ConnectedYard (pHin)

ConnectedYard, Inc., founded in 2014 by Mark Janes and Justin Miller, developed a smart water monitoring system for pools and hot tubs called pHin. As pool owners themselves, Janes and Miller sought to simplify water chemistry management through technology. The company emerged from the Silicon Valley incubator Playground Global, LLC and secured $7 million in funding from investors including Lonza Group and Tandem Capital.

The pHin system featured a floating, Wi-Fi-enabled sensor that continuously measured water chemistry (pH and sanitizer levels) and temperature, performing over 1,000 readings per week. This data was sent to a mobile application, which would then notify the user if the water required balancing. The app provided precise dosing instructions, telling the user exactly how much of a specific chemical to add. It was compatible with chlorine, bromine, and saltwater systems. The business model centered on a hardware sale combined with a subscription service. The initial purchase, priced around $349, included the monitor and the first year of monitoring service; subsequent years cost $99 annually. This subscription provided ongoing monitoring, historical data charts, and a lifetime warranty on the monitor, with replacements provided if the unit failed.

ConnectedYard also offered a chemical subscription program, delivering pre-packaged, color-coded pods of chemicals to users' homes. Alternatively, users could purchase their own chemicals from local retailers, and the app would provide the correct dosage instructions for over 60 brands. The platform also included a service called Pool Service On Demand, connecting homeowners with vetted pool technicians for maintenance and repairs. In April 2018, the pool equipment manufacturer Hayward Industries acquired ConnectedYard. The founders, Miller and Janes, initially continued to operate pHin as a separate entity under Hayward. However, Hayward made the decision to end the pHin service and close the business on December 20, 2021, rendering the devices inactive.

Keywords: ConnectedYard, pHin, smart pool monitor, water chemistry sensor, pool maintenance, hot tub maintenance, IoT device, subscription model, Hayward Industries, pool technology, water monitoring, Justin Miller, Mark Janes, smart water care, automated pool care, mobile app, chemical dosing, Playground Global, Lonza Group, pool service on demand