Features
Outdoor fire features: Remodel Your Backyard Space
The global pandemic brought about increased demand for pool construction and pool remodeling services. Most pool companies are doing the most to gain a competitive edge in the industry. As a result, there are limitless pool design options. Going the extra mile to satisfy your customers entails trying out new products and water features. At present, one of the features that pool designers are hesitant to embrace is the outdoor fire features. Although they incorporate a complex installation process, designing pools with fire features helps pool companies attract a larger customer base. Fire features can transform your backyard into a radiant oasis.
Home experts say that they are the most popular outdoor features as of now. Besides, manufacturers are now making these features that are simple to install and operate. Most homeowners often complement the features with high-end outdoor furniture.
Outdoor fire features not only provide warmth on a cold night but also helps you bond with your family. If you incorporate these stunning features, you can chat with your family all night long. Also, they features make it possible for you to create a mini-staycation for your loved ones, even in the midst of COVID-19 restrictions. Subsequently, you can bond and create lifetime memories with your family.
How do Outdoor fire features work?
Typically, outdoor fire features work using natural gas or propane. Therefore, homeowners can operate them either manually or automatically. It all depends on the type of fire feature they have. Operating these features manually entails using lighters. On the other hand, you can control automatic fire features using a simple remote.
The aesthetics that come with fire features make all pool designers desire to incorporate them into their pool projects. Luckily, there is a wide range of these features, from fire pits to fire tables. Therefore, almost every customer can find what they are looking for. Even so, the final decision is often determined by the homeowners. Some homeowners may not want to incorporate these outdoor fire features into their property simply because they don’t meet their taste, preference, or budget. But all in all, they are worth the purchase. They add a whole new charm to your backyard as well as upgrade the value of your property.
Types of outdoor fire features
As mentioned earlier, there is a broad spectrum of fire features. Some of them include:
Fire tables:
Fire tables are increasingly becoming popular due to their aesthetics and functionality. They come in different designs and sizes. But experts advise going fire tables with a coffee table height. They are more functional compared to other sizes. Moreover, fire tables incorporate various shape; rectangular, square, and round. Therefore, you can always find the perfect match for your outdoor space.
Fire pots:
Another fire feature is the fire pot. These outdoor fire features come in various shapes and designs. Therefore, they can get used in any type of backyard space, whether small or large. If you have a pool, your contractor will probably recommend installing this feature along the edges of the pool.
Fire pits:
Most people often confuse fire pits and firepots. Fire pits are like small fire bowls with deep pits. However, there are different designs, shapes, and sizes of fire pits. Also, you can always customize a fire pit to match your requirements. There are also portable fire pits that give you the unique privilege of placing them anywhere you want.
Water and fire bowls:
Can you picture a combination of fire and water in your outdoor living space? Well, water and fire bowls are specially designed to integrate fire and water. The aesthetics offered by these features are out of this world. Water and fire bowls are popularly known to offer a classy, sophisticated, and elegant view in your backyard. Like other water features, water and fire bowls come in different designs and sizes, each varying in price. Although these fire features are more costly, they are worth the investment.
Outdoor Pizza Ovens
One fire feature that definitely turns heads are outdoor pizza ovens. Aside from being an eye catching focal piece in the backyard, brick oven pizza is something that both family and friends would definitely enjoy. The homemade pizza you prepare will also create lasting memories of time spent in the backyard. Plus, this style of oven cooks pizza to perfection; no indoor oven can match the authentic woodfired cooking experience.
Are Outdoor fire features safe and worth the purchase?
Most outdoor fire features are uniquely manufactured with industry veterans who have over three decades of experience like Bobé Water & Fire. Thus, most of the features are safe to use. You need not worry about experiencing a fire accident in your home caused by these features. Furthermore, well-trained and skilled manufacturers specialize in coming up with twenty-first-century fire features. They use the latest technology to design water features.
Fire features are now turning many pool dreams into reality. These features modify the backyard into a glowing and serene haven. Besides aesthetics, outdoor fire features also offer excellent functionality. In fact, almost all world-class pools incorporate these features.
It can be challenging for pool companies to compete due to the constant trends in the industry. Therefore, pool builders and designers should find a way of installing new water features strategically. In turn, they attract a large clientele, which helps them increase their sales, revenues, and profits.
Products
Beatbot AquaSense Pro Pool Cleaner Review
In the realm of robotic pool cleaners, the Beatbot AquaSense Pro emerges as a game-changer, setting new standards with its advanced features and cutting-edge technology. As the world’s first all-in-one intelligent robotic pool cleaner, the AquaSense Pro promises a comprehensive cleaning experience that extends beyond the pool floor. With its innovative design, technological prowess, and a suite of unique features, this cleaner is a standout in the competitive pool-cleaning market.
Design and Features
Beatbot has hit the mark with the AquaSense Pro’s engineering. Equipped with nine motors, 20 sensors, and onboard AI, its design is not only sleek but also robust. The unit itself weighs in at 24 pounds, conveying a sense of durability and reliability. The device’s intuitive onboard controls, featuring four modes and power buttons, make it user-friendly and accessible to both pool maintenance novices and seasoned professionals.
The AquaSense Pro boasts 5-in-1 cordless cleaning capability, covering the pool floor, walls, waterline, surface, and incorporating a built-in water clarifier system. The AquaSense Pro employs the AquaGlide™ Simulated Flight Propulsion for surface cleaning, ensuring it glides effortlessly to tackle debris and residues. The ClearWater™ clarifier dispenser is another innovative addition, distributing clarifying agents evenly to enhance overall water clarity.
Main Features
- World’s 1st 5-in-1 Cleaning: Clarification/Surface/Waterline/Floor/Walls Powered by 9 Motors.
- Best Intelligent Path Optimization Powered by Quad-Core 1.8GHz Processor.
- Industry-Exclusive Intelligent Return to Starting Point and Surface Parking.
- Powerful Wall Cleaning with Brushless Main-Pump Motor up to 5500 GPH Suction.
- Effortless Cleaning Control with the Beatbot APP and OTA Software Upgrades.
- Award-Winning and Eco-Friendly Cordless Submarine Propulsion Design.
- Superior Cleaning Efficiency and Coverage with 2×2 Independent Roller Brushes.
- Extreme Safety and Reliability with 15 Certifications, including ETL, CEC, and IP68.
- Ultimate Convenience with Cordless Charging Dock for Plug-Free Operations.
- 9.5 Hours Surface Cleaning and 5 Hours Floor Cleaning with 10400mAh Battery.
Performance and Cleaning Prowess
The AquaSense Pro’s performance is commendable, showcasing systematic cleaning that starts with mapping the pool. Utilizing advanced sensors, including two ultrasonic sensors, the cleaner calculates the optimal cleaning path with exceptional accuracy. Its intelligent mapping capabilities allow the robot to navigate efficiently without getting stuck, offering a seamless cleaning experience.
During a full cleaning run, the AquaSense Pro adopts an S-shaped pattern for the floor and walls and an N-shaped pattern for the walls and waterline. This strategic cleaning approach ensures thorough coverage, leaving no area untouched. The automatic return feature, coupled with water purge capabilities, adds convenience to the cleaning process. Remarkably, the AquaSense Pro parks itself at the pool’s surface upon completion, eliminating the need for manual retrieval from the pool bottom.
Charging and Convenience
Beatbot has revolutionized the charging process with an innovative dock design. Instead of a traditional plug and cable setup, the AquaSense Pro docks on a charging station where exposed electrodes charge the battery. This not only simplifies recharging but also aids in draining excess water, contributing to the device’s overall efficiency.
Intelligence and Versatility
Equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity, the AquaSense Pro provides seamless control through its dedicated Android and iOS app. Users can effortlessly switch between cleaning modes, making it a convenient and versatile tool for pool maintenance. Designed for various pool types, including in-ground and above-ground, and supporting multiple surfaces such as concrete, fiberglass, vinyl, and ceramic tile, the AquaSense Pro proves its versatility.
Affordable Alternative
For those seeking a more budget-friendly option without compromising on performance, Beatbot offers the AquaSense model. While it lacks some of the luxury features of the AquaSense Pro, it remains a reliable and efficient pool cleaner. With three cleaning modes and intelligent path optimization powered by a Quad-Core 1.8GHz processor, the AquaSense is a practical alternative for pool owners who prioritize cost-effectiveness.
Should You Buy the Beatbot AquaSense Pro?
In terms of cleaning performance, the AquaSense Pro excels, effectively removing both visible and invisible debris. The two-layer filter basket captures particles as small as 150 micrometers, showcasing its thorough cleaning capabilities. The dual sets of brushes, strategically placed at the front and back, work simultaneously with different speeds and directions, providing precise control and extensive coverage. This not only enhances the cleaning power but also eliminates the need for frequent manual scrubbing of pool surfaces.
PROS:
- Diverse 5-in-1 pool cleaning capabilities
- Extended battery life with up to 9.5 hours of continuous runtime
- Smart MemoryPark feature for easy retrieval from the pool surface
CONS:
- Requires periodic charging
- Unable to identify new debris in previously cleaned sections
- Possibility of larger debris floating away during surface cleaning
If you’re in search of a technologically advanced robotic pool cleaner that delivers on its promises, the AquaSense Pro is undoubtedly worth considering. Dive into innovation and let the AquaSense Pro redefine your pool maintenance experience.
Pool Service
Orenda (a HASA Company) and Skimmer to Revolutionize Pool Maintenance with New Partnership
Skimmer, America’s most widely-used pool service platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Orenda Technologies (a HASA Company), a trailblazer in water treatment solutions. This collaboration aims to enhance the user experience for pool professionals by integrating the Orenda Calculator™, with its Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) and dosage recommendation engine, into Skimmer’s software.
The inclusion of Orenda’s LSI calculator and dosage recommendation engine within Skimmer’s platform marks a significant milestone in pool service technology. The LSI serves as an impartial measurement of water balance, specifically gauging calcium carbonate saturation. By assessing whether the water is aggressive/corrosive, balanced, or scale-forming, the LSI plays a pivotal role in ensuring optimal water chemistry.
This, combined with Skimmer’s easy-to-use, all-in-one software will give tens of thousands of pool pros access to water quality insights right in the Skimmer app.
“Partnering with Orenda and HASA aligns seamlessly with our commitment to providing pool professionals with cutting-edge tools,” says Jack Nelson, CEO of Skimmer.
Integrating the Orenda Calculator™ into Skimmer empowers our customers to make informed decisions that directly impact water quality and customer satisfaction,” says Nelson.
“We are excited to integrate with partner software that helps pool professionals up their game, and that can expand upon the app we have built. Skimmer is a powerful tool that helps thousands of pros improve their business every day. This integration allows for us to help those same pool pros even further. With this partnership, Skimmer users will be able to save chemistry results and history, which is something our customers have asked of us for years. This partnership makes that possible,” says Eric Knight, VP of Pro Marketing at HASA/Orenda.
The integration is slated for launch in the coming months, promising a user-friendly experience that streamlines pool maintenance. This collaboration underscores both companies’ dedication to innovation and customer-centric solutions within the pool maintenance industry.
For more information on the Langelier Saturation Index and its impact on water chemistry, visit Orenda’s blog at https://blog.orendatech.com/langelier-saturation-index.
About Skimmer:
Skimmer is America’s most widely used pool service platform. The company is on a mission to modernize the pool and spa service and repair industry through easy-to-use software and best-in-class support. Over 25,000 pool service professionals servicing 500,000 pools in North America use Skimmer to get organized, get paid faster, and grow their businesses.
About Orenda:
Orenda (a HASA Company) is at the forefront of revolutionizing water treatment solutions for pools, emphasizing the importance of proper water chemistry and sustainability. Through its advanced technology and expertise, Orenda helps optimize pool water quality by empowering pool professionals with industry-leading products and educational resources.
About HASA:
HASA, Inc. is a leading producer and distributor of high-quality water treatment products used to sanitize and maintain water systems, including swimming pools, water tanks and containment vessels for recreational, industrial, and municipal end markets. Founded in 1964, the company operates out of facilities in California, Arizona, Washington, Nevada and Texas. Over its 60-year history, HASA has established a strong reputation for supplying superior products through excellent logistics and distribution capabilities. Additional information about HASA is available at www.hasa.com
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Jes Ellacott
Pools
This Pool Was Designed Specifically For a Lamborghini
In the realm of opulence and architectural innovation, a unique project has emerged, blending the world of high-end automobiles with the tranquility of a residential swimming pool. Nestled in the waterfront properties of South Florida, a cutting-edge pool, dubbed the “Lambo Pool,” has been crafted to showcase a homeowner’s Lamborghini in a mesmerizing aquatic display. This extraordinary venture was a collaboration between Foxterra Design, Custom Pool Systems, and Jonny Nalepa, a distinguished pool professional and aquatics engineer from Smart Aquatics.
A consultant on projects throughout the Sunshine state, Nalepa’s burgeoning firm Smart Aquatics recently had the opportunity to collaborate on numerous high profile projects, the latest was completed several months ago and has already begun turning heads.
Swimming Pool Built to Showcase a $250K Lamborghini
“The Lambo Pool” project, as Jonny Nalepa affectionately calls it, was brought to life through the vision of entrepreneur Alex Moeller, a passionate car enthusiast and homeowner in Davie, Florida. Moeller’s desire was to seamlessly integrate his prized Lamborghini Aventador SVJ into his backyard, an idea that prompted him to engage the expertise of Foxterra Design.
Foxterra Design, led by the innovative duo Justin and Nate, known for their wild and incredible designs, took on the challenge of creating a pool that would not only house the luxurious vehicle but also serve as a breathtaking water feature. The project was further brought to fruition by Custom Pool Systems, the builders responsible for transforming the conceptual design into a tangible reality.
Jonny Nalepa, in his role as a consultant, played a crucial part in transposing Foxterra Design’s conceptual renderings into a working set of construction drawings that Custom Pool Systems used to physically build the pool. With the Lamborghini being a high-value asset, Nalepa and his team took meticulous steps to prevent any potential damage. This involved extensive research, including reaching out to Lamborghini to obtain precise measurements and specifications for the vehicle.
Technical Challenges Bringing The Project To Fruition
“With a vehicle that’s probably over $250,000, we wanted to make sure that we didn’t damage the car by making the water too deep or when the car is driving over the perimeter overflow there,” said Nalepa, “I mean, there’s a slot with a gutter underneath, so we have a cantilevered condition. We got to make sure this thing’s going to work right.”
“This one happened to be on a grass edge, but we also had to make sure that we could support the vehicle going over this perimeter overflow as many times as the client wanted to move it, ” explained Nalepa.
“We took Foxterra’s design and we developed it to make sure that we met all the setbacks and the codes and everything for Miami. We did our due diligence and were pretty thorough. We looked up the actual model, make and model of the vehicle. We measured the height of it. We measured the width of the wheels, because there are some bubblers in that area where the car is parked. So we don’t want the car to drive over the bubblers, or at the very least, if the car does drive over them, we don’t want them to crack because most pool fixtures are plastic,” said Nalepa.
Going The Extra Mile To Research
In his detailed explanation, Nalepa mentioned, “We contacted Lamborghini, and we got all the specifications. We confirmed what the max slope was. The car can go up and down and left and right. And we wanted to make sure that we had enough water to overflow this feature so that you could visually see that it’s a water feature.”
“We had to modify what our typical perimeter overflow detail is,” explained Nalepa, “there’s a gutter beneath, in this case, a stainless steel overhang. It’s like an L bracket almost that overhangs a gutter and comes almost right up against the pool structure. So all you see is a little strip, but in the area where the car goes over, we didn’t want to have a full overhang of six or eight inches.”
“The car is pretty heavy, and you never know what’s going to happen,” said Nalepa, “someone could park it and stop. The back wheels could be sitting on that overhang, so we had to account for that and beef up the structure on that side.”
Thinking Around Corners
The way this was done is pretty ingenious, according to Nalepa. “We removed the drop piping from that entry area and wanted to make sure that the structure was robust enough so we got rid of all the PVC plumbing that goes in a typical perimeter overflow edge condition. Doing it that way we could increase the structural integrity of the concrete. We kind of made it a minimal gutter where the overhang is only a few inches.”
“We went through a couple of different iterations, by the way, before we landed on that one. In the end, it’s kind of a simple solution to achieve the look Foxterra was going for,” said Nalepa.
Despite the difficult technical challenges, the Lambo Pool was a resounding success. Nalepa expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We were excited to work on this project, but it was definitely a challenging one.”
“Lambo Pool” Collaboration Rolled Out a Winner
One of the standout moments for Nalepa was the opportunity to drive the Lamborghini onto the feature, a surreal experience for any car enthusiast. Reflecting on the uniqueness of the project, he remarked, “It’s so far out of something that you can dream up, the fact that Foxterra was like, ‘Let’s put it in the pool.’ Most people may have just parked it next to the pool or something like that, but they went for it.”
Custom Pool Systems also knocked it out of the park on this project. “The perimeter overflow is impressive. There are no dry spots. They did an incredible job executing and building this project. There’s a level of craftsmanship that you can see a mile away. It looks and feels expensive and that’s through material selections and just the way the mitered edges are and devils in the details kinds of things,” said Nalepa.
The Lambo Pool stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts of talented professionals in the fields of design, construction, and aquatics engineering. It exemplifies the intersection of luxury, creativity, and meticulous planning, resulting in a truly extraordinary fusion of automotive and aquatic excellence.
Want to learn more about the Lamborghini Pool? Listen to our entire conversation with Jonny Nalepa on the Pool Magazine podcast.
Photo / Video Credits: Jimi Smith Photography
Designer: Foxterra Design
Builder: Custom Pool Systems
Aquatics Engineering: Smart Aquatics
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