Swimming pool and spa with improved heating modes

Abstract

A method of heating a pool system with a swimming pool and a spa includes operating the pool system in a spa mode or a pool mode. In the spa mode, water is only circulated through the circulation system and the spa, and water of the spa is isolated from water of the pool. In the pool mode, water is only circulated through the circulation system and the pool, and water of the spa is isolated from water of the pool. The method may include automatically switching between the spa mode and the pool mode without mixing water of the pool with water of the spa.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of heating a pool system comprising a swimming pool and a spa, the method comprising operating the pool system with a circulation system comprising a single heater and a single pump by:
 operating the pool system in a spa mode in which water is only circulated through the circulation system and the spa, and water of the spa is isolated from water of the pool;   operating the pool system in a pool mode in which water is only circulated through the circulation system and the pool, and water of the spa is isolated from water of the pool; and   automatically switching between the spa mode and the pool mode to maintain the swimming pool at a first set point temperature and the spa at a second set point temperature without substantially mixing water of the swimming pool and water of the spa.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving or obtaining the first set point temperature for the swimming pool and the second set point temperature for the spa from a user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a first detected temperature of the swimming pool from a first sensor; and   receiving a second detected temperature of the spa from a second sensor,   wherein automatically switching between the spa mode and the pool mode is based on at least one of the first detected temperature or the second detected temperature.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 controlling the pool system to be in the spa mode when the second detected temperature is less than the second set point temperature; and   controlling the pool system to be in the pool mode when the first detected temperature is less than the first set point temperature and the second detected temperature is at least equal to the second set point temperature.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 controlling the pool system to be in the pool mode when the first detected temperature is less than the first set point temperature; and   controlling the pool system to be in the spa mode when the second detected temperature is less than the second set point temperature and the first detected temperature is at least equal to the first set point temperature.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the circulation system comprises a circulation flow controller for selectively controlling a flow of water from a circulation system to the swimming pool and the spa and a return flow controller for selectively controlling a flow of water from the swimming pool and the spa to the circulation system, and wherein automatically switching between the spa mode and the pool mode comprises controlling the circulation flow controller and the return flow controller. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first set point temperature is less than the second set point temperature. 
     
     
         8 . A pool control system for a pool system comprising a swimming pool and a spa, wherein the pool control system is configured to control a flow of water in the pool system to maintain the swimming pool at a first set point temperature and the spa at a second set point temperature with a circulation system comprising a single heater and a single pump by:
 operating the pool system in a spa mode in which water is only circulated through the circulation system and the spa, and water of the spa is isolated from water of the pool;   operating the pool system in a pool mode in which water is only circulated through the circulation system and the pool, and water of the spa is isolated from water of the pool; and   automatically switching between the spa mode and the pool mode to maintain the swimming pool at a first set point temperature and the spa at a second set point temperature without substantially mixing water of the swimming pool and water of the spa.   
     
     
         9 . The pool control system of  claim 8 , wherein the first set point temperature is less than the second set point temperature. 
     
     
         10 . The pool control system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a first temperature sensor configured to detect a first temperature of the water of the swimming pool; and   a second temperature sensor configured to detect a second temperature of the water of the spa,   wherein the pool control system is configured to automatically switch between the spa mode and the pool mode is based on at least one of the first temperature or the second temperature.   
     
     
         11 . The pool control system of  claim 10 , wherein the pool control system is configured to:
 control the pool system to be in the spa mode when the second detected temperature is less than the second set point temperature; and   control the pool system to be in the pool mode when the first detected temperature is less than the first set point temperature and the second detected temperature is at least equal to the second set point temperature.   
     
     
         12 . The pool control system of  claim 10 , wherein the pool control system is configured to:
 control the pool system to be in the pool mode when the first detected temperature is less than the first set point temperature; and   control the pool system to be in the spa mode when the second detected temperature is less than the second set point temperature and the first detected temperature is at least equal to the first set point temperature.   
     
     
         13 . The pool control system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a circulation flow controller for selectively controlling a flow of water from the circulation system to the swimming pool and the spa; and   a return flow controller for selectively controlling a flow of water from the swimming pool and the spa to the circulation system,   wherein the pool control system is configured to automatically control the circulation flow controller and the return flow controller such that the pool system is in the spa mode or the pool mode.   
     
     
         14 . The pool system comprising the pool control system of  claim 8 , the swimming pool, and the spa. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions executable by one or more processors, which, when executed on the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform actions including:
 operating a pool system in a spa mode in which water is only circulated through a circulation system and the spa, and water of the spa is isolated from water of the pool, the circulation system comprising a single heater and a single pump;   operating the pool system in a pool mode in which water is only circulated through the circulation system and the pool, and water of the spa is isolated from water of the pool; and   automatically switching between the spa mode and the pool mode to maintain the swimming pool at a first set point temperature and the spa at a second set point temperature without substantially mixing water of the swimming pool and water of the spa.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions causing the one or more processors to receive or obtain the first set point temperature for the swimming pool and the second set point temperature for the spa from a user. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions causing the one or more processors to perform actions including:
 receiving a first detected temperature of the swimming pool from a first sensor; and   receiving a second detected temperature of the spa from a second sensor,   wherein automatically switching between the spa mode and the pool mode is based on at least one of the first detected temperature or the second detected temperature.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions causing the one or more processors to perform actions including:
 controlling the pool system to be in the spa mode when the second detected temperature is less than the second set point temperature; and   controlling the pool system to be in the pool mode when the first detected temperature is less than the first set point temperature and the second detected temperature is at least equal to the second set point temperature.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions causing the one or more processors to perform actions including:
 controlling the pool system to be in the pool mode when the first detected temperature is less than the first set point temperature; and   controlling the pool system to be in the spa mode when the second detected temperature is less than the second set point temperature and the first detected temperature is at least equal to the first set point temperature.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the first set point temperature is less than the second set point temperature.