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I maintain my own residential pool and my Aqua Products EVO 614iQ robot is dying after just under 3 years. Before that I had a Dolphin that lasted about 7–8 years. After my experience with the EVO, I’m having a hard time convincing myself to spend another $800–$1,500 on a robot that may essentially be a 3–5 year consumable. Before the robot, had the Polaris 280 with the booster pump.  Pump died and the 280 needed too many parts, so capped off the booster line, but left in case I ever wanted to go back.

What I’m looking for is pretty simple: something to regularly clean debris off the floor of my pool with as little setup/teardown as possible. I can brush the pool myself. The robot’s primary job has always been keeping the bottom clean.

Pool/cleaning scenario: About 15K gallons, rectangular plaster pool with a 1K-gallon round spillover spa.…

Welcome to The Pool Community — a place where pool owners and the pool industry come together.

Whether you own your first pool, service hundreds of pools, build and remodel them, repair equipment, operate a pool business, buy and sell routes, or work elsewhere in the industry, you're welcome here.

Use the community to:

• Ask questions and get real-world advice

• Share your experience and expertise

• Troubleshoot pool and equipment problems

Pool technology is evolving quickly. Automation, variable-speed equipment, smart chemical monitoring, robotic cleaners, leak detection, route-management software, remote equipment monitoring, and AI are changing how pools are owned and serviced.

But not every new product or technology delivers meaningful value in the real world.

Pool owners: Which pool technology has genuinely made owning your pool easier? What have you tried that wasn't worth the money?

Pool professionals: Which technologies are actually improving efficiency, service quality, or profitability in your business?

And looking ahead, what technology do you think will have the biggest impact on the pool industry over the next five years?

Share specific products, software, or systems you've used when possible—and disclose any affiliation if you're connected to something you recommend.

There are two very different ways to grow a pool service business: acquire an existing route with recurring customers or build your customer base one account at a time.

Buying a route can provide immediate recurring revenue and route density, but it requires upfront capital and comes with risks like customer retention, account quality, pricing, and whether the seller's relationships will successfully transfer.

Building from scratch costs less upfront and gives you control over which customers you take on, but reaching meaningful route density can take time.

Pool business owners: If you were starting again today, would you buy a route or build from zero?

Route buyers: What would need to be true for an acquisition to make more sense than organic growth?

If you've done both, which produced the better return on your time and money?

Pool service pricing varies significantly depending on location, pool size, service frequency, chemical usage, equipment, screen enclosure, landscaping, travel time, and exactly what's included in the service.

That can make it difficult for both homeowners and newer pool companies to know what a reasonable monthly price actually looks like.

Pool owners: What do you currently pay for weekly pool service, what area are you in, and what's included?

Pool professionals: What do you consider a sustainable monthly price for quality weekly service in your market? Which factors cause you to charge more or less?

Please include your city or general market when sharing prices so others can understand the regional differences.

When building or remodeling a pool, it's easy for the wish list to grow quickly: automation, LED lighting, heaters, spas, water features, upgraded finishes, sun shelves, salt systems, variable-speed pumps, new decking, and more.

Some upgrades can dramatically improve how much you enjoy the pool. Others may look great initially but add cost, maintenance, or complexity without providing much long-term value.

Pool owners: Which upgrade are you happiest you paid for? Is there anything you spent money on that you wouldn't choose again?

Builders and pool professionals: Which upgrades consistently deliver the most value for customers, and which ones do you think homeowners should consider carefully?

If you've completed a build or remodel, feel free to share photos and what you'd do differently next time.

When building or remodeling a pool, it's easy for the wish list to grow quickly: automation, LED lighting, heaters, spas, water features, upgraded finishes, sun shelves, salt systems, variable-speed pumps, new decking, and more.

Some upgrades can dramatically improve how much you enjoy the pool. Others may look great initially but add cost, maintenance, or complexity without providing much long-term value.

Pool owners: Which upgrade are you happiest you paid for? Is there anything you spent money on that you wouldn't choose again?

Builders and pool professionals: Which upgrades consistently deliver the most value for customers, and which ones do you think homeowners should consider carefully?

If you've completed a build or remodel, feel free to share photos and what you'd do differently next time.

Pool pumps normally make some noise, but grinding, screeching, rattling, humming, or suddenly becoming much louder than usual can be a sign that something isn't right.

Possible causes can range from debris and vibration to restricted water flow, air entering the system, worn bearings, cavitation, or problems with the motor.

Pool owners: What kind of noise was your pump making, and what turned out to be the problem?

Pool pros: Which pump noises immediately tell you something needs attention? What should a homeowner safely check before calling for service?

If you're troubleshooting your own pump, include the pump model, approximate age, and a description or video of the sound if possible.

A green pool doesn't always mean you simply need to add more chlorine. Water chemistry, filtration, circulation, algae growth, stabilizer levels, and even how the pool is being brushed and cleaned can all play a role.

Pool owners: Have you ever had a pool that kept turning green even after treating it? What finally fixed the problem?

Pool pros: What are the most common reasons you see pools repeatedly develop algae, and what do you check before recommending more chemicals?

Share your experiences and troubleshooting tips below. If you're asking about your own pool, include your recent test results when possible.