Pool Equipment, Technology and Care

The pump should match your pool's circulation needs and the equipment it serves, including the filter, heater, spa and water features. Bigger is not automatically better. Variable-speed pumps are the standard today because they can run at lower speeds for routine circulation and use much less energy, and California energy regulations favor them for residential pools. We select and set up the pump based on your actual design and operating needs.

A heat pump is useful for efficient, sustained heating, while gas can provide faster supplemental heating when the design and applicable rules allow it. Air temperature, wind, cover use and your swimming schedule affect performance, so a coastal pool and a La Quinta pool should not be sized from the same assumption. California’s 2025 Energy Code, effective January 1, 2026, generally requires a qualifying primary heating source for new heating installations, with exceptions for specified existing systems and spa applications. We size and control the package for your actual project.

Yes. Solar pool heating uses collectors, usually on a roof, to warm pool water with very low operating costs. Under California's 2025 Energy Code, effective January 1, 2026, solar is one of the qualifying primary heating paths for a new heated pool: for a single-family home, the collector area must be at least 60% of the pool and spa water surface area. Solar can also be combined with a heat pump. We help you decide whether your roof space and sun exposure make solar a good fit.

Yes. A cover reduces evaporation, which is the largest source of heat loss in a pool, so it keeps heated water warm and reduces water and chemical loss. Under California's Energy Code, outdoor pools and spas heated with electric or gas heat must have a cover, and state guidance says it must be fitted and installed by final inspection; unheated and solar-only pools are not subject to that requirement. Note that an ordinary thermal cover is not a safety cover unless it meets the applicable safety standard.

An automatic pool cover is a motorized cover that extends and retracts across the pool with a key switch or control. A properly certified and installed automatic safety cover can serve as one of the drowning prevention features recognized by California law, and it also reduces heat loss, evaporation, debris and cleaning. Covers work best with rectangular and geometric pools and must be planned during design for the mechanism and housing.

No. A salt chlorine generator produces chlorine from dissolved salt in the water. Many people prefer how salt pools feel, and the system reduces handling of chlorine products, but the water still needs regular testing, balancing and care. Salt can also affect some natural stone, metals and finishes, so materials must be selected with salt in mind. It is a method of providing sanitizer, not chemical-free or maintenance-free swimming.

Both keep a pool sanitized with chlorine; the difference is how it is delivered. A salt system generates chlorine automatically from salt, so many homeowners enjoy softer-feeling water and fewer chemical purchases. Traditional chlorine systems have lower equipment costs and avoid salt's effects on some stone and metal materials. Other options, such as ozone or UV systems, can supplement chlorine. We help you choose based on your preferences, materials and maintenance plans.

A pool automation system lets you control pumps, heaters, lights, valves, water features and sometimes cleaners and sanitation from a phone app, a wall panel or a remote. You can set schedules, heat the spa before you get home and change light colors. Automation makes operation easier, but it does not replace water testing or regular care. Our proposal lists the functions included, and we demonstrate the system at handover.

The three main types are cartridge, diatomaceous earth (DE) and sand filters. Cartridge filters are popular in Southern California because they filter well and do not require backwashing. DE filters provide very fine filtration but require more involved cleaning. Sand filters are simple but filter less finely. We select the filter based on your pool size, equipment and maintenance preferences, with safe and practical service access.

Water chemistry changes constantly with sun, heat, rain, swimmers and debris. Regular testing tells you whether sanitizer, pH and alkalinity are in the right range to protect swimmers, finishes and equipment. A new pool needs especially careful attention during the startup period while the finish cures. Automation and salt systems make care easier, but they do not eliminate testing. Follow the finish manufacturer's startup instructions, then keep a consistent care routine.

Store pool chemicals in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area out of the reach of children and pets, away from heat sources and from incompatible products, and never mix chemicals together. Always follow each product's label instructions. We discuss chemical storage when planning your equipment area, and your pool-care professional can advise you on the specific products used at your property.

Yes. We plan equipment placement early, keeping it away from bedrooms, outdoor living areas and neighbors' patios where possible, and we choose quiet variable-speed pumps. Equipment needs clearances and service access, so it should not be enclosed wherever it happens to fit. Screening walls and planting can reduce visibility and sound. We design the equipment area to meet local requirements and manufacturer instructions while keeping it as unobtrusive as possible.

You should receive an equipment list, operating instructions, warranty documents, startup and care instructions for your finishes and equipment, and a practical walkthrough of the controls. At Richard Lusk Landscape and Design, we walk you through how everything works and who to contact with questions. Keep these records with your contract and change orders. Ongoing pool maintenance is performed by your pool-care provider, not included in construction.

We specify Pentair pool equipment, with IntelliCenter automation for the agreed control functions. The pump, filter, heater, sanitation equipment and controls are selected as a compatible package and identified in your proposal. Heating capacity, electrical supply, manufacturer requirements and California energy rules are checked for the project; the final equipment schedule defines what is included.

A variable-speed pump adjusts its speed to the circulation task. Lower-speed filtration can reduce electricity use and noise, while features such as spa jets may need different flows. The pump must be selected for the actual plumbing and equipment and comply with the applicable efficiency standards. Not every specialty pump has the same requirements. We size the equipment and commission the schedules for your pool.

We can plan for the cleaning system that suits your pool. Robotic cleaners are independent units that scrub and vacuum the pool and are very popular today. In-floor cleaning systems use pop-up heads built into the pool floor and must be designed and installed during construction. Pressure-side and suction-side cleaners are other options. We discuss cleaning preferences during design so the right plumbing is in place.

Equipment life depends on the quality of the product, how it is installed, water chemistry, how many hours it runs and how well it is maintained. Pumps, heaters, salt cells and automation components all have different service lives and manufacturer warranties. Proper sizing, balanced water and routine service extend equipment life. Your handover package includes the manufacturer warranty information for each component.

Yes. With a modern pool automation system, you can control pumps, heaters, lights, water features and schedules from a smartphone app, whether you are in the backyard or away from home. You can heat the spa on your way home or switch the pool lights to a favorite color for guests. We install and set up the system and show you how to use it.

Ozone and ultraviolet (UV) systems are supplemental sanitation systems that treat water as it passes through the equipment, reducing contaminants and the amount of chlorine needed. They do not replace chlorine entirely, because a residual sanitizer is still required in the pool. Some homeowners add them for improved water quality and comfort. We can include them in your equipment package.

No. Richard Lusk Landscape and Design is a design-build construction company, and we do not provide weekly pool cleaning or maintenance service. When your pool is completed, we provide startup and care information and walk you through your equipment so you and your pool service provider are fully prepared.

We do not publish cost estimates because operating costs depend on pool size, heating use, utility rates, equipment efficiency and how many hours the pump runs. A variable-speed pump, a cover on a heated pool, an efficient heat pump or solar heating (now generally required as the primary heat source for new heated pools in California) and smart schedules are the most effective ways to keep operating costs down. We design every equipment system with efficiency in mind.

Not necessarily. In many pool-and-spa combinations, one heating system serves both, with valves directing water to the spa or the pool. Under California's 2026 Energy Code, a new heated pool needs a qualifying primary heating system, such as a heat pump or solar, and a gas heater may be added as a supplemental heater, which many homeowners use for fast spa heating. The code has limited spa-only exceptions, but an integrated pool and spa is not automatically treated as a spa. We design the heating setup to comply and to suit how you use each.

Yes, in most cases. Automation can be added to many existing pools by installing a control system, actuators on valves, and compatible equipment. Older pumps or heaters may need replacement for full compatibility. Adding automation is often part of a pool remodel or equipment upgrade.