Why Most Pool Builders Only Use One Equipment Brand—and Why It Matters

Question: When shopping for a pool, how much thought do you give to what’s under the hood?

Let’s be honest. If you’re like most homeowners, your excitement is likely focused on the design, decking, and whether to go with a Tanning Ledge/Baja shelf or a waterfall feature. The equipment pad? That’s… somewhere behind the bushes, right?

But what if we told you that what’s hiding under your pool or back at the equipment pad—the “engine” of your entire system—determines how much you'll pay in monthly energy costs, how much you’ll spend in chemical costs, how often you’ll have to call for service or time you’ll personally spend taking care of the pool, and even whether or not your pool turns green?

And what if we told you that most pool companies don’t want you thinking about it?

What’s the industry secret no one is talking about?

Promise: You’re about to learn why the brand behind your pool’s equipment pad is often chosen for reasons that don’t benefit you…and we at Shasta have not been completely innocent of this.

Preview: In this article, you’ll discover:

• Why most pool builders only offer one brand (and why that’s a problem)
• The truth about incentives and rebates in the industry
• How Shasta Pools walked away from “the Big 3” for new pool construction
• What specialist brands are doing differently—and better
• What smart questions to ask your pool builder before you sign anything

Why is it common to only see one brand of pool equipment offered?

Because it’s easier. And more profitable.

For decades, the pool industry has been dominated by three major manufacturers—Pentair, Hayward, and Fluidra (Jandy)—collectively known as “the Big 3” amongst companies in the pool industry.  Most builders pick one of these brands and use only their equipment for most of everything: pumps, filters, valves, heaters, lighting, automation—you name it.

But why?

Incentives.
That’s the part no one likes to say out loud. Trips, rebates, and volume discounts are built into agreements between pool companies and manufacturers. The more a builder buys from one manufacturer, the more perks they receive.

This approach doesn’t prioritize equipment performance. It prioritizes manufacturer loyalty and volume purchases from the manufacturer.
And unfortunately, that’s not the same thing as customer-first engineering.

Would you trust one company to build EVERY part of your car?

Here’s the analogy that brings this home:
If you needed heart surgery, would you let your family doctor do it? Of course not. You’d go to a cardiologist, someone who specializes in that one critical area.

Now apply that same logic to your pool.

Would it make sense to have one company—no matter how big—make every piece of your pool’s equipment? And if they made every piece of equipment, how probable is it that it's the best piece of equipment in its category in the industry? The odds that a single manufacturer produces the best pump, best filter, best light, best heater, and best automation system is statistically... impossible.

What happens when you let specialists handle each part of your pool’s equipment pad?

Let’s break it down:

🔹 Lighting – PAL Lighting

PAL only makes lighting. That’s it. They obsess over it. And while they’re headquartered in Australia, they’ve established a Houston, Texas facility, reducing shipping delays and buffering against tariffs.

🔹 Heating and Cooling – Raypak (Rheem)

Experts in water and air heating systems, Raypak has built its name in commercial and residential HVAC, and their pool heaters are among the most trusted in the industry, not just the swimming pool industry.

🔹 Automation – Poolside Tech

This brand is reshaping how pool owners interact with their pools. Their automation isn’t just functional—it’s fun, intuitive, and focused on user simplicity. This automation will talk to virtually any brand of equipment, at the same time, on the same equipment pad (And yes, they’re U.S.-based too.)

🔹 Filtration & Hydraulics – AquaStar

This is where performance meets purpose. AquaStar specializes in pumps and filters designed together, meaning your pump isn’t bottlenecked by an underperforming filter. If you’ve ever heard that a variable speed pump saves money but still had a high power bill, this is why.

Having a high-end variable speed pump without the right filter is like having a Ferrari engine you’re only allowed to drive up to 25 mph. You’re wasting potential—and energy savings.

What about supply chain risks? Is there really a difference?

Yes—a massive one.

One of the hidden advantages of working with single-focus, specialist manufacturers is that they are less prone to the supply chain disruptions that devastated the pool industry during the pandemic.

Most of the brands mentioned above are:

• U.S.-based (with shorter delivery routes)
• Not reliant on overseas mega-factories
• Laser-focused on their product category, making forecasting and delivery far more reliable

While PAL Lighting originates in Australia, their U.S. warehouse in Texas dramatically reduces delays and import duties, making them a rare international supplier that’s almost “local.”

Why did Shasta Pools walk away from the Big 3?

We’ll be candid.

From the late 1990s through very recently, Shasta was like everyone else. We exclusively used 2 of the “Big 3” manufacturers, during those years, for our equipment pads because… well, that’s what everyone did. And yes, those incentive programs were attractive.

But something didn’t sit right. We kept asking ourselves:

“Are we actually putting the best possible equipment into every pool we build?”

And when the honest answer was “not always,” we knew it was time for a change.

Today, we build each equipment pad with a “best-of-breed” mindset—selecting each component based on quality, performance, and customer impact—not profit margin. Does that mean what we walked away from was “garbage” equipment?  By no means!...but we couldn’t say it was the best for our customers.

What should YOU ask your pool builder before making a decision?

Here are five powerful, eye-opening questions to take with you into your next pool consultation:

1. What brands of equipment do you use—and why?
2. Do you offer multiple options for each component of the equipment pad?
3. Can I choose a different filter or automation system if I prefer?
4. How do you ensure the pump and filter are hydraulically matched for ease of maintenance and save me the most money?
5. Do you get any rebates or incentives from the manufacturers you use? (its possible only a manager or executive of the company would know this answer)

Let’s recap: What’s under the hood matters. And now you know why.

You’ve learned how incentives—not performance—often drive equipment choices.
You’ve seen the value in single-focus brands who innovate without distraction.
You’ve learned how pandemic-era shortages revealed the weakness of centralized supply chains, and why U.S.-based manufacturers offer better reliability.

At Shasta Pools, we believe in giving homeowners transparent choices—because that’s how trust is built.

Want to build a smarter pool? Start with smarter questions.

🔹 Explore our in-depth guide on choosing the right pool filter 
🔹 Compare top-rated heaters from the latest Forbes list
🔹 Or talk to a Shasta pool designer to review your options - Schedule a free consultation today