CE Pro February 2023 - 37

and air in either direction,
so separate underwater
speakers are needed. These
have been available for
years, and are often used for
swim events, but rarely seen
in residential pools. That's a
shame, because the effect
is amazing and delightful.
Underwater speakers can
be installed in the same
" wet niches " that have been
used for underwater lights,
so they are better suited
for new pool construction.
It's an item that needs to
be specified on the pool
construction plans, and it's
unlikely that other trades on
the job will even think of it,
so as an integrator with early
involvement in the project,
you have the main opportunity
to make it happen.
Once you've experienced
good underwater sound, you
and your clients wouldn't
consider not having it.
Although many pool
controllers can monitor and
manage pool water chemistry
and chlorination, there
are now wireless products
that can simply be dropped
in the pool and will perform
continual water tests and
report via an App when
chemicals are needed, as
well as current temperature.
Again, these use Wi-Fi for
communications, so when
you design the wireless
network, be sure to consider
outdoor areas. There are
also wireless pool/spa thermometers
available that can
integrate with weather station
or clock devices and let
your clients know remotely
if the pool or spa are at a
comfortable temperature,
even if they don't have a full
pool control system.
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Most pool controllers let
the client control pool temperature
in real-time. But
by integrating with a smart
home control system, the
homeowner could program
future events, such as parties,
to ensure that the pool
and spa are at the desired
temperatures for the events
... even if they forget to do it
on the day of the occasion.
When meeting with a
client, these are all items
that should be considered
for discussion. If the client
has existing designers and
contractors for them, you
might consider meeting
with them to find ways to
collaborate to further improve
the offerings. If not,
you might consider either
taking them on yourself,
or bringing in a specialist
that you can work with, far
enough in advance that you
have the best options.
Part 2: Consider
Collaboration
with Kitchen &
Bath Designers
Systems integration and
custom installation have
advanced considerably since
the early days of home theater
and multiroom audio.
Lighting, environmental
controls, security and video
distribution have all become
major portions of the tech
budget. But there is still a
" line in the sand " ... at the
water's edge.
Although plumbing and
irrigation control preceded
electronics and electrical
management by thousands
of years, they have
traditionally been totally
isolated from each other,
particularly among the
tradespeople. Plumbers
wanted nothing to do with
electronics, and the feelings
were certainly mutual.
Now, inevitable advancements
in technology on
both sides have made integration
a necessary function
in new homes. Smart
Toilets, smart faucets and
smart showers are among
the many new bathroom
appliances that have both a
plumbing and an electrical/
electronic component. In
the kitchen, there are now
smart ranges, refrigerators,
ovens and ventilation
systems in addition to an
ever-increasing selection of
smart small appliances that
have or require connectivity.
While integrators are
mostly familiar with working
with electricians, architects
and interior designers, many
have never collaborated
with professional kitchen
and bath designers, and
the reverse is equally true.
The National Kitchen and
Bath Association (NKBA)
The National Kitchen & Bath Association, owners of the annual Kitchen & Bath Industry
Show (KBIS), is full of members with like-minded clients to integrators but whose knowledge
of connected technology is scarce. Dealers can work with K/B designers to crack into projects
earlier and offer advice on transforming these important rooms of the home.
February 2023 CE Pro | 37

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CE Pro February 2023

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