Pool equipment and energy rules
At a glance: San Diego Pools’ packages include a Pentair IntelliFlo pump, a Pentair Quad filter and two lights, but no heater. Under the California Energy Code as summarised by San Diego County, a new pool heated for the first time may not use gas as its primary heat source; heat pumps and solar are the compliant options[1][5].
What equipment comes with a San Diego Pools package?
The company’s packages list this equipment[1]:
| Item | Package specification |
|---|---|
| Filter | Pentair Quad filter |
| Pump | Pentair IntelliFlo pump |
| Lights | Two 500-watt lights (one pool, one spa) |
| Maintenance | Professional-grade maintenance equipment |
| Heater | Not listed |
Its warranty covers equipment for three years, described as a manufacturer’s warranty[2]. The company’s service page gives instructions for the Pentair EasyTouch control panel used on many of its pools[3].
What is a variable-speed pump?
A variable-speed pump can run its motor at many speeds instead of one fixed speed. Because the power a pump uses rises steeply with speed, running longer at low speed for filtration and switching to high speed only for spa jets, cleaning or water features uses much less electricity than running a single-speed pump. Pentair’s IntelliFlo line consists of variable-speed pumps; its current model is sold as a “variable speed and flow” pump[4]. The pump in the San Diego Pools package is listed simply as “Pentair Intelliflow”, so the exact model is a contract detail.
What heating is allowed for a new pool?
County form PDS-379 summarises the California Energy Code: there are five permitted approaches to pool and spa heating; heat pumps and solar heating are compliant; gas or electric resistance heating can be used only with on-site renewable energy or as a supplemental source; and new or remodelled pools and spas heated for the first time may not use gas as the primary heat source[5]. In practice that means a new pool in San Diego County that needs heat will normally use a heat pump, solar collectors or both, with gas, if any, as backup. Spas heated quickly for short soaks are where the supplemental-gas option usually comes up.
Where does solar heating fit?
Solar pool heating circulates pool water through collectors, usually on a roof. CSLB’s C-53 classification includes installing solar heating equipment as part of pool construction[6], and San Diego Pools’ trade partners page lists a solar heating contact[7]. How much heat a solar system adds depends on collector area, orientation and season, so it is often paired with a heat pump.
What about lighting and automation?
The packages include two 500-watt lights, one for the pool and one for the spa; the fixture type is not specified, and LED fixtures are a common choice because they draw far less power for similar light[1]. Automation panels such as EasyTouch or ScreenLogic control pump speeds, valves for pool and spa modes, lights and features from one place, and can be set to schedule low-speed filtration[3].
Does a cover help with energy and safety?
A cover reduces evaporation and heat loss, which matters for heated pools. A safety cover labelled to ASTM F1346-23 can also count as one of the state’s drowning-prevention features, though not in combination with an in-pool alarm; see pool safety barriers. One of San Diego Pools’ videos shows a linear pool with an automatic cover.
Questions readers ask
Can I heat a new pool with gas in San Diego County?
Not as the primary heat source for a new pool heated for the first time. Gas can be supplemental, or used with on-site renewable energy.
What pump does San Diego Pools install?
Its packages list a Pentair IntelliFlo pump with a Pentair Quad filter.
Does the San Diego Pools package include a heater?
No heater is listed in the package inclusions.
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Notes and sources
- ^ a b c Starting Price Point (Get Started). San Diego Pools (sandiegopools.com). Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ Warranties & Guarantees. San Diego Pools (sandiegopools.com). Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ a b Services (EasyTouch quick reference and service request). San Diego Pools (sandiegopools.com). Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ IntelliFlo3 VSF variable speed and flow pump. Pentair. Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ a b PDS-379: Swimming Pool and Spa Safety Requirements. County of San Diego Planning & Development Services. Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ C-53 Swimming Pool Contractor classification. Contractors State License Board. Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ Trade Partners. San Diego Pools (sandiegopools.com). Retrieved 9 November 2026.