There’s something deeply satisfying about solving a technical problem with your own two hands — especially when it saves you hundreds of dollars.
Jun 15, 2025
Bruce Nolan
Recently, I faced an issue with my spring pool opening. But thanks to a little artificial intelligence, a $6 thermistor, and a soldering iron, I walked away with an $800 win.
The Mystery of the Broken Chlorinator
It all started this spring with an uncooperative chlorinator. Despite the unit humming along as usual, the chlorine levels in the pool were plummeting and the water began to turn cloudy. With summer just around the corner, I wanted a blue-water pool not a green-water pond. A quick look at the control panel showed the unit was trying to work, but the salt readings were way off and the green lights were cycling on and off.
Cue the dreaded call to the pool guy: “Sounds like a main circuit board issue.”
New ones go for around $800 installed.
Yikes.
Turning to AI for a Smarter Diagnosis
Instead of just shelling out that kind of money, I turned to something I’ve grown increasingly reliant on: Artificial Intelligence. Using the AI tool, I described the symptoms, mentioned the chlorinator model, and asked if there were any known issues or any diagnostics I could run.
Within moments, the AI had a theory - a failed thermistor. It even gave me a picture of the board and described the part that I needed to replace.
It then showed me step-by-step how to go through the diagnostics to determine what was happening.
The $6 Fix That Made Me a Hero
Armed with the AI’s diagnosis, I popped open the control unit (after safely powering it down, of course), removed the main board, and investigated. Sure enough, a continuity check showed the thermistor was kaput - in fact it even crumbled in my hands.
The AI said that replacement parts could be readily sourced and I managed to find some locally for just $6.
A few days later, equipped with two thermistors (just in case), I dusted off my old soldering iron and got to work. My soldering skills were nothing to be proud of, but I managed to attach the new thermistor onto the legs of the old one.
Then I powered everything back on… and booyah!
- Chlorine production back to normal,
- No more LED cycling,
- Salt readings slowly returning to normal overnight,
- Clear water,
- Happy wallet.
Why This Matters
This wasn’t just a win for me — it was an example of how AI is transforming the way we tackle everyday problems. Instead of blindly relying on expensive service calls or guessing at solutions, I used AI as a diagnostic partner. It gave me the insight to make an informed, safe, and inexpensive repair on my own terms.
In an age where tech often feels like it’s overcomplicating things, this was the opposite: a moment of clarity, simplicity, and empowerment.
Final Thoughts
Not every problem can be solved with a $6 part and a soldering iron. But with the right tools (both digital and physical) you’d be amazed at what you can do.
Next time something breaks, don’t reach for your phone to call a service rep. And don’t ask Google to find a long list of YouTube videos that you have to sift through, where someone is doing something kind of similar to what you need, but not exactly the same.
Save yourself the time and effort. Just ask an AI. It might just save you hundreds of dollars.
Wish You Could Use an AI at Work?
Are you prevented from using an AI to ask for help at work? If so, usually because of data security concerns, your company will quickly fall behind as the competition embraces it.
Why not get ahead of the curve with CastleGuard AI?
Your organization can buy a computer workstation or server with NVIDIA GPU boards, install it inside the secure network, then add Nextria’s CastleGuard AI software that comes equipped with an open source Large Language Model (LLM).
Before you know it, you will have the power of AI safe and secure inside your premises and your data will never leave. You’ll soon be able to:
- Chat with an AI,
- Train the AI on your organization’s data,
- Ask questions about documents,
- Code software,
- Translate text or documents,
- Transcribe audio or video,
- Anonymize documents.
CastleGuard AI is so simple and intuitive that anyone can use it without having to know the ins and outs of how it works. Just point and click on a browser menu, drop in your documents, and you’ll soon become an expert at leveraging the power of AI for practical everyday use.
To learn more about how CastleGuard AI can put your company at the forefront of innovation and unleash productivity gains, visit: www.nextria.ca/castleguard-ai
Bruce Nolan - VP Customer Success, Nextria
