The Pool Guy Podcast Show

Tired of DE cleanings that turn into all-day projects and callbacks? We dive straight into the realities of servicing DE filters on a busy pool route and share a field-tested system that saves time, protects your back, and stops fresh powder from blowing straight back into the pool. If you’ve ever rebuilt a vertical grid assembly on a hot driveway and questioned your life choices, this one’s for y...

Dust doesn’t just cloud water; it wrecks schedules, clogs filters, and turns simple visits into expensive marathons. We break down three battle-tested ways to remove heavy dirt loads without touching the customer’s equipment, so you protect pumps, save water, and finish faster.  First, we put the Advantage Portivac 2.0 under the microscope. With a 1.5 HP pump and a 150 sq ft cartridge, this cart l...

Ever run your hand across pool coping and feel sandpaper? That texture tells a story about water that’s either starving for calcium or dumping it everywhere. We take you inside the Langelier Saturation Index—the tool that predicts whether your water will corrode metal and etch plaster or lay down crunchy scale on tile, heaters, and salt cells—and show you how to control it with confidence. We star...

Fighting red eyes, cloudy water, or scale that keeps coming back? We unpack the exact chemistry that drives pool comfort and clarity, then give you a simple plan to control pH without wrecking alkalinity. You’ll learn why total alkalinity is the true pH buffer, how cyanuric acid and borates play supporting roles, and when to pick borax, baking soda, or muriatic acid to get fast, stable results. We...

Your pool isn’t misbehaving—your targets are. We take you past vague “ideal ranges” and into precise numbers that keep water clear, equipment protected, and algae out for good. Starting with the seven essentials—pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, temperature, TDS, cyanuric acid, and measured chlorine—we explain how each parameter supports the others and how to prevent scale or corrosion using...

Sunlight, strength, and shelf life decide whether your chlorine dollars deliver crystal water or fade by Friday. We unpack the real-world playbook for using liquid chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) as a primary sanitizer—what it is, how strong it should be, and why pairing it with the right stabilizer keeps free chlorine steady all week. We start by clarifying the difference between commercial-grade...

Tired of pool rules that don’t add up? We peel back the layers on the industry’s most persistent myths and replace them with chemistry you can trust. From the “acid column” idea to the belief that liquid chlorine always drives pH sky high, we show where the logic sounds right and why the science says otherwise. You’ll learn how acid truly mixes on contact, why slugging can scar plaster and vinyl,...

Chlorine keeps vanishing, the water looks fine, and your test kit keeps gaslighting you. We’ve all been there, and the fix isn’t “just add more.” I walk through the real reasons a chlorine pool refuses to hold a residual and the exact order to solve them: restore flow, clear the water, set cyanuric acid in the sweet spot, and only then fine-tune sanitizer. You’ll hear why torn DE grids, clogged ca...

Chlorine at zero and a control panel full of mixed messages can make any pool owner or service pro feel stuck. We break the problem apart step by step so you can restore steady saltwater chlorination with confidence, starting with the most common culprits and moving into the hidden faults that waste time and chemicals. We start at the cell, explaining how thin scale films quietly choke production...

Tired of chasing the “perfect” pool water tester that does it all? We unpack the trade-offs behind the most trusted tools on a pro’s truck and show how to build a smarter testing system that saves time, reduces cost, and delivers accurate, defensible results. First, we put the Lamotte SpinTouch under the microscope. It’s blazing fast and highly accurate across a wide panel of factors, making it id...

Algae looks small, but it’s a budget killer. We pull back the curtain on how blooms steal minutes, erode customer trust, and rack up chemical costs across a route—and then we share a prevention playbook that keeps water clear and margins strong. From the real science behind sanitizer strength to practical field tactics, this episode is built to save you time and money while earning client confiden...

What if your “quick shock” could bleach a liner, stain a step, or even trigger an explosive reaction in your feeder? We take a hard, practical look at calcium hypochlorite—cal hypo—and share how pros use it for powerful oxidation without piling on cyanuric acid. From real-world dosing to regional water chemistry, we map the choices that keep your pool clean and your surfaces safe. We start with cl...

Big bather load on the calendar and worried about cloudy water, itchy eyes, or a long recovery the next day? We brought in legendary chemist and educator Bob Lowry to map out a clean, simple plan that keeps your water clear and your sanity intact.  We start with the pre-party checklist: raise free chlorine a few ppm, add a measured dose of non-chlorine oxidizer, and keep the pump and filter runnin...

Think evaporation lowers cyanuric acid? Think again. We open the cover on persistent pool myths with help from the late Bob Lowry’s clear, data-driven explanations, and show how small assumptions can create big chemistry problems over a season. First, we break down why CYA never leaves with evaporation—only pure water does. That means every trichlor tablet quietly stacks CYA week after week, often...

A black stain appears the moment cal hypo hits the floor—panic sets in. We unpack why that stain isn’t a new disaster but copper changing form, and how to turn a scary moment into a clean, controlled fix. With guidance from Bob Lowry, we break down the chemistry that matters, the tools that actually remove metals, and the habits that keep stains from returning. We start with the copper story: how...

The way we treat pool water is changing fast, and for good reason. Drought cycles, shrinking reservoirs, and tighter local rules are pushing the industry to prove it can deliver joy and safety while using far less water. We brought water expert Terry Arko back to chart a practical, field-tested path: smarter filtration, measured backwashing, proactive partial drains, and chemistry that prevents wa...

The best pool chemistry advice is the kind you can use on your next route. We sit down with Terry Arco to share how Bob Lowry’s teachings are being refined into fast, field-ready training for residential service pros, plus a major update to the IPSA manuals that shaped a generation of technicians. If you’ve ever held chlorine at 3 ppm and still fought algae, or watched CYA granules sit on the floo...

Ready to make 2026 the year your route runs smoother, faster, and with less strain? We’re sharing the exact tools that pay you back in minutes saved and backs spared, plus how to pick the right version for your truck, your clients, and your local conditions. We start with the true workhorse: your pole. Carbon fiber has become the smartest upgrade for daily service thanks to its lighter weight, sti...

Ready to land commercial pool accounts without racing to the bottom on price? We break down exactly how to win bids with HOAs, apartments, and hotels while protecting your margins, your time, and your sanity. From first contact to long-term retention, this is a step-by-step guide to building a profitable commercial line that doesn’t drain your residential route. We start with how decision-making w...

Confusion is expensive. We walk through the simple service agreements and targeted waivers that keep your pool business protected when jobs get messy, from green pool rescues to acid washes that carry real surface risk. Instead of relying on verbal promises, we show how a one-page agreement sets clear expectations, defines what’s included, and outlines billing, weather exemptions, and vacation pau...

Ever had a client say, “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” while you stare at a rusted filter and a pump on life support? We’ve been there. This episode breaks down the real-world tactics we use to manage budget-conscious pool owners without sacrificing water quality, service standards, or our sanity. From aging equipment that “still runs” to two-hour runtimes in peak summer, we unpack where to ac...

Your route doesn’t have to be a grind. We unpack the simple habits that separate smooth, profitable days from chaotic ones, drawing on three decades of pool service experience to show how routine, timing, and smart planning eliminate headaches before they start. The heartbeat of the conversation is a reliable workflow: show up the same day and roughly the same time each week, then run the same seq...

Prices are shifting, chemicals are spiking, and margins get squeezed fastest when your billing model hides the true cost of service. We unpack the 2026 State of the Pool Service Report from Skimmer and turn its data into moves you can make this week—clear regional benchmarks, smarter billing, and a simple plan to stop giving away chemicals. For the full Skimmer 2026 Report:  https://hubs.la/Q03_zv...

Ready to stop chasing every call and start running a business that serves your life? We dig into the mindset shifts and practical moves that help pool service pros say no to low-value work, set a four-day schedule, and price with real confidence. If you’ve ever wondered why your calendar is full but your bank account feels thin, this is the roadmap to flip that script. We start by reclaiming time....

Cash flow shouldn’t depend on crossed fingers and polite reminders. We break down a practical system any pool service pro can use to get paid on time, reduce risk on green‑to‑clean jobs and equipment installs, and avoid the legal and reputation traps that sink small businesses. From the exact language to put in a one‑page service agreement to the moment you pause service on a delinquent account, y...