A system and a method is provided for automatically changing color of pool lights to provide a visual notification regarding any change or anomaly associated with pool water. The system may comprise a receiver adapted to receive a measured value corresponding to one or more water quality parameters associated with water of a pool. The system may comprise a controller to analyze the measured value corresponding to the one or more water quality parameter to determine whether there is an anomaly associated with one or more of the water quality parameters; and a transmitter adapted to transmit a signal to one or more lights of the pool for changing from a first state to a second state based on the anomaly.

An illustrated view of an exemplary pool heater device for providing heating of water for a swimming pool is presented. The pool heater device is useful for providing a quick and almost instantaneous heating of the water for a swimming pool. The pool heater device further has a quick and easy installation and can be installed on any swimming pool of any size. The pool heater device is portable and can be installed by an owner of the swimming pool without help of others.

The solar thermal collection and radiant heating system for a spa comprising upper and lower absorber members having fluid passageways and in thermal communication, a skin member encasing said upper and lower absorber members and an insulative member located therebetween the upper and lower members and a solar collection device located on the skin member.

A device, system, and a method are provided for notifying a user to replace a sacrificial anode in a pool or spa system. The device is provided in the form of a body defining a cavity, a sacrificial anode, and a sensor. The sacrificial anode substantially surrounds the cavity when the sacrificial anode is coupled to the body. The sensor is at least partially received into the cavity and is in communication with a pool automation system. The sensor is designed to transmit a signal to the pool automation system when the sensor detects water within the cavity. The signal is processed by the pool automation system, and the pool automation system may then transmit a notification to a user that the sacrificial anode is depleted.

A swimming pool or spa may include hybrid heater. The hybrid heater includes an enclosure, a first heat source within the enclosure, and a second heat source within the enclosure. The first heat source may include an electric heater. A method of heating a swimming pool or spa using the hybrid heater includes receiving information about a desired temperature of the pool, determining an operating mode of the hybrid heater based on the received information, and controlling the hybrid heater pursuant to the determined operating mode.

Freeze-protection systems and techniques are identified, particularly for equipment of swimming pools and spas. Included within structures subject to receiving water subject to freezing are means for accommodating expanded volumes of the water as it freezes. In this manner, the expanded volumes are less likely to cause damage to the structures themselves.

A modulating heater system for a pool or spa includes a pool or spa heater capable of variably modulating energy output thereof and a controller communicatively coupled thereto. The controller determines a predicted load based on a previous load, ambient and water temperatures, and estimated pool/spa size, and determines an overshoot setpoint for an operational mode. The controller establishes a target temperature setpoint for the mode and receives a current water temperature. The controller determines whether the overshoot setpoint plus target temperature setpoint is greater than the current water temperature, and determines an error based thereon. The controller determines if the error is less than or greater than a target for the mode, and, based on this determination, determines a heater modulation rate for the mode taking into account the mode, maximum heater output, and available fuel supply. The controller controls the heater to operate at the determined modulation rate.

A publicly accessible urban beach entertainment complex is disclosed, with a man-made tropical, pristine-clear lagoon as the centerpiece of the complex, with surrounding entertainment, educational, sports, and commercial facilities, the complex having controlled public access and providing the look and feel of a tropical beach with clear waters and sandy beaches. In addition a method for efficiently utilizing facilities and land that are vacant, underutilized, have limited uses, or that are contiguous to or nearby recreational, educational, sports, or commercial venues is disclosed. The method providing a publicly accessible urban beach entertainment complex with a centerpiece man-made tropical-style pristine-clear lagoon. The method allows for generating revenue and increasing efficiency by pairing vacant sites, underutilized sites, limited use land, or sites that are contiguous to entertainment, educational, sports, and/or commercial venues with urban beach entertainment complexes. The complex preferably has a controlled public access, thereby allowing entrance upon payment of a fee.

“Just in time” operational techniques allow equipment of swimming pools or spas to achieve identified water temperatures at specified times. A user may supply information such as a desired water temperature (i.e. a temperature set point) and a time at which the water is desired to be at the desired temperature. After receiving the user-supplied information, software may account as well for certain environmental conditions to devise a suitable schedule for controlling heating of the water of the swimming pool or spa. Adjustments may be made to the schedule based on then-current water temperatures or other changed conditions.

A pool heating system has a housing, a water inlet, a plurality of pipes comprising baffles, and a water outlet. The baffles create turbulence in the flow of the water, increasing kinetic energy and pressure (compression). As a result of the compression and kinetic energy, the temperature of the water increases. The water then passes to the outlet, where it exits at a higher temperature than when it entered.