A pool that runs itself, quietly.
Set your variable-speed pump to run slow and quiet overnight and speed up when you need it, on a schedule or with a tap. It works with AquaStar and Fairland variable-speed pumps.
Pool life on autopilot.
You relax. It handles the rest.Your pump, lights, heater, spa and salt system, all from one app on your phone, at home or away, or the buttons on the controller. Set it once, then stop walking out back to fight a mechanical timer.
Sound familiar?
Still running your pool by hand?
The timer runs your day.An old mechanical timer does one thing at one time. Changing it means a trip out back, often with a flashlight.
Every switch lives somewhere else.Pump here, lights there, heater on another panel. Without automation, you end up doing its job.
The big-brand quote stung.Automation from the big names came in well past what you wanted to spend on your backyard.
Been quoted thousands for big-brand automation? Control Freak costs a fraction of that. And no monthly fees.
Why owners switch
You bought a pool to unwind. Not to babysit it.
- It runs itselfPump, heater and lights on schedules you set once.
- The spa, on cueValves, heater and lights switch together, then hand back to your schedule.
- Light every eveningPool, spa and landscape lights in their own colors, from the same app.
- Control it from anywhereThrough our cloud service or your own Home Assistant, your choice, with no subscription. Internet down? It still runs on its own Wi-Fi.
So you can just enjoy it.
What it does for you
Your whole backyard, one tap away.
Pool to spa without leaving your chair
Switch the water between pool and spa with a tap or on a schedule. Up to eight valves, so spillovers and water features come along too.
Warm water and the right light, on time
Schedule the heater and lights so the spa is warm and glowing when your guests walk out back.
A salt system that looks after itself
Your salt system only runs while water is moving. If the water stops, the controller turns it off for you.
Energy
Take control of your energy use.
Heating, pumping and cleaning are the energy-hungry parts of owning a pool. Control Freak puts all three on your schedule, so they run when you need them and rest when you don't, even when you're away.
- Heat when it countsWarm the spa for the evening on a schedule, not around the clock.
- Pump at the right speedVariable-speed pumps draw far less power at low speed. Run yours slow overnight and faster only when you need it.
- Clean on a timetablePut the cleaner on its own schedule, tied to the filter pump so it only runs while water is moving.
- Fix it from anywhereLeft the heater on? Turn it off from wherever you are.
Try a Theme
Example themes. You decide what each one does.- Pool pump OFF
- Spa valves OFF
- Heater OFF
- Spa lights OFF
- Waterfall OFF
- Salt system OFF
Schedules and Themes
Spa night in one tap.
Every device runs on a schedule you set, all in one view. When the evening calls for something else, a Theme takes over for a set time, then hands control back.
- SchedulesEvery device on one screen. Set it once and forget about it.
- ThemesForce a mode for a set time. Schedules wait until it ends.
- TethersLink devices so they act together, like a waterfall that follows the filter pump. They work however the device was turned on.
After dark
Set the mood in one tap.
Landscape lights up the pines, the waterfall, and pool and spa lights in their own colors, all from the same app. Try the lights, pick a color or a show. Your installer wires the landscape lighting to one of the controller's spare switches.
Backyard
Pool light shows3
Lights on a scheduleLandscape and pool lights on at 7:30 PM, off at midnight.
At the controller
No phone? No problem.
Five buttons on the controller itself. Give each one what you use most, like the spa or the lights, and switch it right there. Your guests can start the spa without borrowing your phone.
- Your choice on every buttonPump, spa, lights, heater, waterfall: you decide what each one runs.
- A code on the settingsGuests can use the buttons, but changing how the pool runs needs your code.
Its own network
Works without home internet.
Your internet goes down, your pool doesn't. The controller makes its own Wi-Fi network, so your phone connects straight to it. It can join your home Wi-Fi or use a network cable too. Away from home, reach it through our cloud service or your own Home Assistant, whichever you prefer.
Peace of mind
Same beautiful pool. Way less worry.
Freeze protection1
Pick an air temperature. When it gets that cold, the controller runs the equipment you chose and moves water through every line, pool and spa. It helps protect your plumbing on cold nights.
Service mode2
Pool tech on the way? Press two buttons on the controller and everything shuts down, with the app locked until the work is done.
A code on the settings
Settings sit behind a code, so a curious guest or a stray tap can't change how your pool runs.
One-tap diagnostics
Something look off? Send a diagnostic report to support with one tap, so help starts with the facts.
For tinkerers and pool pros
Local control, every port on one board.
The app talks to the controller on your network or on its own Wi-Fi. For remote access, use our cloud service or keep it all on your own Home Assistant. Setup videos are on our YouTube channel, Control Freak Pool Tech.
8
High-voltage relay ports
Pumps, lights, salt cell and other line-voltage loads.
8
Valve actuator ports
Pool, spa and feature valves.
5
RS-485 ports
Variable-speed pumps and heat pumps.
Home Assistant integration
Add Control Freak to Home Assistant and run your pool from the watch, voice assistant and scenes your smart home already uses: Apple Watch, Siri and Apple Home, Alexa, and Google Home, all through Home Assistant.
Low voltage
- 4 low-voltage relays, general use or heater/chiller with built-in logic
Sensors
- 4 temperature sensor ports
- 2 flow switch ports
- 1 pressure sensor port
Network
- Ethernet and Wi-Fi
- Built-in Wi-Fi network for direct app connection
- Tethers run on the controller itself
- Home Assistant integration
Get a quote
Get a quote for your pool.
Tell us a little about your pool and the equipment you have now. We'll email you back with the right setup and a price.
FAQ
Questions owners ask first.
Do I need home internet?
No. The controller broadcasts its own Wi-Fi network and the app connects to it directly. It can also join your home Wi-Fi or use a network cable.
Can I control it when I'm away from home?
Yes, and you choose how. Use the app through our cloud service, or connect through your own Home Assistant and keep remote access on your own setup. There's no subscription and no monthly fee either way.
Can I run things without my phone?
Yes. The controller has five buttons on its faceplate. Give each one a device and switch it right there.
Will it work with my variable-speed pump?
AquaStar and Fairland variable-speed pumps are documented in the user manual. They connect to the controller over RS-485. Not sure about yours? Put the pump model in your quote request.
I already have an automation panel. Do I replace it?
You can upgrade it instead. The legacy automation conversion kit includes a motherboard, screen, wiring harness and transformer for your existing panel. Mention it in your quote request.
Does it work with Apple Watch, Siri, Alexa or Google Home?
Yes, through Home Assistant. Add Control Freak to Home Assistant with the Home Assistant integration, and your pool shows up in Apple Home, on your Apple Watch, with Siri, Alexa and Google Home, wherever your Home Assistant setup already reaches.
Where can I see how setup works?
Setup videos are on the YouTube channel Control Freak Pool Tech.
More time in the pool. Less time at the timer.
Let the Control Freak handle it. Tell us about your pool and we'll send you a quote.
Get a quote