The Pool Guy Podcast Show

Growing a pool service business comes down to clear choices and honest math: buy a route, build organically, or blend both. Each path has tradeoffs in cash, time, and risk. Buying through a trusted broker can deliver instant revenue and a safety net, but it requires real capital and commitment. Building through ads and local outreach can be cheaper per account, but it demands relentless effort and tight tracking. The right choice depends on your market’s competition, your cash access, and how...

The work is honest, the sun is relentless, and the clock on your knees is louder than you think. That reality sparked a straight‑talk conversation about converting today’s pool service income into tomorrow’s durable, low‑friction cash flow. We dig into three realistic paths—scaling your route into a managed operation, investing in the markets, and building a real estate portfolio—and break down the mindset, mechanics, and tradeoffs of each, without hype. We start with a Rockefeller‑style pri...

Most routes bleed time and money during filter season, not because the work is hard, but because the system behind it is fuzzy. We break down a simple framework that keeps your margins healthy, your schedule predictable, and your clients happy: when to clean, how to price, what to replace, and which tools shave minutes off every stop. We start with the big decision: include filter cleaning in your monthly price or bill it separately. For regions running full-size cartridge and DE filters, se...

Electricity and water don’t forgive small mistakes. We walk through the real hazards hiding at the equipment pad and show how two simple safeguards—proper bonding and a working GFCI—stop shocks, fires, and scary surprises before they start. From tracing that lone copper wire to pressing the GFCI test button, we share the steps pros use daily and the stories that make those habits stick. You’ll hear why a missing bonding lug can turn a wet pad into a danger zone, how stray voltage creates tha...

Pressure doesn’t look dangerous—until the instant it is. We take you right to the two moments that matter most in filter service—when the lid comes off and when it goes back on—and show you how to turn a risky task into a safe, repeatable routine. We start by reframing the filter as a pressure vessel, not a harmless canister. Sand filters are usually one-piece and lower risk; cartridge and DE filters come apart, rely on clamps or locking rings, and can fail if misaligned or under-tightened. ...

Storm clouds don’t just bring water—they rewrite your entire pool route. We dive into a practical, low-drama system for handling rain without wasting chemicals, damaging equipment, or risking your safety. From the first messy storms of the season to those frustrating back-to-back rainy Tuesdays, we share how to protect margins and maintain clean, clear water with decisions based on forecast patterns, yard conditions, and a simple service policy that sets the right expectations. We walk throu...

Ever opened a pump lid and watched the pool start emptying onto the pad? We’ve been there, and today we map out the simple field habits that stop the flood, speed up service, and keep clients happy. From spotting below-waterline equipment to shutting down both sides of the system, we share practical, low-cost tricks that save a service day—think tennis balls in skimmers, expanding chamois in return stubs, and a checklist that prevents air leaks and lost prime. We also dig into cleaner select...

Ready to earn more without adding more hours to your week? We break down three practical paths pool pros use to scale: hiring your first tech with clean pricing and standards, selling select accounts for lump‑sum cash, and building passive income that compounds over time. You’ll hear the exact numbers, the customer conversations that make handoffs smooth, and the realistic headaches to expect so you can plan around them. We start with a readiness check: if your monthly rate can’t support wag...

A runaway hose, a rooftop spa, and a driveway that cost $90,000 to fix—small choices can turn a routine stop into a six-figure claim. We dive into the three risks that quietly drain profits for pool professionals: water damage, chemical spills, and water chemistry mistakes. Along the way, we share hard-earned stories and the simple, repeatable habits that keep clients happy, claims rare, and premiums steady. We break down why adding water seems helpful but often backfires, especially on elev...

A pool route looks peaceful from the curb, but the work sits where chemistry, electricity, plumbing, and customer trust collide. We brought on Sean Reardon, the insurance broker serving the United Pool Association, to unpack the real risks pool technicians face and why generic coverage so often misses the mark. From the UPA’s origins as a mutual support network to the evolution of group policies built for technicians, we explore how smart coverage, good training, and honest reporting can turn...

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...