Every piece of equipment, explained.
How long it should last, what to check regularly, the failure signs to watch for, and when repair stops making sense. Equipment lifecycle tracking most pool apps skip entirely — Skimmer logs install dates, warranties, and service history for every one of these.
The pump circulates water from the pool through the filter and back again — the mechanical heart of the filtration system that every other piece of equipment depends on.
The filter removes suspended debris and particulates from circulating water before it returns to the pool. Cartridge, sand, and D.E. filters all do this job with different media and different maintenance rhythms.
A heater raises and maintains pool water temperature. Gas heaters heat quickly on demand, heat pumps extract heat from the air efficiently over a slower ramp, and solar heaters route water through rooftop or ground panels that use direct sunlight.
A salt chlorinator (salt cell) converts dissolved salt in the water into chlorine through electrolysis, continuously generating sanitizer so a saltwater pool rarely needs chlorine added by hand.
A chlorinator, sometimes called a chemical feeder, automatically dispenses chlorine tablets or liquid into circulating water so a traditional chlorine pool doesn't need chlorine added by hand every time.
An automatic pool cleaner vacuums debris and, on some models, scrubs the pool floor and walls. Robotic cleaners run independently with their own motor and filter, pressure-side cleaners use return-line water pressure, and suction-side cleaners connect to the pump's suction line.
An automation system centralizes control of pumps, heaters, lighting, and sometimes chemical feeders through a control panel or app, and can include ORP/pH controllers that automatically adjust sanitizer and acid dosing.
A pool cover reduces evaporation, heat loss, and debris, and — in the case of safety and automatic covers — restricts access to the water when it's not in use.