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Automation in David's words
Remodel · Pool Automation & Smart Control
Pool automation — one app for the pump, heater, spa, lights, and salt.
A modern pool runs on a controller, not on a homeowner walking to the equipment pad to flip three valves and a pump dial. AE installs and programs Pentair IntelliCenter, Jandy iAquaLink, and Hayward OmniLogic systems across Phoenix metro — new builds and retrofits. The right automation makes the pool easier to use, cheaper to run, and easier to maintain.
The honest version: Automation isn't worth it on a tiny play pool with one pump and no spa. It's absolutely worth it on any pool with a heater, a spa, water features, or multiple lighting zones — which is most Phoenix pools. The single most-used feature in every install: pre-heating the spa from the app on the drive home.
Educational estimate, not a quote. Ranges shown are Arizona-market planning estimates. Final pricing depends on site access, size, materials, engineering, drainage, utilities, permits, equipment access, existing conditions, and final scope. Binding pricing is only valid in a written proposal signed by an AE representative.
Budget to the high end. Use the top of every range on this page as your working number. The low end assumes easy access, sound existing conditions, and standard selections — real Arizona projects often carry demolition, drainage or grading work, upgraded materials, or conditions found once work starts. If the top of the range still fits your plan, the project fits your budget. Ranges are planning guidance, not a quote; the signed scope controls.
01
What automation controls
- Variable-speed pump (schedules + manual override)
- Gas heater or heat pump (auto on/off, freeze protect)
- Spa pre-heat, blower, and jet timer
- Valve actuators (pool↔spa, water features, in-floor cleaning)
- Salt cell output and reverse-cycle schedule
- LED pool and spa lights — color, scene, brightness
- Landscape lighting integration (FX, Kichler, low-voltage transformers)
- Freeze protection (auto pump run at <36°F)
- Chemistry monitoring (on platforms with ORP/pH sensors)
02
Platforms we install
- Pentair IntelliCenter — most flexible, best dealer support in Phoenix
- Jandy iAquaLink — easiest homeowner app experience
- Hayward OmniLogic — strong value, solid hardware
- We stay in-family with existing pump/heater/salt brand when possible
03
2026 Phoenix-metro pricing
- Basic (controller + pool/spa actuators + LED light integration): $2,500–$3,800
- Mid (above + heater integration + 2 water-feature zones): $3,800–$5,200
- Premium (full IntelliCenter/OmniLogic + chemistry + multi-zone lighting): $5,200–$8,500
- Bundle with VS pump + salt + lighting in a pad rebuild: 15–25% savings
04
Retrofit-friendly
AE retrofits automation onto pools we didn't build. Most retrofits take 1–2 days at the equipment pad — no pool draining, no deck work. We test WiFi signal first and add a mesh point in the scope if needed (about 30% of Phoenix yards need this).
05
Smart-home integrations
- Apple HomeKit (Jandy iAquaLink, some Pentair via bridge)
- Amazon Alexa + Google Assistant voice control
- Geofencing — auto-warm spa when you cross a perimeter
- Native control from the manufacturer app (works on iOS + Android)
06
What we include at startup
- On-site programming with your typical schedule
- Three saved lighting scenes (entertaining, evening, holiday)
- Spa preset (your favorite temp + jet timer)
- Freeze protection enabled and tested
- Walkthrough on the app and the wall keypad
- Written diagram of valves, zones, and labels
FAQ
Common questions.
Pump speed and schedules, heater on/off, salt cell output, valve actuators (pool↔spa, water features, in-floor cleaning), pool and landscape lighting scenes, spa pre-heat, freeze protection, and chemistry monitoring (ORP/pH on some platforms). The full system runs from a wall keypad and a phone app — Pentair IntelliCenter, Jandy iAquaLink, or Hayward OmniLogic.
Almost always. Any pool with a variable-speed pump, a heater, and at least one extra zone (spa, water feature, or in-floor cleaning) is a strong automation candidate. The controller and relay panel mount at the equipment pad, valve actuators replace manual valves, and the system is programmed once at startup. Most retrofits take 1–2 days.
Honest take from the field: Pentair IntelliCenter is the most flexible and best-supported in Phoenix, especially for complex pads (multiple heaters, in-floor cleaning, multi-zone lighting). Jandy iAquaLink has the most polished homeowner app. Hayward OmniLogic is the value option with solid hardware. We stay in-family with your existing equipment when possible so the pump, salt, heater, and lights talk natively to the controller.
2026 ranges installed: basic controller + a few actuators (pool/spa + lights): $2,500–$3,800. Mid (above + heater integration + 2 water-feature zones + LED lighting): $3,800–$5,200. Premium (full IntelliCenter / OmniLogic with chemistry sensing, multiple zones, landscape lighting integration): $5,200–$8,500. Bundled with a variable-speed pump and salt system in a full pad rebuild typically saves 15–25%.
Yes — automation needs a reliable WiFi signal at the pad for app control. About 30% of Phoenix yards need a WiFi mesh node or outdoor access point added at install. We test signal strength before quoting; if it's weak, we add a mesh point in the scope so the system actually works the day we turn it on.
Yes — and this is one of the highest-impact integrations. Pentair IntelliCenter and Jandy iAquaLink both control low-voltage landscape transformers and color-changing fixtures (FX Luminaire, Kichler) directly. One app, one schedule, one scene button — pool lights, spa lights, path lights, tree lights, and architectural uplights all together.
Freeze protection auto-starts the pump when temps drop near 36°F to keep water moving and prevent pipe damage. Yes — Phoenix metro hits freeze 3–8 nights a year, and a frozen suction line can crack a pump housing or a returning line in the slab. Every modern automation system includes this for free; turning it on is one of the first things we configure.
Yes — that's the most-used feature on every automation system we install. Open the app on the drive home, tap 'heat spa', and the system starts the gas heater, runs the spa loop, and texts you when it hits set temp. Most homeowners find this one feature alone is worth the upgrade.
Real numbers, not marketing: scheduling a variable-speed pump on the proper curve (low speed long runs vs. high speed short runs) saves $300–$700/year on a typical Phoenix pool. Auto-stopping the heater when not needed and zoning lighting saves another $80–$200/year. The system typically pays for itself in 5–9 years on energy alone, faster if it replaces frequent service calls.
Most homeowners are comfortable in 10 minutes. We do a walkthrough at startup — set your favorite spa temp, set your preferred lighting scene, set the pump schedule, and we save the configuration. You can change anything from the app after, and we leave the keypad at the equipment pad as a backup that always works even if the app is down.
Free AE Tools
Plan before you sign anything.
Want pool automation that actually works?
Send a photo of your equipment pad and tell us what your pool has — pump brand, heater, spa, water features, lights. We'll spec the right system (Pentair, Jandy, or Hayward) and give you a real 2026 number with installation and programming included.
Request an Automation QuoteYour home investment — protected
Why this is an investment, not a cost.
An AE backyard is engineered to add daily livability and long-term home value. We publish honest ranges and build to code with a licensed and bonded Arizona crew. AE provides project-specific workmanship and manufacturer-warranty information in the signed agreement. Website summaries are for planning only.
- Licensed, bonded & insured in Arizona. ROC 340966 (R-62) · ROC 341002 (R-3) · ROC 347738 (KA-5) · ROC 211530 (CR-21). Most Arizona contracting work valued at $1,000 or more — or requiring a permit — must be performed by a properly licensed contractor, subject to statutory exemptions. Verify the legal entity, license status, and classification with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.
- Real ranges, itemized scope. You see materials, finishes, equipment models, and a line-item budget before you sign — not a one-line "pool — $90,000."