Pool Automation Technology Spotlight: The Attendant

The industry has seen a significant leap forward in pool automation technology with the introduction of The Attendant, a universal control system developed by Poolside Tech based in New Hope, PA. This cloud-based automation system is revolutionizing the way pool owners manage their pool equipment, water quality, and energy usage, elevating the customer experience to a whole new level.

One of the standout features of The Attendant is its ability to continually monitor pool equipment from any manufacturer, as well as water quality and temperature, to determine the most energy-efficient way to have the pool ready for use. This means that regardless of the type of equipment a pool owner has, The Attendant can integrate and communicate effectively with it, making it a truly universal control system. This eliminates the need for multiple controllers for different components, simplifying the automation process and providing a seamless experience for the user.

Vendor Agnostic Pool Automation System

The vendor-agnostic pool automation system developed by Poolside Tech, is designed to seamlessly integrate with the “Big 3” pool equipment manufacturers, providing a comprehensive solution for pool owners. This innovative system optimizes the energy usage of the entire pool system by intelligently coordinating the individual capabilities of each pool equipment, such as pumps, heaters, and filters, to ensure maximum efficiency.

To get a better understanding of the full capabilities of the product, we spoke with Chief Technology Officer, Stan Reznik of Poolside Tech, manufacturers of The Attendant.

“I think that the value proposition is probably the easiest one to tackle. One of the reasons why this product exists was that it was essentially impossible for a builder, service tech, or homeowner to pick and choose the components that they want. What we really were driving towards is giving consumers that choice,” said Reznik.

“Unfortunately, with the bulk of existing products out there right now, automation only really works with a particular manufacturer’s portfolio of equipment. We basically wanted a system where you could pick your favorite products no matter what they are,” explained Reznik.

The Attendant Goes Beyond Automation

The Attendant’s software goes beyond basic automation by providing an interface and applied intelligence that enables it to think and communicate effectively with both homeowners and service providers. This allows pool owners to have complete control over their pool’s operation and maintenance, while also providing valuable data and insights for service providers to monitor and optimize pool performance.

Energy Saving Capabilities

Energy-saving capabilities are one of The Attendant’s most powerful features. During the initial configuration process, the system allows users to input their current energy rates, or a national average can be used as a default. From there, The Attendant analyzes and records the performance of each component, reporting energy consumption and associated costs for both electricity and gas, broken down by device type. This allows pool owners to track their energy usage and costs in real-time, helping them make informed decisions about their pool’s operation and identify areas for potential energy savings.

“We’ve done this with pumps, salt systems, lights. We certainly aim to support everybody’s heaters, chillers and so forth. We are even introducing new capabilities into things like valves, for example, where we’ve got some unique patents on being able to control a valve that previously was simply controlled by its limit switches,” said Reznik.

Smart Pool Technology

Real-time notifications are also something that is bound to appeal to pool contractors as The Attendant is capable of sending alerts when filters are dirty, pipes are obstructed, pumps aren’t operating, water levels are low, valves aren’t functioning, or salt cells aren’t working properly.

Perhaps one of the most unique features of The Attendant is its ability to leverage weather forecasts and historical pool performance data to predict when to activate the pool’s HVAC system.

“Think of it in a Google Maps-type analogy where you don’t usually tell Google much except where you want to get to and when it’s the software’s job to then figure out how to make that happen. That’s kind of what we do. You’re simply going to say, ‘I want to go swimming and I want my hot tub at 102 at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday’ and that’s what the system will do. It will wake up hours before you scheduled it, look at the weather forecast and it will make an intelligent determination of how to get you from where you are to where you want to be,” said Reznik.

Pool Automation Technology Makes Maintenance More Efficient

By taking into account factors such as ambient temperature, wind speed, UV index, and cloud cover, The Attendant can automatically adjust the pool’s HVAC system to maintain the desired temperature efficiently. This not only saves energy by avoiding unnecessary heating, but it also ensures that the pool is always at the right temperature when the homeowner wants to use it, providing a convenient and comfortable swimming experience.

In addition to energy savings, The Attendant also simplifies pool maintenance through its fully integrated chemistry management system. It can monitor water quality using pH or ORP probes and automatically dispense chemicals to maintain the water’s pH and sanitizer levels. This eliminates the guesswork and manual effort required for regular pool maintenance, ensuring that the water is always safe and clear for swimming.

Furthermore, The Attendant is the only automation system on the market that is NSF 50-listed as a Water Quality Monitoring Controller for any pool pad. This means that it meets the stringent standards set by the International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials (IAMPO) Laboratories for water quality monitoring and control. This certification provides pool owners with peace of mind knowing that their pool water is being monitored and controlled to the highest standards of safety and quality.

Smarter Water Management

“The next step to that would be if you have the ability to run a dosing system that would dispense acid for PH control or CO2 or liquid chlorine. We can do that as well,” explained Reznik. “If you have a classic setup where you have a separate automation system and a separate chemical controller, what will typically happen is say when the pH level is too high, it’s going to then go into its dosing mode. It’s completely unaware of the fact that, let’s say the spa jets are on, which means that likely you are in that spa. What it’s going to do is it will begin dosing acid at you while you’re in the spa giving you a bit of an acid bath. Whereas with the attendant, we understand that there’s a need for dropping your pH, but now is not a perfect time.”

The Attendant also offers convenient and customizable access control features. Its “Airbnb mode” allows pool owners to grant limited access to other pool users, such as guests or teenage children. Users can set specific profiles with restricted access to certain pool features and set maximum temperature limits to avoid excessive energy usage.

The Attendant’s user-friendly interface is designed to be accessed through a smartphone, making it convenient and easy to manage pool automation on the go. With this type of pool automation technology home owners can control their pool’s operation, monitor energy usage and water quality, and receive notifications and alerts from anywhere using their handheld devices, providing them with complete control and peace of mind.

One Giant Leap Forward

Overall, The Attendant represents a giant leap forward in pool automation technology by offering advanced features such as energy-saving capabilities, personalized recommendations, and remote access, while also being NSF 50-listed for water quality monitoring and control. Pool owners can now enjoy a hassle-free and energy-efficient pool ownership experience with The Attendant, which elevates the customer experience and sets a new standard for pool automation technology.

Pool builders can also benefit from embracing the technological advancements of The Attendant. By offering The Attendant as part of their pool installation package, pool builders can differentiate themselves in the market by providing a cutting-edge and environmentally-friendly solution to their customers. The Attendant’s energy-saving features and water quality monitoring capabilities are attractive selling points for eco-conscious pool owners who are looking for sustainable and efficient pool automation options.

Listen to our entire conversation with Stan Reznik, CTO of Poolside Tech, and learn more about The Attendant on the Pool Magazine podcast.