By Jesse Sanchez. 

At Everything Under the Sun, AquaStar Pool Products highlighted equipment designed to support pool service professionals, homeowners and builders. 

AquaStar Pool Products brought its focus on safety, flow and ease of service to the Everything Under the Sun show, where the company connected with pool professionals seeking equipment alternatives. Bryan Chrissan, national technical sales manager with AquaStar Pool Products, explained that the event draws a strong service audience, including professionals who repair and replace pool equipment. While builders also attend, he noted that the service market aligns closely with AquaStar’s pumps, filters and ancillary products. 

The company offers two pump models: a 1.5-horsepower pump and a 3-horsepower pump. Both operate at 220 volts and are designed to connect with a range of automation systems. That compatibility allows homeowners to manage the pump through an existing app while giving installers more flexibility when working with equipment already in place. 

AquaStar also designed its pump with a commercial-grade volute intended to support improved flow. Bryan emphasized that flow and safety are central to the company’s product development. 

The company’s filter reflects that same approach. Built around variable-speed pumps, it requires no tools to open and includes safety features intended to keep the lid from separating if the pump turns on during service. Bryan highlighted the importance of that design, stating, “The main thing is the safety that's involved with this. Whether it's the end user, the homeowner or the pool service technician that's on site, this won't separate from the filter.” 

For AquaStar, trade shows provide an opportunity to demonstrate those differences directly to contractors, service professionals and other attendees who may be unfamiliar with the products. Bryan summarized the company’s approach, saying, “Making it easier and making it safer is the big thing.” 

Watch the full interview to learn more about AquaStar Pool Products and its approach to safety, flow and the end-user experience!

By Jesse Sanchez. 

AquaStar’s vertically integrated approach combines industry experience, safety expertise and field feedback to solve challenges for pool professionals. 

AquaStar Pool Products has built its business around a straightforward idea: Listen to the professionals working in the field, identify their challenges and develop practical solutions. During this episode of From the Ground Up, Todd Pieri, AquaStar’s president, joined Steve Barnes and Michael Krause to discuss the experiences that shaped their careers and the company’s growth. 

Todd entered the pool industry in 2003 before joining AquaStar as the Southern California sales manager in 2010. After moving through national sales and executive leadership roles, he became president in 2023. Reflecting on his 15 years with the company, Todd described what initially attracted him to the manufacturer, explaining, “When I joined in 2010, I saw an American-based, privately held company that was very intriguing and I was lucky enough to sell them on hiring me.” 

Steve entered the pool business in 1984 and became involved in drain research, testing and safety standards. Steve explained, “I was involved in designing drains and testing drains for safety before there was a drain cover standard.” He now chairs the committee responsible for the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGBA) drain cover standard. 

Michael also brought hands-on experience to the company. He began working alongside his stepfather, a longtime pool service company owner, performing repairs, installations and pool maintenance before eventually operating his own business. Michael recalled, “I started when I was about 14, going and doing repairs and installs with him and learning the ropes.” 

Founded in 2003, AquaStar began as an injection molding company producing drain covers and other pool components. Todd noted that the company gained momentum by preparing multiple solutions as new federal drain cover requirements were taking effect. 

That growth continued through AquaStar’s vertically integrated operations in Ventura, California, where the company develops ideas, designs products, builds tooling and manufactures components. Todd emphasized the value of listening to installers, explaining, “We were able to go to the field, ask what problems were out there.” 

Steve expanded on that point, describing how the company’s structure connects product development to real-world needs. He observed, “The company was founded on people who install stuff inside the pool,” adding that feedback from tradespeople helps guide products across AquaStar’s catalog. 

For AquaStar, those field relationships continue to shape product development, safety efforts and future innovation. 

Listen to the podcast or Watch the conversation to learn more about how AquaStar combines hands-on industry experience, vertical integration and field feedback to address challenges for pool professionals! 

What if predictable pricing could help contractors balance budget with lasting performance?

Today's contractors have an opportunity to stand out by helping homeowners understand the value behind quality products and efficient pool systems. AquaStar supports that conversation with pricing stability, practical education, and solutions designed to help contractors succeed.

Find your local AquaStar distributor and start the conversation today.

By Jesse Sanchez. 

AquaStar’s Steve Barnes explains how thoughtful equipment pad design can improve efficiency, water quality and the homeowner experience. 

A well-designed pool equipment pad does more than organize pumps, filters, valves and other components. According to Steve Barnes, director of science and compliance for AquaStar Pool Products, the way those elements interact can significantly affect energy use, maintenance and water quality. Speaking with OutdoorCoffeeShop™ host Karol Weyman on this episode of From the Ground Up, Steve described the pump as the heart of the equipment pad. He explained, “The pool pump is what moves water from the pool through a filter back to the pool.” The filter then removes debris and other contaminants before the water returns to the pool. 

Equipment selection, however, is only part of the equation. Pipe size, elbows and the overall layout can create resistance that forces a pump to work harder. Steve noted, “The most expensive thing pool owners end up buying is small pipe, cheap to buy, expensive to own.” 

Steve encouraged contractors to evaluate the entire system rather than simply replace a failed component. A variable-speed pump may be more efficient, but improper programming or restrictive plumbing can prevent it from delivering the expected savings. Excessive flow can also exceed the capabilities of an existing filter. 

Cleaning up a crowded equipment pad and reducing unnecessary fittings can make water easier to move. Steve emphasized, “By just using the same size pipe and cleaning up the pad and making it look pretty and safer because you can get away from the filter and you can clean it and make it accessible. You’re absolutely saving energy if you program the pump to take advantage of it.” 

Proper programming is equally important. Instead of operating a variable-speed pump like an older single-speed model, contractors can use higher speeds when the pool needs circulation or cleaning, then reduce the speed while maintaining enough flow for skimming and filtration. 

Once an efficient system is established, longer operation at lower speeds can help remove debris before it sinks, support water treatment and reduce chemical demand. Steve explained, “If we keep the pump running at low speed, we take that stuff off the surface of the pool.” The result is a quieter, cleaner and easier-to-maintain pool system that reflects positively on the contractor’s work. 

Listen to the podcast or Watch the conversation to learn more about AquaStar Pool Products and its pool equipment resources! 

By Jesse Sanchez. 

How one manufacturer’s in-house approach to design, testing and production is reshaping expectations in pool equipment. 

Increasingly, differentiation is defined in how products are engineered, validated and brought to market. For AquaStar Pool Products, that distinction is not tied to a single breakthrough, but to how every stage of development is structured to work together. 

Founded in 2003, AquaStar Pool Products was built on the belief that better equipment leads to safer and more enjoyable pool and spa experiences. That idea continues to guide the company's direction, but its influence extends beyond product philosophy into operational design. Rather than treating innovation as a milestone, AquaStar has built a system where it functions as a constant, embedded into the way products are developed, tested and produced. 

That approach begins with integration. By aligning research and development with in-house manufacturing, the company reduces the disconnect that often separates design intent from final output. At its Southern California facilities, products move more directly from concept to production, allowing engineers to refine designs in real time. This shortens development cycles while improving consistency, as adjustments can be validated and implemented without delay. 

As a result, iteration becomes part of the process rather than a response to it. AquaStar’s portfolio of more than 60 patents reflects that sustained effort, spanning components related to flow dynamics, safety and durability. While patents alone do not define performance, they point to a pattern of problem-solving that is continuous and deliberate. 

That same continuity carries into testing. Through its in-house laboratory, the company evaluates products beyond baseline certification standards, focusing on how systems perform under real-world conditions. High-precision flow measurement and robotic testing methods are used to improve repeatability and accuracy, creating a feedback loop that informs ongoing design improvements. 

The impact of that control is also felt in the manufacturing strategy. By producing its equipment in the United States, AquaStar reduces exposure to external cost pressures such as tariffs and supply chain volatility. This stability supports more consistent pricing while preserving oversight of materials and production quality. 

AquaStar’s system connects engineering, testing and manufacturing into a single, continuous process, resulting in a product ecosystem shaped as much by how it is made as by how it performs in the field. 

Learn more about how AquaStar Pool Products is building innovation as an integrated system across design, testing and manufacturing!

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Learn how system-wide design, from pumps and filters to plumbing layout, improves flow, lowers energy use and creates quieter operation. 

On a pool equipment pad, performance is not dictated by any single piece of equipment. It is determined by how effectively water moves through the entire system. That broader view is reshaping how contractors evaluate equipment, with manufacturers such as AquaStar Pool Products placing hydraulic efficiency at the center of decisions that affect energy use, system longevity and water clarity. 

That system-wide perspective becomes most visible when examining how resistance impacts performance. As water encounters restriction, performance declines and costs rise. The filter, despite not consuming electricity, often represents the largest source of that resistance. When flow is restricted, pumps must compensate, working harder to maintain circulation. The result is increased energy consumption, added mechanical strain and reduced overall efficiency. In that context, minimizing head loss is no longer a secondary consideration; it is essential to system performance. 

This approach is reflected in the engineering behind Pipeline Filters, designed to maintain consistent flow. These large, uniform tanks are designed to support 360-degree water movement across the filter media, while engineered pleat spacing increases surface area for debris capture without constricting flow. A core structure with larger openings improves distribution, helping water pass through the system with less resistance. According to NSF testing data, the filter meets turbidity reduction requirements in a single turnover, compared to multiple turnovers typically required by standard cartridge filters, enabling faster water clarity with reduced operational demand. 

That same focus on efficiency extends to the pump. Variable-speed Pipeline Pumps are designed to sustain performance while lowering the energy required to achieve it. A permanent magnet motor paired with a totally enclosed fan-cooled design reduces mechanical noise, while an internal 2.5-inch frame supports smoother water movement by limiting turbulence. Vibration-dampening motor mounts further reduce sound, contributing to a quieter operating environment without compromising output. 

Plumbing configuration reinforces these gains. Increasing pipe diameter, particularly to 2.5 inches, reduces restriction across the equipment pad, allowing water to move more freely between components. This alignment between pump, filter and plumbing minimizes strain on the system, resulting in lower energy demand and more stable performance. 

For contractors, the takeaway is increasingly clear. Efficiency is not achieved through isolated upgrades but through coordinated system design. When flow is prioritized at every stage, from filtration to pumping to plumbing, the result is a quieter, more efficient system that delivers consistent performance over time. 

Learn more about how hydraulic efficiency across pumps, filters and plumbing design helps contractors reduce energy use, improve water clarity and deliver quieter, more consistent system performance!

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Industry leaders highlight how hands-on learning and engagement continue to shape the pool and spa sector. 

Education and engagement continue to anchor progress in the pool and spa industry, a dynamic clearly on display at the Northeast Spa and Pool Association (NESPA) show. Despite severe weather disrupting travel, manufacturers and professionals still converged on the event, reinforcing its role as a critical hub for connection, training and industry advancement. That emphasis on learning and collaboration was highlighted in a conversation between Karol Wyman of OutdoorCoffeeShop™ and Steve Barnes, director of science and compliance at AquaStar Pool Products. At the center of their discussion was AquaStar’s role in supporting both product innovation and the standards that guide the industry forward. Steve described the company’s focus on core pool systems, explaining, “We manufacture everything that moves water in and out of the pool and almost everything on the pad, pumps, filters and we're young company.” 

From that foundation, the conversation moved naturally into the broader ecosystem surrounding product development, one shaped as much by education as by engineering. Steve pointed to AquaStar’s involvement in standards development and training, aligning those efforts with NESPA’s reputation as a leading educational platform. He noted, “NESPA I think is one of the greatest shows for education and just engagement with customers.” 

That reputation is reinforced through interactive learning opportunities designed to translate technical knowledge into practical skill. The show’s water wall concept, for example, allows attendees to work directly with equipment in a hands-on environment. Steve, who was involved in the initiative during its early years, emphasized its lasting impact, noting that the event sets the standard for combining real-world application with industry collaboration. 

Even external challenges demonstrated the show’s significance. As Karol observed, attendees traveled long distances and adjusted plans to ensure they could participate, reflecting a shared recognition of the value NESPA delivers to the industry. 

That forward momentum extends beyond the show floor. Looking ahead, AquaStar is preparing to expand its product offerings across multiple categories. While specifics remain limited, Steve expressed the pace and scope of development, saying, “We've got so many things coming out, but we have major additions to the equipment pad. We have stuff for public pools. We have some new fittings and things. We’re moving so fast I can't keep track of it.”  

Together, those developments point to an industry that continues to evolve through a combination of innovation, education and sustained collaboration, principles that remain at the core of the NESPA experience. 

Watch the full interview to learn more about how education, hands-on training and innovation at NESPA are shaping the future of the pool and spa industry!

Meet AquaStar Pool Products’ Pipeline Pump — a full featured line of pumps that take efficiency and ambiance to the next level. The Pipeline Pump is designed with an innovative hydraulic system that features a Permanent Magnet Motor (PMM), a Totally Enclosed Fan Cooled (TEFC) and a 2-1/2'' internal frame. The result of this combination? Reduced mechanical noise
and lower energy consumption that results in whisper-quiet operation without any sacrifice to water flow. Not only does this make the pool experience far more peaceful, it also saves money and creates a cleaner pool.

Experience the future of filtration with the Pipeline Pump.

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Learn how AquaStar’s Pipeline Filter uses a double locking ring, deep pleats and defined flow ratings to support clear water and efficient operation. 

Pool filtration extends beyond maintaining clear water. In commercial environments, it is closely linked to mandated turnover rates, pump efficiency and established safety procedures for maintenance. In a product overview, Steve Barnes, director of science and compliance for AquaStar Pool Products, presented the AquaStar Pipeline Filter as a cartridge system engineered to address key operational demands.  

“The future of filtration is here,” Steve said, framing the product’s debut around performance backed by certification testing. He explained that the filter “will deliver crystal clear water” and is capable of reaching “DE level clarity in one turnover of the NSF certification test,” adding that this level of clarity can be achieved “in a matter of a day or two from the point of installation.” 

That performance is rooted in the filter’s cylindrical housing and cartridge construction, which work together to maintain flow while capturing debris. Steve explained that the housing helps “evenly distribute dirty pool spa water up the outsides of the filter itself,” allowing debris to load more evenly across the cartridge rather than concentrating in one area. He added that the pleats are designed to be “very deep, the deepest in the market so far, so they can capture debris without sacrificing performance or putting undue back pressure on the system.” 

Safety was a driving force behind the design. “Safety is one of the key features,” Steve said, explaining that the double locking ring requires “two turns and clicking the safeties twice to be able to disassemble the filter.” Even if “the pump were to turn on or the pump was even running,” he said the system “would not be a safety hazard.” 

The filter is available in two models, the 27,000 and the 35,000, with public pool flow rates of 75 gallons per minute and approximately 94 gallons per minute, respectively. In residential applications, where turnover requirements differ, the 27,000 model can operate at a maximum flow rate of 150 gallons per minute, expanding its overall capacity. 

In addition to maintenance-focused design elements and a key step to enhancing pool safety guide, the Pipeline Filter is designed around safety, performance and hydraulic energy savings, with the ultimate objective of delivering consistently clear water. 

Watch the full overview to learn more about how the AquaStar Pipeline Filter is engineered to improve maintenance safety, hydraulic efficiency and water clarity in commercial and residential pool applications!

We’ve all encountered it before, a peaceful pool ruined by cloudy water or a noisy water pump. It’s these common issues that lead the AquaStar team to create the Pipeline Pump! This pump was designed for whisper-quiet operation and superior efficiency that maintains optimal water circulation and saves pool owners money on their electrical bills.

How is this possible? This patented design features a unique technology which ensures ultra-quiet operation! This high-performance pump has four programmable speeds (ranging from 800 to 3,400 RPM) and a 2-1/2'' internal frame that allows for smooth, unrestricted water flow. Overall, you can’t beat the Pipeline Pump when it comes to providing clear waters and a peaceful environment for your customers.

Learn more about AquaStar’s Pipeline Pump!