A $300 variable speed pool pump can feel like the smartest upgrade you’ll make all year, until you try to plumb it in, dial in the flow, or keep it running past the first season. We dig into the budget VS pump wave hitting Amazon and big box retailers, and I share what I’d want any pool owner or pool service pro to understand before betting their circulation system on a bargain listing. We start with the unglamorous stuff that decides whether the install is easy or painful: equipment pad lay...