The Pool Guy Podcast Show
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© 2025 The Pool Guy Podcast Show
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In this podcast I cover everything swimming pool care-related from chemistry to automatic cleaners and equipment. I focus on the pool service side of things and also offer tips to homeowners. There are also some great interviews with guests from inside the industry.
1808 Episodes
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Copper promises a cleaner pool with less work, but the chemistry tells a different story. We walk through what copper really does well—suppressing algae at low levels—and where it falls short, especially on fast disinfection and heavy oxidation. If you have ever wondered why water looks clear but still isn’t truly safe, or why blond hair turns green after a weekend swim, this conversation connects the dots and gives you a plan you can trust. We break down mineral and ionizer systems on the m...
Think a four-hour pump schedule is “good enough”? We put that myth to rest with clear math, real-world examples, and a simple plan for dialing in filtration so you stop chasing cloudy water and recurring algae. With Bob Lowry in the chair, we unpack why three turnovers is the sweet spot for clarity and safety, how to measure true flow instead of guessing, and what happens to sanitizer when circulation goes quiet for twenty hours a day. We also get honest about bather load. A backyard pool ca...
Algae keeps coming back even when your test reads “plenty of chlorine”? Here’s the missing piece: cyanuric acid quietly ties up most of your free chlorine, leaving only a small slice as active HOCl. We dig into the real chemistry behind clear water, then translate the math into one simple rule you can use on every stop. We walk through the practical percentage target that actually prevents algae: set free chlorine to 7.5% of your CYA, or drop that target to 5% when you run borates at 50 ppm....
Cold water changes everything. As temperatures slide, algae take a back seat, chlorine demand dips, and the Langelier Saturation Index tilts toward corrosive—quiet shifts that can quietly chew through plaster and equipment if you are not paying attention. We sit down with industry legend Bob Lowry to map a simple, reliable winter playbook that protects the vessel, extends gear life, and saves money when demand is low. We start with the biology: algae reproduction slows around 55°F, which mea...
Ever wondered why your chlorine test reads fine but algae still shows up? We pull back the curtain on the hidden math behind tablets, explaining how cyanuric acid quietly slows chlorine and why a “set-and-forget” trichlor program can turn into a chemistry treadmill. You’ll learn the simple 5% rule—keep free chlorine at roughly five percent of your CYA—and see how that single ratio restores predictability and keeps water safe. We dig into the side effects most people miss: trichlor’s low pH a...
What if the fastest way to grow your pool service isn’t a new ad, but a missed call you never return? We walk through the simple, repeatable habits top plumbers, HVAC techs, and landscapers use to win business—and show exactly how to apply them to pool care. The playbook is straightforward: answer quickly, look professional, write clear bids, and respect the clock. Do these well and you’ll close more estimates, earn better clients, and build a referral engine that compounds. We start with re...
Tired of wrestling with outlets and extension cords just to vacuum a pool? We dig into the new battery that turns the VacDaddy’s 55 GPM suction into a truly portable solution and lay out exactly where this tool shines: routine service, storm cleanups, shallow features, and green pool recoveries. Without sacrificing power, the battery removes the biggest friction point—finding a plug—while keeping what pros already love: bag-based debris capture that keeps fine dirt out of the customer’s filte...
Forecasts only matter when they help you make better moves. We lay out a clear-eyed view of the 2026 pool season: modest 2–3% industry growth, a slowdown in new builds, and a steady shift toward service demand—especially across apartments, HOAs, and townhome communities where shared pools are now standard amenities. If you’ve wondered whether to raise rates, chase commercial accounts, or lean into software, this conversation connects the dots with straightforward guidance you can use. You’ll...
Cold water doesn’t just chill your pool—it changes how your salt system works. We break down what really happens when temperatures drop, why most cells throttle or shut off around 50 to 60 degrees, and how to keep water clear without burning through gear or cash. If you’ve ever wondered whether to pull the cell, which sanitizer to lean on, or how to set yourself up for an easy spring, this walkthrough gives you a step-by-step plan. We start with freeze protection and the simple move that pre...
Looking for a faster, lighter way to vacuum pools without hauling a cart? We break down the new Shrimp kit and stack it against the trusted Bottom Feeder to help you decide what actually fits your route, your pools, and your budget. From first impressions to field use, we get specific about size, throat diameter, runtime, handling, and durability—so you can choose based on results, not hype. We start with why compact vacuums are trending and where plastic mini units fall short for pros: limi...
If you clean pools for a living, the vacuum system you choose can either speed up your route or slow you down at every backyard gate. We break down cart-based workhorses like Riptide and Hammerhead and match them against cartless contenders including the Bottom Feeder, Shrimp, Power Vac’s relaunch, Riptide XP, and the Hammerhead Remora. You’ll hear clear pros and cons on power, maneuverability, durability, price, and real access issues—stairs, narrow side yards, and HOA choke points that make...
Tired of losing accounts to low-price flyers or “I’ll handle it in winter” cancellations? We share a practical retention system that keeps clients loyal by focusing on what they feel at home: fast replies, reliable visits, crystal water, and billing they can trust. No fluff—just the habits that stop churn before it starts. Water quality makes or breaks loyalty, so we outline a preventive playbook: sustaining proper chlorine levels, using enhancers like borates or phosphate/enzyme programs, b...
Ever wonder what the numbers really look like behind a pool service route? We pull back the curtain with a clear, practical breakdown of a 45-pool operation charging $185 per month, then map the journey from gross revenue to true take-home pay. You’ll hear how recurring service, tight expense control, and smart tax choices can turn a four-day workweek into roughly $5,000 in monthly net income without 12-hour days or constant upsells. The best part is scalability. Once your processes are dial...
Ever finish a stop, glance at the truck, and realize you’re down to one gallon of chlorine with six pools to go? That pit-in-the-stomach moment is avoidable, and we walk through a field-tested system to keep your route moving without last-minute supplier runs or apologetic reschedules. Our goal is simple: turn your truck and garage into a lean, reliable inventory that protects your time and your bottom line. We start with emergency essentials that punch above their weight. A 50-pound bucket ...
Cold weather doesn’t put a year‑round pool on pause—it rewrites the playbook. We walk through the real rules of winter care for open pools in warmer regions, showing you how to keep water clear, equipment safe, and surfaces protected when temperatures drop. From algae myths to smarter chemistry, you’ll get a practical framework you can use the same day. First, we tackle the big misconception: cold water doesn’t kill algae, it only slows it. That’s why a steady 3–5 ppm chlorine residual still...
A handshake can’t stop a chargeback, clean a windblown pool in one visit, or explain why you took a sick day. We dig into the real-world moments that turn friendly client relationships into friction, and show how a simple one-page service agreement replaces tension with trust. From setting owner responsibilities like maintaining water level and providing clear access, to outlining late fees, service pauses, and repair payments, we share practical language you can adopt today without turning y...
Ever wonder why a pool stays clear for months and then collapses in a heatwave despite “weekly shock”? We pull back the curtain on the most persistent pool chemistry myths and replace them with simple, durable rules you can use on every visit. This is a frank guide to working with stabilizer, choosing the right chlorine, and avoiding the subtle traps that turn easy weeks into green emergencies. We start by dismantling the calendar-based approach to shocking. Chlorine demand isn’t a date on y...
Air is the invisible enemy of a pool pump, and once it slips into the system, your prime is gone, your filter pressure dives, and your day gets longer. We zero in on the real reasons pumps refuse to prime and share the simple, reliable fixes working pros use to get water moving fast. We start with the most common failure point—the pump lid O‑ring—and explain how age, dryness, and missing gaskets break the vacuum seal. From there, we tackle heat damage: low water leads to dry runs, scalding h...
Customers don’t judge by jargon; they judge by what they see and how their pool performs after you leave. We dive straight into the habits that signal true professionalism on a pool route: a 30–40 second equipment scan, disciplined filter decisions, and a firm stance on water-level responsibilities that keeps you out of liability trouble. You’ll learn a simple checklist for catching leaks, reading filter pressure, and spotting a dirty salt cell before a homeowner does. We talk through the re...
Choosing a variable speed pump shouldn’t feel like a guessing game. We walk through a simple, field-tested way to size the right unit by matching your current single-speed horsepower to modern total horsepower (THP), accounting for plumbing size, distance, and voltage, and then using RPM control to hit your flow goals without wasting energy. No fluff—just practical rules you can apply the moment you step onto the equipment pad. We start by translating old-school horsepower labels into today’...
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If you have an above-ground pool, you'll appreciate our insights into proper liners. We explain why these liners are not only functional but also contribute to the aesthetics of your pool area. https://propertyguardmasters.com/best-garage-storage-containers/