Smart Pool Technology — What’s Available Now and Is It Worth It?

Pool technology has moved on significantly in the last few years. What was once only found on commercial pools or high end hotel installations is now readily available for residential pools of any size — and the good news is that most of it can be retrofitted to an existing pool without major works.

Here’s a straightforward guide to what’s out there, what it actually does, and whether it’s worth the investment.

Why Automate Your Pool?

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Automated Chemical Dosing

The most impactful upgrade most pool owners can make is automated chemical dosing. Instead of manually testing the water and adding chemicals by hand, an automated system continuously monitors pH and chlorine levels using probes in the filtration circuit and doses the correct amount of chemical automatically whenever levels drift outside the target range.

Bayrol PoolManager PRO

One of the best systems available for residential pools. The PoolManager PRO monitors pH and chlorine continuously, doses automatically, controls the filter pump, heating, lighting and cover, and can trigger an automatic backwash of the filter when pressure rises. The whole system is app controlled — you can check your water parameters from anywhere and receive email alerts if something needs attention. The large touchscreen display gives a full readout of all water values at a glance.

Bayrol Automatic CL-pH

A more straightforward entry level option — WiFi built in as standard, 4.3 inch touchscreen, remote access via smartphone, automatic pH and chlorine dosing for pools up to 90m³. A solid, reliable system at a more accessible price point. Developed and manufactured in Germany with a 3 year warranty.

The Daisy Dosing System

For pool owners who want the very best in water treatment, the Daisy system takes a completely different approach. Rather than simply dosing chemicals to kill bacteria, the Daisy system prevents bacterial growth in the first place. It uses three elements working together:

• AFM filter media — fully resistant to biofouling, bacteria have no substrate on which to grow and multiply
• ZPM (Zeta Potential Mixer) — enhances filtration performance at a molecular level, filtering particles down to 0.1 micron
• APF fluid — dosed continuously at a very low rate, creating an environment where bacteria cannot multiply

The result is dramatically reduced chlorine dependency, crystal clear water and a much lower chemical bill. Particularly well suited to pools that struggle with water quality or where the owner wants to reduce chemical use for health or environmental reasons.

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Live Water Monitoring

ICO Pool Monitor

The ICO Pool Monitor is a floating device that sits in your pool water and monitors water chemistry 24 hours a day via AI-driven sensors. It connects to your home WiFi and sends real time data and personalised recommendations directly to your phone. No test strips, no manual testing — check your pool’s pH, chlorine, temperature and overall water status from the app at any time. A relatively affordable entry point into smart pool monitoring that works well alongside an existing dosing setup.

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Full Pool Automation

Certikin Smart Pool (SMART002)

The most comprehensive UK designed and manufactured pool automation solution available for residential pools. The Certikin Smart Pool controls pump, heating, lighting, cover and UV system from a single hub, with full app control via iOS and Android. Key features include:

• Weather forecast integration — optimises energy use based on local conditions
• Automatic chemical reordering before supplies run out
• Amazon Alexa compatible for voice control
• Automated backwash triggered by filter pressure or on demand via app
• Indoor pool integration with air handling and dehumidification systems
• Designed and manufactured in the UK

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Remote Backwash

Worth highlighting specifically — remote backwash is one of the most practically useful features of modern pool automation. Both the Bayrol PoolManager PRO and the Certikin Smart Pool system can trigger a filter backwash automatically when filter pressure rises, or manually on demand via the app.

For pool owners who travel regularly or simply want the peace of mind of knowing the filter is always running at peak efficiency without being on site, this is genuinely valuable. A filter running with high pressure is working harder than it needs to, consuming more energy and delivering poorer water quality — remote backwash eliminates this without any manual intervention.

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Variable Speed Pumps

Not strictly smart technology but worth mentioning in this context — variable speed pumps pair well with any automation system. Rather than running at full power constantly, a variable speed pump adjusts its speed to match demand, running slowly during off peak periods and faster during filtration cycles or backwash. Energy savings are substantial — typically 50–70% less energy than a single speed equivalent. Most modern variable speed pumps can be scheduled and controlled remotely when paired with an automation system.

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Is It Worth It?

For pool owners who use their pool regularly and want maximum convenience with minimum effort — yes, absolutely. The combination of automated dosing, live monitoring and app control means your pool is always ready to swim in, chemical costs are reduced, and you’re alerted immediately if anything needs attention.

The technology has matured to the point where it’s reliable, straightforward to use and genuinely adds value to pool ownership. Most systems can be retrofitted to an existing pool without major disruption.

For pools that are used seasonally or infrequently, the investment is harder to justify — though even basic automated dosing will improve water quality and reduce the risk of algae or water chemistry problems developing between visits.