Jandy Pool Equipment + Automation
The equipment pad should not be a collection of individually selected boxes. Pump capacity, plumbing, filtration, heating, sanitation, lighting and controls must operate as one hydraulic and electrical system.
Artistix commonly builds around the Jandy platform because it allows the major functions of a custom pool to be coordinated through a single automation environment.
Quick answer
Artistix commonly specifies a 2.7-horsepower Jandy variable-speed pump for primary circulation, a large cartridge filter, a 400,000-BTU-class natural-gas heater, AquaLink automation with iAquaLink app control, Jandy lighting and a salt-chlorine generator. The exact system changes with hydraulics, elevations, features, plumbing runs and the way the owners intend to use the pool.
We size for useful capacity and efficient operation—not merely for the smallest component that can turn the water over under ideal conditions.
At a glance
- Primary circulation: Commonly Jandy VS FloPro 2.7 HP variable-speed pump
- Filtration: Large cartridge filtration; CV580 when a Jandy 580-square-foot filter is specified
- Heating: Commonly Jandy JXiQ 400NK natural-gas heater, approximately 400,000 BTU input
- Automation: AquaLink system with iAquaLink mobile control
- Optional interface: Handheld PDA where the owner wants a dedicated remote
- Sanitation: Salt chlorine generation, commonly Jandy TruClear where appropriate
- Lighting: Programmable color LED lighting; Infinite WaterColors available when the design calls for expanded zoning, color and dimming capability
- Plumbing: Commonly 1.5- to 3-inch pipe, sized by function and hydraulic demand
Questions this guide answers
- Why does Artistix often use a 2.7 HP variable-speed pump?
- Is a larger pump automatically louder or more expensive to operate?
- Why use a 580-square-foot cartridge filter?
- What can iAquaLink control?
- Is a saltwater pool still a chlorine pool?
- Why does pipe sizing affect flow, efficiency and sound?
- Where should the equipment pad be placed?
- How long is Jandy equipment covered?
The system begins with hydraulics
Every return, skimmer, drain, spa jet, bubbler, sheer descent and water feature asks the system to move water through a particular path at a particular rate. The pump must overcome resistance created by pipe length, fittings, elevation, filters, heaters and equipment.
That is why equipment cannot be responsibly selected from pool gallons alone. Two pools of similar volume can have very different hydraulic demands.
Artistix studies each operating mode: normal filtration, heating, spa use and individual water features. The objective is dependable performance without forcing the equipment to run harder than necessary.
Why Artistix often starts with a 2.7 HP variable-speed pump
The Jandy VS FloPro 2.7 HP is a frequent Artistix workhorse for primary circulation. Starting with reserve capacity does not mean running at maximum speed all day. A variable-speed pump can be programmed to deliver the flow each mode requires.
A larger variable-speed pump operating at a lower speed can be a better system than an undersized pump operating near its limit. The final selection still depends on the calculated flow and head conditions; larger or additional pumps may be appropriate for demanding spas and water features.
Federal efficiency standards govern dedicated-purpose pool pumps, and modern primary circulation systems are generally built around variable-speed technology. Accessory or feature applications can have different equipment configurations. Artistix selects each pump by function and applicable requirements rather than applying one sentence to every pump on the pad.
Flow, speed and sound
Pump sound is not defined by horsepower alone. Speed, hydraulic restriction, vibration isolation, enclosure conditions and distance from living areas all matter.
Variable-speed operation is useful because routine filtration often needs much less speed than spa jets, heating or active water features. Lower operating speed generally reduces motor and water-velocity noise. It can also reduce energy use substantially because the power required by a centrifugal pump falls quickly as speed is reduced.
Artistix therefore designs the system around operating modes—not a single always-on speed.
About decibel comparisons
Published sound ratings are not consistent across every residential pool-equipment model and operating condition. A catalog number alone does not predict how equipment will sound on a finished property. Model, operating speed, hydraulic restriction, vibration, distance and surrounding walls all influence what an owner hears. Artistix considers those conditions when planning the equipment pad and operating modes.
Cartridge filtration and the CV580
Artistix generally prefers large cartridge filters because they provide substantial filtration area without routine backwashing. When the system is based on Jandy equipment, the CV580 is the largest model in Jandy’s current CV series at 580 square feet of filter area.
Jandy lists the CV580 with four cartridges, a maximum flow rating of 150 gallons per minute and a 50 psi maximum working pressure. Those ratings are equipment limits, not instructions to operate every pool at the maximum.
The practical advantage of generous filter area is dirt-holding capacity and the potential for longer intervals between cleanings under comparable conditions. Real cleaning frequency still depends on debris, pollen, landscaping, bather load, water chemistry and service practices.
Heating with the JXiQ 400NK
For natural-gas projects, Artistix commonly specifies the Jandy JXiQ 400NK—Jandy’s roughly 400,000-BTU input residential heater configuration with natural gas and a copper heat exchanger.
A large heater can shorten recovery and warm-up time compared with a smaller unit under the same conditions, but no heater should be described with a universal “minutes to heat” promise. Pool or spa volume, starting temperature, air temperature, wind, cover use, gas supply and plumbing all affect performance.
Gas-line capacity and meter capacity must be confirmed. The heater should be sized and installed as part of the whole system, not added after the equipment pad and utilities have already been designed.
AquaLink and iAquaLink control
AquaLink is the automation system at the equipment level. iAquaLink extends compatible control to a phone or other connected device.
Depending on the installed configuration, owners can control and schedule functions such as:
- Pool and spa modes
- Water temperature
- Variable-speed pump programs
- Lighting
- Water features
- Cleaners and other assigned auxiliaries
Artistix uses Jandy automation as the normal control backbone. A dedicated PDA remote can be added for owners who want a physical, poolside interface in addition to the app.
Automation does not eliminate service. It makes a properly designed system easier to operate and gives the owner clear control over the experiences the pool was designed to provide.
Lighting: purposeful scenes, not color for color’s sake
Artistix commonly uses RGB-capable LED pool lighting, but the design emphasis is usually a restrained set of scenes that complement the architecture and landscape.
Jandy’s Infinite WaterColors platform is available for projects that benefit from broader color selection, multi-zone color assignment and dimming. It should be specified because the visual design calls for those capabilities—not simply because more colors exist.
Saltwater is still chlorine sanitation
A saltwater pool is not chlorine-free. A salt-chlorine generator uses dissolved salt and an electrolytic cell to generate chlorine in the circulation system. The sanitation chemistry is still chlorine; the delivery method is different from routinely adding traditional chlorine products.
Artistix normally builds saltwater pools and commonly uses the Jandy TruClear system where it fits the pool and automation package. Salt level, cell output, water balance and component compatibility still require proper management.
Compare the two approaches in Saltwater Pools vs. Traditional Chlorination.
Plumbing size is part of equipment performance
Artistix commonly uses 1.5- to 3-inch plumbing, with each line sized for its purpose. Larger pipe can carry a target flow at lower velocity and lower friction loss than a smaller pipe. That can reduce the pressure the pump must overcome and help control water noise—when the rest of the system is designed correctly.
Bigger pipe is not a substitute for hydraulic design. Suction and return runs, fittings, valves, elevations and operating combinations must be coordinated.
Push and pull
On the suction side, the pump pulls water from the pool. Excess restriction or air leakage here can undermine performance and create cavitation risk. On the return side, the pump pushes water through the filter, heater, sanitation equipment and back to the pool or features.
Flooded suction
A flooded-suction condition places the pump inlet below the source water level so water naturally remains available at the suction side. Many residential pool pads are instead above water level and rely on self-priming arrangements. Artistix evaluates elevation, check valves, priming behavior and service access for the actual site rather than treating all pads alike.
See Pool Plumbing and Hydraulics for a closer look at flow, resistance and line sizing.
Equipment-pad placement
The ideal pad balances hydraulics, utility access, service clearances, visual screening, drainage, code and sound.
Artistix intentionally considers distance from bedrooms, terraces and neighboring living areas. At the same time, an unnecessarily remote pad creates longer plumbing runs and additional friction. The best position is a coordinated site decision.
In many local reviews, the pad is treated as an accessory improvement and must comply with the applicable building setback line and zoning conditions. The exact treatment varies by jurisdiction and property; Artistix confirms it during site and permit planning.
Screening should allow ventilation and technician access. A visually hidden pad that cannot shed heat or be serviced is not a successful detail.
Service after construction
Artistix coordinates equipment setup and introduces the owner to a trusted maintenance professional for ongoing pool service.
That handoff matters. The person maintaining the pool should understand the installed operating modes, automation, chemistry and equipment—not inherit an unexplained pad after startup.
Warranty: verify the installed package
Jandy warranty coverage varies by product, installation circumstances and current program terms. It is not accurate to promise that every component carries a three- or five-year warranty.
For example, Jandy’s current published limited warranty lists standard coverage for many products, specific one-year coverage for JXi heaters, and five-year heat-exchanger coverage for qualifying JXi units equipped with a factory-installed VersaFlo bypass. Extended coverage may depend on qualifying bundled products, professional installation, registration and other terms.
At turnover, the owner should receive the installed model list, serial information, installer documentation and the warranty terms in effect on the purchase date. Current manufacturer warranty information should be reviewed for the installed package.
The Artistix approach
We design the equipment system around the finished experience: quiet daily circulation, responsive heating, strong spa and feature performance, clear water, simple ownership and accessible service.
That means sizing the pipes and equipment together, reserving capacity intelligently, locating the pad early and programming the controls around how the family will actually use the space.
Related planning guides
- Saltwater vs. Traditional Chlorination
- Pool Plumbing + Hydraulics
- Pool Equipment-Pad Placement + Noise
- Pool Heating: Gas Heaters, Heat Pumps and Covers
- Pool Lighting + Outdoor Lighting
- What Happens After Construction
- Pool Cleaning and Maintenance
The pool should feel simple because the system behind it was not.
Artistix coordinates the design, hydraulics, equipment, automation and site so every feature has a clear purpose and a properly planned way to operate.
Manufacturer source: Jandy limited warranty. Published example terms were checked October 6, 2026. The installed model, purchase-date terms and applicable program determine actual coverage.