WPHT 2009:WPHT 2007 3/6/09 16:21 Page 34
SMART POOL
cover. Many of these auto systems can be fitted
“
with the right equipment you can
to existing covers or installed new.
The crème de la crème is the fully automatic,
control, for example, chemical
slatted safety cover which can be submerged or, if
being retrofitted, deck mounted at one end. These
dosing, cleaning, temperature,
can be made to fit almost any shape including roman
ends or free-form pools but, obviously, regular
filtration and backwashing,
shaped covers come cheaper. The deck mounted
covers, when retracted, roll up into a housing which
lights, cover and even music
”
comes in a range of styles and some, depending on
the manufacturer, try to disguise themselves (not
The occasional brush round will still be needed always successfully) as bench seating.
but not nearly as often as it would in a Submerged slatted covers are certainly less
normal pool. Still relatively new to the obtrusive but are usually only fitted to new pools or
market, try www.compasspools.com for those undergoing significant refurbishment. Both,
more information. however, can be automated so that at the click of a
Automatic pool cleaners have been switch or press of a button they open and close as
around for a number of years and have smoothly as curtains at the opera house.
come a long way since the old fashioned If your pool is indoors, there are now a number
models that missed bits and got stuck in the corners of ways to control the atmosphere automatically,
as though talking to themselves. Today’s models are linking heating, airconditioning and humidifiers so
intelligent little beasties that grub around the walls that the pool house maintains a constant, pre-
The touchpad control from
and floor of the pool, cleaning up as they go. selected atmosphere throughout the year.
Astralpool called the
Domitic Control operates The most advanced robotic systems do not The ultimate all singing, all-dancing, lazy-days
six different functions
around your pool
come cheap but if you really want to reduce the toy however has to be the touch pad Domitic
work, they are worth the investment. The Dolphin Control (www.astralpool.com) which will cost you
Moby is a modular, self diagnostic robot that around £2,000-£2,500 but will make your pool
scrubs, vacuums and filters the pool in around 2.5 about as labour-saving as it can get. From one,
hours. Dolphin, Barracuda and Polaris are the neat little control pad you can programme and
most reliable makes to look out for and all are operate up to six different operations around your
available from selected pools shops. pool. That means that with the right equipment
If lugging a pool cover on and off is still a you can control, for example, chemical dosing,
manual task you could do without there are cleaning, temperature, filtration and backwashing,
literally dozens of good, labour saving systems on lights, cover and even music.
the market. At the bottom end of the market is a The control unit for the Domitic can be installed
leading edge for soft covers, which make it easier anywhere in the house on the main electricity
for one person to pull the solar or heat retention circuit and will give you a read out of how your
Heating your pool through
the night allows you to cover across the pool. It is a very simple, bound pool is performing at any given time. Which means
wake up with a warm
and battened edge with a lead and most good you can operate everything from the comfort of
pool, knowing you’ve
reduced costs to a bubble covers come with it as an optional extra. your armchair or bed or even, with the addition of
minimum. Thermalec
swimming pool heater
Next up the line is the automatic reinforced vinyl a little more computer wizardry, from the airport
manufacturers provide a
cover, which runs between a track on one or both on the way home.
range of heaters
sides of the pool. One end of the aluminium roller Which means your pool will always be waiting
■ Tel: 01752 313343 has an electric or hydraulic motor which has a for you clean, sparkling and at just the right
■ www.thermalec.co.uk simple two direction switch to open and close the temperature for you to step in to.
34 WHAT POOL & HOT TUB WWW.WHATPOOLANDHOTTUBMAG.CO.UK
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100