The Pool Guy Podcast Show

While there is nothing inherently wrong with using test strips to get the chemistry reading  in your pool or spa, using test strips only could prove to be problematic over time. Test strips give you more or less a ball park of a pools chemistry levels and will not give you exact levels. While this may be fine in the short term you will at some point need more exact reading to keep your pool well b...

Getting educated is the key to a well balanced and safe pool. Whether you are a homeowner or a pool service tech caring for their own pool, you will find the free Orenda Four Pillars online course very educational and eye-opening. This course will help you learn more than just the basic chemistry of a pool and you will be able to apply these principles easily to your pool or pool route. Leslie’s P...

In this episode, I continue my discussion with Eric Knight on the ideal pH level and how it may not be cost-effective or productive to keep chasing the low pH that we have all been taught. The CYA level has a direct effect on your chlorine kill factor and pH may not be as much of a factor as we think with a pool with CYA in it.   Leslie’s Pool Supplies has been do-it-yourselfers and pool trade pro...

It is well known that the lower the pH the more effective the chlorine is in a pool. Keeping your pool pH at 7.4-7.6 has always been the ideal range. New research is showing that the Cyanuric Acid in your pool (CYA level) is an even bigger factor of the chlorines kill factor, even larger than the pH level. I unpack this concept with Eric Knight of Orenda Technologies in this podcast for you. Lesli...

One thing that is often overlooked when you are starting out or if you have been doing this for awhile is letting your customers know when you have serviced their pool. You can use many methods including sign in sheets, pool routing apps and so forth. I also touch on letting the customer know when you have installed a part or replaced an item at their pool.  Leslie’s Pool Supplies has been do-it-y...

In this podcast I go over the different types of suction side cleaners for your pool and touch on the differences between a geared cleaner and a bouncing type cleaner. I also go over my preferred cleaners and give you some tips on installing them in your pool.  Leslie’s Pool Supplies has been do-it-yourselfers and pool trade professionals trusted partner since 1963, providing quality products and...

The manufacturers make some specific suction side and robotic cleaners for the above ground pool market. These are usually very similar to their in-ground cleaners and if you have a small in-ground pool you can use some of these above-ground models in your pool. I go over some of these above ground cleaners and also point out the models that I use in my in-ground pools. Leslie’s Pool Supplies has...

It has been a boom time for the last 12 years and if you are new to the pool service business you probably have never gone through a losing year. I am not talking losing in the sense of going out of business but a drop in year over year accounts, installs and so forth meaning you will make less money this year than the last year. It is bound to happen and I go over some tips on getting through a l...

In this podcast I interview Megan Kendrick the Publisher/Editor-In-Chief of Pool Pro Magazine and we discuss some of the fundamentals of the industry. We also touch on the COVID-19 crisis and some of the things to look out for in your pool service business. Pool Pro Magazine’s main focus is on the business end of your pool service and we discuss some of those key aspects in this podcast. To learn...

This is something that should never happen but it does happen more than you think, running out of chlorine. When you are new to the business and maybe haven’t experienced a full Summer Season you may not know how much chlorine to stock or carry on your truck. I give you a basic rule of thumb in this podcast so that you never run out of chlorine on your pool route. Leslie’s Pool Supplies has been d...

It can be hard to determine of your D.E. filter grids are worn out and in this podcast I go over some of the signs to look for. These of course include obvious tears and rips but there are some more subtle signs that your D.E. Filter grids may be going bad. Listen to learn about how to tell when to replace your D.E. Filter grids. Leslie’s Pool Supplies has been do-it-yourselfers and pool trade pro...

I get this question all the time. When should I replace the cartridge inside my pool filter? There is no set rule but there are many signs of when your pool filter cartridge is wearing out. I go over some common guidelines and also point out some of the things that indicate your cartridge needs to be thrown out and replaced.  Leslie’s Pool Supplies has been do-it-yourselfers and pool trade profess...

A Recession can be a tough time for any business and a Pool Service is not immune to the effects of an economic slowdown. When money is tight it gets harder to get new clients and to retain current customers. The key is not to panic and to make sure you are operating your business in the best possible way to reduce costs and debt. Leslie’s Pool Supplies has been do-it-yourselfers and pool trade pr...

The scale on your pool surface is a big issue in the pool industry. In this podcast, I conclude the water quality issues series with Harold Evans of Orenda Technologies and we discuss the reasons why your pool surface feels rough to the touch. We also discuss the Orenda Start-Up procedure in detail and explain the difference between scaling and etching of the plaster. Orenda Technologies Water Qua...

The LSI Index (Langelier Saturation Index) is a method that was developed to identify if your swimming pool water in scale forming or corrosive. I continue the series on water quality issues with Harold Evans from Orenda Technologies and in this podcast we touch on using the LSI to balance your pool water. Throughout this series of podcast the LSI Index has been a main feature of the Orenda teachi...

Cyanuric Acid has been a big issue that has recently been debated in the swimming pool industry and I continue my series on water quality issues with Harold Evans of Orenda Technologies with a discussion on high Cyanuric Acid (CYA) and how it affects your pool water. Learn why high CYA in your pool can make balancing and maintain safe water more difficult. Orenda Technologies Water Quality Issues...

I continue the series with Harold Evens of Orenda Technologies and in this podcast, we go over how the use of enzymes can enhance your chlorine and make your filtration system more efficient. If you have never used enzymes in your pool and don’t know much about them, this podcast will give you all the information you need on using Enzymes in a pool. We also touch a little on Clarifiers at the end...

Phosphates are a much talked about subject in the industry and in this podcast I continue the series on water quality issues with Harold Evans of Orenda Technologies and we discuss phosphates and phosphate removers in detail in this episode. Listen to learn why phosphates are becoming more and more an issue and how they create water quality issues for your pool. Orenda Technologies Water Quality I...

I spent some time recording this podcast series with Harold Evens of Orenda Technologies and I think you will find it one of the most comprehensive discussions on water quality issues for your swimming pool. In this first part, I go over what Orenda does and we touch on some of the products that Orenda makes to help both the pool pro and homeowner enhance their pool care. Listen to part one to lea...

I can’t tell you how many people email me with photos of their valves and ask me what this valve does or that valve does. Typically you will have Jandy Valves before your pump and in the return line and if you have an attached spa this makes it even more confusing. I go over the ins and out of pool valves in this podcast for you. Leslie’s Pool Supplies has been do-it-yourselfers and pool trade pro...

You can run into poor water quality issues because of both low and high Conditioner (Cyanuric Acid) levels in your pool. If there is too little Stabilizer (CYA) in your pool this will cause the chlorine to burn off quickly. If there is too much CYA in your pool this will cause the chlorine to be less effective. Learn what is the best CYA level for your pool and ways to correct both low and high CY...

One thing that can eat up a lot of time when you are new is when you run into a problem at an account. This will lead to much frustration and consume your time and energy. But it doesn’t have to be this way and I give you some tips on how to deal with a problem on your pool route. Learn how to avoid this typical rookie mistake in this podcast. Leslie’s Pool Supplies has been do-it-yourselfers and...

In this podcast I go over the pros and cons of using either the Granular Conditioner or the Liquid Pool Conditioner to add Cyanuric Acid to your pool. The Granular Conditioner is of course less expensive but it involves more of a process. The Liquid Conditioner while expensive is easy and safe to use. After listening to this you will have a better idea of which one is right for you. Leslie’s Pool...

I recently did a sanitizer survey on my YouTube Channel and the results were very surprising. In fact, liquid chlorine came out on top by a slight margin over the 3” Tri-Chlor Tablets. So, which is the best way to sanitize your swimming pool? I go over the pros and cons of each product in this podcast so that you can make an educated decision for yourself.  Leslie’s Pool Supplies has been do-it-yo...

If you struggle with your pool each season, the answer could be a very simple one. Your pool filter is too small, not running correctly or a combination of both. Replacing your pool filter with a larger one will be a game-changer for your pool. Yes, it is a major expense, but in reality, you are spending a lot more on chemicals to keep the pool looking passable and you are wasting time and energy...