Is Sutro still a good solution?

NO! Sutro is shutting down October 31, 2025. Devices and app will stop working. Choose PoolSense, WaterGuru, or DIY instead.

What's the difference between pH, ORP, and free chlorine?

pH measures acidity (7.2-7.6 optimal). ORP (mV) is an indirect chlorine indicator affected by pH and temp. Free chlorine (ppm) is the actual active chlorine amount. WaterGuru is the only one that measures true free chlorine.

Which water quality monitor has Home Assistant integration?

Only PoolSense has native HA integration. WaterGuru, iopool, and others require their apps. For full HA control, build a DIY ESPHome sensor.

Can I control my Balboa hot tub with Home Assistant?

Yes! Balboa Spa Client is a native HA integration with 394+ users. It supports temperature, pumps, blower, and lights with local WiFi control.

How do I save energy on pool heating?

Integrate with your electricity price sensor and only heat during low prices. Use a solar cover to reduce heat loss. Lower temperature when away. With HA, everything can be automated.

Smart Pool & Spa

Pool Spa Water Quality

Smart pool and spa control gives you automatic water quality monitoring, remote control of pumps, heaters, and lights, plus energy-saving automations. With Home Assistant, you can integrate everything into one unified system.

🌊 Water Quality Monitors

Product Overview

Monitor	HA Integration	Measures	Price	Status
PoolSense	✅ Native	pH, ORP, temp	💰💰	✅ Active
WaterGuru S2	❌ App only	pH, Cl, TA, CYA, CH	💰💰💰	✅ Active
iopool EcO	❌ App only	ORP, pH, temp	💰💰	✅ Active
DIY ESPHome	✅ Full local	pH, ORP, temp	💰	✅ Active
~~Sutro~~	⚠️ HACS	pH, Cl, alk	-	❌ Closing Oct 2025
~~pHin~~	-	-	-	❌ Discontinued 2021

Price: ~$200

Only water quality monitor with native Home Assistant integration:

✅ pH measurement
✅ ORP (chlorine indicator)
✅ Water temperature
✅ Direct in HA without HACS
✅ Cloud API (polling)

Native Integration

# Settings → Devices → Add Integration
# Search for "PoolSense"

# Requires:
# - PoolSense email
# - PoolSense password

# Entities created:
# - sensor.poolsense_ph
# - sensor.poolsense_orp
# - sensor.poolsense_water_temperature
# - sensor.poolsense_battery

Automation Example

automation:
  - alias: "Pool - Low pH alarm"
    trigger:
      - platform: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.poolsense_ph
        below: 7.0
        for: "01:00:00"
    action:
      - service: notify.mobile_app
        data:
          title: "⚠️ Pool pH too low!"
          message: >
            Pool pH is {{ states('sensor.poolsense_ph') }}.
            Add pH increaser (base) to raise pH.

  - alias: "Pool - High ORP (enough chlorine)"
    trigger:
      - platform: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.poolsense_orp
        above: 750
    action:
      - service: switch.turn_off
        entity_id: switch.pool_chlorinator

Buy: PoolSense, Amazon

💧 WaterGuru Sense S2

Price: ~~$300 + cassettes (~~$15/month)

Most advanced optical measurements:

✅ Free chlorine (FC) - actual measurement, not ORP
✅ pH
✅ Total alkalinity (TA)
✅ Cyanuric acid (CYA)
✅ Calcium hardness (CH)
✅ Temperature
✅ Installs in skimmer
❌ No Home Assistant integration

# No official HA integration
# Data only available via WaterGuru app

# Workaround: Manual input helpers
input_number:
  pool_fc:
    name: Pool Free Chlorine
    min: 0
    max: 10
    step: 0.1
    unit_of_measurement: "ppm"
  pool_ph_manual:
    name: Pool pH (manual)
    min: 6.5
    max: 8.5
    step: 0.1

Buy: WaterGuru.com, Amazon

🔋 iopool EcO

Price: ~$200 (including gateway)

Floating water quality monitor:

✅ ORP (disinfection potential)
✅ pH
✅ Temperature
✅ Measures every 15 min
✅ 3-4 seasons lifespan
✅ Bluetooth + WiFi gateway
❌ No official HA integration

Buy: iopool.com

🔧 DIY ESPHome pH/ORP Sensor

Price: ~$50-100

Cheapest solution with full local control:

✅ ESP32 or D1 Mini
✅ pH probe + ADC module
✅ ORP probe (optional)
✅ DS18B20 temperature
✅ ESPHome integration
✅ Requires calibration

Components:

ESP32 (~$5)
PH-4502C pH sensor module (~$15)
pH probe (~$10-30)
DS18B20 waterproof temp (~$5)
ORP probe module (~$20)

ESPHome Configuration

esphome:
  name: pool-sensor
  platform: ESP32
  board: esp32dev

wifi:
  ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
  password: !secret wifi_password

api:
ota:

# pH Sensor (analog)
sensor:
  - platform: adc
    pin: GPIO34
    name: "Pool pH"
    id: pool_ph
    update_interval: 60s
    unit_of_measurement: "pH"
    accuracy_decimals: 2
    filters:
      - calibrate_linear:
          - 0.0 -> 0.0
          - 3.3 -> 14.0
      # Calibrate with buffer solutions!
      # pH 4.0 buffer = X volts
      # pH 7.0 buffer = Y volts
      # pH 10.0 buffer = Z volts

  # ORP Sensor
  - platform: adc
    pin: GPIO35
    name: "Pool ORP"
    id: pool_orp
    update_interval: 60s
    unit_of_measurement: "mV"
    accuracy_decimals: 0
    filters:
      - multiply: 1000  # Adjust per module

  # Temperature (DS18B20)
  - platform: dallas_temp
    address: 0x1234567890ABCDEF  # Your sensor address
    name: "Pool Temperature"
    update_interval: 60s

# OneWire bus for temp sensor
one_wire:
  - pin: GPIO4

pH Calibration

Buy buffer solutions (pH 4.0, 7.0, 10.0)
Dip probe in pH 7.0 buffer
Note ADC value (volts)
Repeat for pH 4.0 and 10.0
Update calibrate_linear filter

filters:
  - calibrate_linear:
      - 2.5 -> 7.0   # Midpoint
      - 3.0 -> 4.0   # Acidic
      - 2.0 -> 10.0  # Basic

ORP Calibration

ORP typically doesn’t require calibration, but check:

650-750 mV = Normal pool chlorine
Below 650 mV = Add chlorine
Above 800 mV = Too much chlorine

🏊 Pool Controllers

Pentair IntelliCenter

Overview
Home Assistant

Price: ~$2,000+ (complete system)

Premium pool automation:

✅ Pump control (variable speed)
✅ Heater control
✅ ColorLogic/IntelliBrite lights
✅ Chlorinator (IntelliChlor)
✅ Water features
✅ Scheduling
✅ HACS integration (local push)

HACS Integration

# HACS → Custom Repositories
# https://github.com/dwradcliffe/intellicenter

# Entities created:
# - climate.pool (temperature control)
# - climate.spa
# - switch.pool_pump
# - switch.spa_pump
# - switch.pool_heater
# - light.pool_light (with color effects)
# - sensor.pool_water_temperature
# - sensor.air_temperature

Automation Examples

automation:
  # Sun-based pump operation
  - alias: "Pool - Run pump during sun hours"
    trigger:
      - platform: sun
        event: sunrise
        offset: "+01:00:00"
    action:
      - service: switch.turn_on
        entity_id: switch.pool_pump

  - alias: "Pool - Stop pump after sunset"
    trigger:
      - platform: sun
        event: sunset
        offset: "+02:00:00"
    action:
      - service: switch.turn_off
        entity_id: switch.pool_pump

  # Energy-optimized heating
  - alias: "Pool - Heat during low electricity price"
    trigger:
      - platform: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.electricity_price
        below: 0.10
    condition:
      - condition: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.pool_water_temperature
        below: 78
    action:
      - service: climate.set_temperature
        entity_id: climate.pool
        data:
          temperature: 82

Hayward OmniLogic

Overview
Home Assistant

Price: ~$2,500+

Competitor to Pentair:

✅ Pump and heater control
✅ ColorLogic V2 lights
✅ Chlorinator control
✅ Native HA integration (cloud)
✅ HACS local UDP integration

Native Integration (Cloud)

# Settings → Devices → Add Integration
# Search for "Hayward OmniLogic"

# Requires Hayward app login
# Cloud polling - not local

# Entities:
# - sensor.omnilogic_air_temp
# - sensor.omnilogic_water_temp
# - switch.omnilogic_pump
# - switch.omnilogic_heater
# - light.omnilogic_lights

HACS Local Integration

# For local UDP control:
# HACS → Custom Repositories
# https://github.com/cryptk/haomnilogic-local

# Requires static IP on OmniLogic
# Much faster response than cloud

Chlorinator Automation

automation:
  - alias: "Pool - Adjust chlorinator by ORP"
    trigger:
      - platform: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.pool_orp
        below: 650
        for: "00:30:00"
    action:
      - service: omnilogic.set_chlor_timed_percent
        target:
          entity_id: switch.chlorinator
        data:
          timed_percent: 80

🛁 Hot Tub / Spa (Balboa)

Overview
Home Assistant

Native Home Assistant Integration!

Balboa Spa Client supports spas with:

Balboa BP system
bwa™ Wi-Fi Module (50350)

Features:

✅ Temperature control
✅ Pump control (1-3 pumps)
✅ Blower/air bubbles
✅ Light control
✅ Heating modes
✅ Auto-discovery

Native Integration

# Auto-discovered or:
# Settings → Devices → Add Integration
# Search for "Balboa Spa Client"

# Enter IP address of spa WiFi module

# Entities:
# - climate.balboa_spa (temperature)
# - switch.balboa_pump_1
# - switch.balboa_pump_2
# - fan.balboa_blower
# - light.balboa_light
# - binary_sensor.balboa_heating

Automation Examples

automation:
  # Preheat spa before use
  - alias: "Spa - Preheat for weekend"
    trigger:
      - platform: time
        at: "16:00:00"
    condition:
      - condition: time
        weekday:
          - fri
          - sat
    action:
      - service: climate.set_temperature
        entity_id: climate.balboa_spa
        data:
          temperature: 100

  # Energy saving
  - alias: "Spa - Lower temp at night"
    trigger:
      - platform: time
        at: "23:00:00"
    action:
      - service: climate.set_temperature
        entity_id: climate.balboa_spa
        data:
          temperature: 93

  # Notification when ready
  - alias: "Spa - Temperature reached"
    trigger:
      - platform: numeric_state
        entity_id: climate.balboa_spa
        attribute: current_temperature
        above: 99
    condition:
      - condition: state
        entity_id: binary_sensor.balboa_heating
        state: "on"
    action:
      - service: notify.mobile_app
        data:
          title: "🛁 Spa is ready!"
          message: "Water temperature has reached {{ state_attr('climate.balboa_spa', 'current_temperature') }}°F"

📊 Dashboard: Pool Monitor Card

HACS Lovelace Card for beautiful pool visualization:

# HACS → Frontend → Search "Pool Monitor Card"
# Install and restart

# Dashboard configuration
type: custom:pool-monitor-card
sensors:
  temperature:
    - entity: sensor.pool_temperature
      name: "Water Temperature"
      setpoint: 78
  ph:
    - entity: sensor.pool_ph
      name: "pH"
      setpoint: 7.4
      step: 0.1
  orp:
    - entity: sensor.pool_orp
      name: "ORP"
      setpoint: 700
      unit: "mV"

Complete Dashboard

type: vertical-stack
cards:
  # Pool Monitor Card
  - type: custom:pool-monitor-card
    sensors:
      temperature:
        - entity: sensor.pool_temperature
      ph:
        - entity: sensor.pool_ph
      orp:
        - entity: sensor.pool_orp

  # Control buttons
  - type: horizontal-stack
    cards:
      - type: button
        entity: switch.pool_pump
        name: Pump
        icon: mdi:pump
      - type: button
        entity: switch.pool_heater
        name: Heater
        icon: mdi:water-boiler
      - type: button
        entity: light.pool_light
        name: Light
        icon: mdi:lightbulb

  # Graphs
  - type: history-graph
    title: "Pool Temperature (24 hours)"
    entities:
      - entity: sensor.pool_temperature
    hours_to_show: 24

🤖 Smart Automations

Complete Pool Automation

automation:
  # Daily pump cycle based on sun
  - alias: "Pool - Smart pump operation"
    trigger:
      - platform: sun
        event: sunrise
        offset: "+02:00:00"
    action:
      - service: switch.turn_on
        entity_id: switch.pool_pump
      - wait_for_trigger:
          - platform: sun
            event: sunset
            offset: "-01:00:00"
      - service: switch.turn_off
        entity_id: switch.pool_pump

  # Water quality alarm
  - alias: "Pool - Water quality problem"
    trigger:
      - platform: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.pool_ph
        above: 7.8
      - platform: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.pool_ph
        below: 7.0
      - platform: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.pool_orp
        below: 600
    action:
      - service: notify.mobile_app
        data:
          title: "⚠️ Pool water quality"
          message: >
            pH: {{ states('sensor.pool_ph') }}
            ORP: {{ states('sensor.pool_orp') }} mV
            Check chemicals!

  # Pool party mode
  - alias: "Pool - Party mode"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: input_boolean.pool_party_mode
        to: "on"
    action:
      - service: light.turn_on
        entity_id: light.pool_light
        data:
          effect: "color_cycle"
      - service: switch.turn_on
        entity_id: switch.pool_waterfall

🛒 Buying Strategy

Budget DIY (~$100)

ESP32 + pH sensor module (~$50)
DS18B20 temperature (~$10)
Waterproof enclosure (~$20)
Shelly 1 for pump (~$15)
Total: ~$75-100

Standard Monitoring (~$300)

PoolSense monitor (~$200)
Pool Monitor Card (free)
Shelly for pump/lights (~$50)
Total: ~$250-300

Premium System (~$3,000+)

Pentair IntelliCenter or Hayward OmniLogic
Integrated chlorinator
Variable speed pump
Total: ~$2,000-4,000

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Ofte stillede spørgsmål

Is Sutro still a good solution?: NO! Sutro is shutting down October 31, 2025. Devices and app will stop working. Choose PoolSense, WaterGuru, or DIY instead.
What's the difference between pH, ORP, and free chlorine?: pH measures acidity (7.2-7.6 optimal). ORP (mV) is an indirect chlorine indicator affected by pH and temp. Free chlorine (ppm) is the actual active chlorine amount. WaterGuru is the only one that measures true free chlorine.
Which water quality monitor has Home Assistant integration?: Only PoolSense has native HA integration. WaterGuru, iopool, and others require their apps. For full HA control, build a DIY ESPHome sensor.
Can I control my Balboa hot tub with Home Assistant?: Yes! Balboa Spa Client is a native HA integration with 394+ users. It supports temperature, pumps, blower, and lights with local WiFi control.
How do I save energy on pool heating?: Integrate with your electricity price sensor and only heat during low prices. Use a solar cover to reduce heat loss. Lower temperature when away. With HA, everything can be automated.

📚 Next Steps

Energy Management

Integrate with solar and electricity prices.

See guide →

ESPHome Guide

Build your own sensors.

See guide →

Last updated: December 2025

Smart Pool & Spa

🌊 Water Quality Monitors

Product Overview

✅ PoolSense (Native HA Integration)

Native Integration

Automation Example

💧 WaterGuru Sense S2

🔋 iopool EcO

🔧 DIY ESPHome pH/ORP Sensor

ESPHome Configuration

pH Calibration

ORP Calibration

🏊 Pool Controllers

Pentair IntelliCenter

HACS Integration

Automation Examples

Hayward OmniLogic

Native Integration (Cloud)

HACS Local Integration

Chlorinator Automation

🛁 Hot Tub / Spa (Balboa)

Native Integration

Automation Examples

📊 Dashboard: Pool Monitor Card

Complete Dashboard

🤖 Smart Automations

Complete Pool Automation

🛒 Buying Strategy

Budget DIY (~$100)

Standard Monitoring (~$300)

Premium System (~$3,000+)

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Ofte stillede spørgsmål

📚 Next Steps

Kommentarer