel Saari, Senior Product Manager for Pentair Pool, says:
“By embracing automation, pool owners can easily turn on their spa, set their heater to the perfect temperature, adjust lighting, and more — all from work, vacation, or right in their backyard.”
For pool professionals, recommending automation isn’t just about convenience for the customer — it’s about offering a modern, connected solution that builds long-term loyalty.
Automation Equals Opportunity
Some pool professionals hesitate to adopt automation technology, worrying about setup complexity or customer support. But as the pool industry evolves, embracing technology is key to staying competitive.
“Ultimately, customers want reliability,” explains Bryan Anderson, Owner of Infinity Pools. “When you invest in automation, you’re giving them peace of mind — and that’s what they value most.”
By including automation in every new build or renovation, pool pros create opportunities for future upgrades like lights, heaters, and salt systems — all designed to integrate seamlessly under one control system.
Remote Monitoring: Saving Time and Money
For service companies, one of the biggest challenges is identifying problems before they become emergencies. In the past, this often meant multiple site visits — sometimes without the right parts on hand.
That’s where remote pool monitoring comes in. With Pentair’s advanced automation technology, pool professionals can monitor, diagnose, and even fix certain issues from their office or mobile device.
“Time is one of the biggest challenges for servicing customers,” says Saari. “Pentair automation lets pool pros monitor systems remotely and avoid unnecessary trips — saving time and boosting profitability.”
Pentair’s remote dashboard also allows technicians to set up alerts for low flow, temperature changes, or equipment faults. As Ken Troyan, Director of Automation at Tortorella Swimming Pools, notes:
“Being proactive instead of reactive is a game-changer. The more data we have, the better service we can provide.”
By offering remote monitoring as a premium service, pool professionals can deliver peace of mind to their customers while optimizing their own operations.
Support and Education for Pool Professionals
Like any technology, pool automation can bring challenges — especially when it comes to Wi-Fi, app setup, or connectivity. That’s why Pentair provides extensive hands-on training and support to ensure pool professionals feel confident installing and servicing their systems.
Through Pentair University, dealers gain access to in-depth courses covering setup, troubleshooting, and best practices. Pentair also maintains a dedicated team of automation experts, tech support specialists, and territory managers who assist with on-site planning, installation, and post-install troubleshooting.
“Our customers appreciate having an expert close by,” says Saari. “It’s not just a call center — it’s real support from professionals with years of field experience.”
Owning the Pool Pad: Unlocking New Revenue Streams
When pool pros install Pentair automation systems, they also open the door to more equipment sales. Automation encourages homeowners to choose compatible Pentair components — pumps, heaters, lighting, and salt systems — to take full advantage of the connected platform.
“Once automation is in place, customers tend to upgrade the rest of their pool equipment to work with it,” says Saari. “That means more opportunities for pool professionals to own the entire pool pad — and increase revenue.”
From enhanced customer satisfaction to streamlined maintenance and expanded service options, automation creates long-term value for both pool owners and professionals.
The Future is Automated
Smart pool systems aren’t just a trend — they’re the new standard for modern backyard living. By embracing Pentair automation and remote monitoring, pool professionals can:
- Increase efficiency and reduce service costs
- Improve customer satisfaction
- Generate recurring revenue through monitoring services
- Strengthen their brand and competitive edge
Automation gives pool pros the tools to work smarter, not harder, while delivering a seamless pool ownership experience that keeps customers coming back.
References
IntelliCenter Pool Control Upgrade Kit https://www.pentair.com/en-us/products/residential/pool-spa-equipment/pool-automation/intellicenter-upgrade-kit.html