Industry News
Pool Pumps: The New Rules
Over the years, pool professionals have come up with a wide range of pool equipment. As a result, there are different types of single speed, dual speed, and variable speed pool pumps in the market. Each varies in configuration and offers different functionality. Today, all pool pumps should meet various guidelines as dictated by the Department of Energy. Manufacturers whose pumps do not meet these requirements won’t be able to sell their products anymore. Let’s look at some of these guidelines, rules, and requirements formulated by the Department of Energy.

Weighted energy factor for an efficiency rating
All pool pumps should meet a specific weighted energy factor based on their size. The WEF of a pool pump determines its efficiency. Typically, the higher the WEF, the more efficient the pool pump. Often, you can determine the WEF of the pump before you purchase it. It is always indicated on the product label. It would be best to settle for a pool pump with a higher WEF. A pool pump with a WEF of 12 is much more efficient than a pump with a WEF of 5. A WEF of 12 means the pump produces 12,000 gallons per kilowatt-hour.
Although most pool pumps are efficient, the WEF rating will help you determine the best pump for your pool.
senior global product manager of Hayward pumps, Scott Petty
Nevertheless, there are many other factors to consider when determining the efficiency of the pool pump. Other things to consider include the pump’s performance in terms of gallons per minute and the head’s feet. Even though the WEF rating is important, it would be best to go for a pool pump compatible with your own pool.
Total horsepower of the pool pumps
All pool pump labels should indicate the total horsepower. Before, both pool owners and contractors found it hard to identify the pump’s horsepower. The purpose of this guideline is to get rid of the confusion in the industry. All pool owners need to know all the specifications of their pool pumps. The dual rating system created more confusion in the industry; luckily, the horsepower label can eliminate this confusion. If the pool pump shows the maximum rating, find the total horsepower rating by reducing it by ½ hp.
Hydraulic Horsepower (HHP) is also being used to measure pumps. So, how do you calculate the HHP?
Hydraulic Horsepower= (Gallons per Minute x Feet of Head) / 3960
Unlike the normal hp measurement, HHP is usually indicated in decimals. The HHP measurement helps you compare the pump with other models to determine the best option.
An update of ENERGY STAR pump editions
The ENERGY STAR update’s primary goal is to recognize and award pool owners who purchase high-quality products. With all the guidelines formulated by the Department of Energy, all pool pumps will be high quality and meet all ENERGY STAR standards.
Currently, there is the latest ENERGY STAR, which is the 3.0 edition. Pool experts are afraid that the ENERGY STAR 2.0 edition will lose popularity due to the latest 3.0 version. So, they are coming up with various strategies to ensure the old ENERGY STAR version does not become outdated.
Motors in place of pumps
The Department of Energy has done its best to promote motors for the past few years. Even so, this was not easy for them. During Obama’s rule, the pump language was already common among most pool owners. When President Trump became president, pool professionals proposed the use of motors. But there was never an approval regarding the matter.
Now that Biden is in charge, the DOE plans to propose the motor language once again. This time, they are willing to wait until they get final approval. From experience, the DOE now understands that the process takes time. And even when the proposal gets approved, it would take a lot of time before the change is incorporated into the industry. Pool professionals say that the new administration seems more open-minded about the proposal. Thus, they are hopeful that it will get approval.
Selling compliant pool pumps
As of now, manufacturers should strictly come up with compliant pool pumps. It’s a gradual but manageable transition. Consequently, the majority of producers are looking for various ways to make the pool pumps compliant. For instance, Pentair started declining pumps that do not meet all the required guidelines. On the other hand, Hayward no longer gave their clients a guarantee of delivering the order quickly.
Finding the best solution for manufacturers, pool builders, and technicians
Manufacturers looking to sell compliant pool pumps can check out the ENERGY STAR 3.0 or 2.0 editions. All pump models under ENERGY STAR meet all the DOE requirements. Generally, manufacturers should come up with ways on how they plan to replace their pumps. Fortunately, the pool industry released a list of the most suitable types of pool pumps to use. As a pool contractor, it would be best to organize yourself early. This way, you won’t lose out on any sales.
Industry News
POOLCORP Welcomes John Watwood as President and Chief Executive Officer
Seasoned distribution leader to drive POOLCORP’s next chapter of growth, deepening commitment to customers and supply partners
COVINGTON, LA., May 14, 2026 — POOLCORP, the world’s largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool and outdoor living products, recently announced the appointment of John Watwood as President and Chief Executive Officer.
Watwood joined the company in January 2026 as Executive Vice President and has quickly made an impact after spending much of his time in POOLCORP sales centers, meeting with customers, engaging with suppliers, and aligning closely with teams across the business. With extensive leadership experience in industrial and specialty distribution, Watwood brings a deep understanding of how to build high-performing teams, strengthen customer connections, and create long-term value in the industry.
Prior to joining POOLCORP, Watwood served as Senior Vice President of Sales and Operations at Motion Industries, a leading distributor of industrial parts and value-added solutions and a subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company. During his career, he has led large-scale sales and operations organizations focused on customer growth, supply chain excellence, and market expansion.

“John has gained the trust of our employees, customers, and suppliers in a very short period of time,” said Kenny St. Romain, Senior Vice President at POOLCORP. “He understands distribution at its core, but more importantly, he understands the value of relationships and the local support that our customers need. Our field teams have seen firsthand his commitment to listening, supporting our customers, and helping us continue to evolve our already successful service model. There’s real excitement across the organization about where we’re headed under John’s leadership.”
Watwood’s appointment marks the next chapter for POOLCORP as the company continues to invest in customer-focused solutions, sales and service excellence, operational capabilities, and technology-enabled experiences designed to help industry professionals grow and operate more efficiently.

About Pool Corporation
POOLCORP is the world’s largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool and related outdoor living products. The Company operates approximately 455 sales centers in North America, Europe, and Australia, through which it distributes more than 200,000 products to roughly 125,000 wholesale customers, including pool builders, retail stores, and service professionals. For more information, please visit www.poolcorp.com.
Industry News
Latham Rings Nasdaq Opening Bell Commemorating 70th Anniversary & 5 Year IPO
Latham Group, Inc. – the largest designer and manufacturer of in-ground residential swimming pools in North America, Australia and New Zealand, visited the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square.
The team at Latham proudly rang the Nasdaq Opening Bell. The industry leader took a moment to celebrate its 70th anniversary and five years as a public company, highlighting continued growth, strong market performance, and resilience in a shifting residential construction landscape.
The achievement follows a year of solid performance for Latham Group Inc., which reported 7% year-over-year revenue growth in 2025, even as the broader residential construction market faced ongoing economic headwinds.

In a statement on LinkedIn, the company said:
“For seven decades, innovation has been at the core of what we do, made possible by the trusted builders and partners who bring these backyards to life every day.
Together, we’ve helped transform backyards into spaces where families gather and memories are made.
Here’s to 70 years of progress, partnership, and what we’ll build next!”
Photo Credit: Latham, The Pool Company
Industry News
SPS PoolCare Expands Enterprise Platform with ServiceTitan
SPS’s Recent Acquisition of Pool Troopers Accelerates Company’s Investment in Scaled Infrastructure with ServiceTitan Powering Over 30 Branch Locations Across Five States and Standardizing Operations across the Service Cycle
LOS ANGELES – March 17, 2026— ServiceTitan (Nasdaq: TTAN), the software platform that powers the trades, today announced that SPS PoolCare, the largest residential swimming pool services platform in the United States, is standardizing their 30+ branch locations across five states on the ServiceTitan platform. By unifying their family of brands on ServiceTitan, SPS will leverage a single, enterprise-grade system to unify its vast operations, accelerate its high-velocity acquisition strategy, and scale its platform.
“SPS is demonstrating how purpose-built technology can transform a traditionally fragmented industry,” said Connor Theilmann, Chief Business Officer of ServiceTitan. “Their leadership team has made a deliberate investment in enterprise infrastructure, and we’re proud to support their continued growth. Standardizing on ServiceTitan will allow SPS to meet the needs of a large, multi-location operation, with Fraser Ramseyer, Storr Group, and the SPS leadership team making this one of the most seamless large-scale integrations we’ve ever seen.”
The move reflects SPS PoolCare’s continued investment in enterprise-grade infrastructure, as it advances its position as the dominant market leader in a highly fragmented industry. Founded in 2021 and backed by Storr Group, an investment firm that builds and scales industry-leading platforms, SPS PoolCare operates across Texas, Florida, Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia, where it employs more than 1,000 team members and is on track to perform more than two million weekly recurring pool services in 2026. ServiceTitan’s cloud-based platform serves as SPS PoolCare’s technology backbone, enabling SPS to manage complexity across geography, workforce scale, and service frequency.
“We’ve worked closely with the ServiceTitan team for several years, and this decision reflects the trust and alignment we’ve built as long-term partners,” said Lance Martin, CEO and COO of SPS PoolCare. “Our objective has always been to build a durable platform that enables our team to deliver exceptional service to our customers. Standardizing on ServiceTitan gives us the operational visibility, integration speed, and performance discipline required to scale responsibly and create long-term value.”
Ranked #1 on Pool and Spa News Top 50 Service list, SPS continues to solidify its position as the industry leader, driven by the company’s ability to pair high-velocity revenue growth with a deep commitment to staff training and retention, active industry leadership, and an early adopter of innovative technology within the pool service space. SPS PoolCare is dedicated to the communities it serves, ensuring that its national scale translates into a positive local impact across its entire service footprint.
“From inception, our thesis at Storr Group has been to build the pool industry’s first scaled category-defining operating platform,” Fraser Ramseyer, CEO of Storr Group and Founder of SPS PoolCare. “Technology is not ancillary to that vision – it is foundational. ServiceTitan provides the infrastructure necessary to integrate acquisitions efficiently, drive operational consistency, and support disciplined expansion.”
SPS PoolCare’s focus on being the employer-of-choice is supported by ServiceTitan’s mobile-first capabilities, which empower their over 1,000 staff team members with the tools they need to succeed in the field.
ServiceTitan continues to invest in purpose-built technology for the pool industry, offering features like route optimization, automated chemical tracking, and integrated project management for renovations. By providing real-time visibility into multi-location operations, ServiceTitan enables enterprise-scale businesses like SPS PoolCare to make data-driven decisions that fuel organic growth.
About ServiceTitan ServiceTitan is the software platform that powers trades businesses. The company’s cloud-based, end-to-end solution gives contractors the tools they need to run and grow their business, manage their back office, and provide a stellar customer experience. By bringing an integrated SaaS platform to an industry historically underserved by technology, ServiceTitan is equipping tradespeople with the technology they need to keep the world running.
About SPS PoolCare
As the #1 swimming pool services company in the United States, SPS PoolCare is on track to perform over 2,000,000 weekly recurring pool services in 2026 and employs more than 1,000 staff across five states. Backed by Storr Group, the company is focused on growing its family of brands across the Sun Belt, as it continues to make owning a pool a joy. SPS PoolCare is committed to creating a world-class service experience for its customers and being an employer-of-choice for its team members. Read more at spspoolcare.com.
About Storr Group
Storr Group is an operationally focused lower-middle-market private equity firm that backs, builds, and scales industry-leading platforms. With a rich background in business building, Storr combines world-class operators with strategic M&A, deep integration, and sophisticated technology to drive sustainable growth and long-term value. To partner today, visit storrgroup.com.
Press Contact
Max Wertheimer
ServiceTitan, Inc.
© 2026 ServiceTitan. All rights reserved. ServiceTitan, the ServiceTitan logo, and all ServiceTitan product and service names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or unregistered trademarks of ServiceTitan, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Other brand names and marks mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their respective holder(s).
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