The Pool Guy Podcast Show

Testing your swimming pool water is essential but there are some factors that can cause user error. When you test the water, where the water sample comes from, reading the results and other variables can give you false chemistry readings. I go over some of the more common user errors in testing your pool water. Leslie’s Pool Supplies has been do-it-yourselfers and pool trade professionals trusted...

The Polaris Quattro Sport was released in 2019 and has quickly become the premiere pressure side pool cleaner on the market today. It doesn’t look like your typical pressure cleaner and it incorporates some of the best aspects of a robotic cleaner like the front scrubbing brush, internal debris canister, and wall climbing ability. Listen to learn more about the Polaris Quattro Sport. Leslie’s Pool...

Whether you are just starting out in the pool service business or been around a while, you will soon encounter a customer who balks at the filter cleaning charge and insists on cleaning and maintaining their own pool filter. There are many pitfalls to this, and I strongly discourage allowing a customer to clean their own filter. Find out why I think this is a really bad idea. Leslie’s Pool Supplie...

Saltwater pools known by their saltwater generators (SWG) have now been around for well over 20 years. But there is still a lot of mystery surrounding how they actually work. In this podcast, I debunk some popular myths and share the truth about a saltwater pool. Leslie’s Pool Supplies has been do-it-yourselfers and pool trade professionals trusted partner since 1963, providing quality products an...

I know I didn’t preface the title with a why making the title more of a statement of fact. Between the 3 swimming pool cleaner types, I personally think Robotic Pool Cleaners are the best. I have filmed nearly 50 different models from all different manufacturers and believe in the next 5 years these will be the dominant cleaner. They are already the top choice in Europe and parts of the East Coast...

I don’t sell any products directly so I can speak to you from an unbiased position. The one cleaning tool that you need for service is a Pool Vacuum system. There are four to choose from, the Riptide, The Power Vac the Bottom Feeder and the Hammer-Head Vacuum. I will be the first to tell you they are expensive, but at the same time they will pay for themselves over the course of the year. Listen t...

If I had to choose the best D.E. filter for a pool I would put the cartridge type D.E filters like the Pentair Quad D.E. Filter, the Hayward DEP 500 Series Pleated Element D.E. Filter and the Jacuzzi J-DEQ80 right at the top of the list. These filters are so easy to clean and run more like a cartridge filter than a D.E. Filter. Plus they come in larger sizes and use up less space than your standar...

Emptying your swimming pool’s pump basket seems simple enough, but it really is not. There are many things that can go wrong if you empty it improperly and of course there are many thing that can wrong if you fail to empty it when it is full of debris. I go over some of the common mistakes in regards to emptying your pump basket. Leslie’s Pool Supplies has been do-it-yourselfers and pool trade pro...

When Fluidra and Zodiac Pool Systems merged the Aqaubot brand was split into two separate companies at the request of the European Commission. They didn't want Zodiac Fluidra to have a monopoly of sorts in the robotic cleaner market. So Aqau Products and AquaTron which were both owned by Fluidra were split off. Fluidra still kept the Aqau Products portion but now AquaTron is a separate compan...

The Dolphin brand of robotic pool cleaners by Maytronics is always in the top tier of reviews. You know when you purchase a Dolphin cleaner you are getting a fine machine. The Proteus lineup features three different categories of their robotic cleaners. Whether you are looking for an entry-level cleaner or the top of the line version there are three Proteus versions available. I touch on the detai...

There are many common things that you can do as a new service provider for your clients that will make your efforts stand out. I am not talking about discounts or free services but little things that will make the client think you are really on the ball. These simple little added things that I talk about in this podcast can make your client a lifelong service account.  Leslie’s Pool Supplies has b...

If you have an automatic pool cleaner chances are you had to order replacement parts. One thing that can be shocking is how expensive these OEM – Original Manufacture Parts cost. If you search online you will find a lot of parts by off-brand manufacturers for 50%-75% less in price. Are these generic parts any good? Listen to hear my take on generic cleaner parts.  Leslie’s Pool Supplies has been d...

In this new series, I will cover the most common errors that new pool owners make. A pool can be complicated to take care of, and mistakes can easily be made. The number one mistake that I often see is not adding the correct amount of water. It sounds simple enough and I offer some helpful tips on maintaining the proper water level in your pool. Leslie’s Pool Supplies has been do-it-yourselfers an...

I call this the Traditional Method of pool care because it has been the industry standard for a few decades now. It is a combination of a sanitizer like liquid chlorine and 3” Tri-Chlor tablets. The more modern version also adds a chlorine enhancer and I will cover four of the top enhancers in this podcast as well. I go over the benefits and drawbacks of using the traditional method of pool care....

Does your swimming pool have a very high CYA (Cyanuric Acid -Conditioner) level? Do those products that lower down the CYA really work? What is the best way to lower my pool’s high CYA level? These are the questions I answer in this podcast.  Leslie’s Pool Supplies has been do-it-yourselfers and pool trade professionals trusted partner since 1963, providing quality products and services to make po...

Testing your swimming pool water weekly is highly recommended by those in the pool industry. But what exactly do you need to test for each week? What can you test for bi-monthly or monthly?  What should you test for quarterly? I go over all of this for you in this podcast for you and explain what to test for and when. Leslie’s Pool Supplies has been do-it-yourselfers and pool trade professionals t...

If you have just had a pool built or remodeled and there is a Salt Water Generator, when do you add the salt? This is a common question and I think my answer will surprise you. It is important to wait the appropriate time before adding salt to prevent problems with your new pool. Listen to the time table that I suggest in this episode. Leslie’s Pool Supplies has been do-it-yourselfers and pool tra...

With the passage of AB 5, the 1099-employee will be completely eliminated in California. If it proofs successful, this year other states will soon be adopting these strict restrictions in Independent Contractors. Just about every current 1099 pool service worker will fail to meet the state's new strict requirements and will need to be classified as an employee going forward. But there is one...

Starting up a plaster pool is loaded with potential problems that could cause staining, discoloration and damage to the new pool surface. There are some things that you should never do and other things that you should do. Knowing what to do can prevent scaling and staining of a new plaster pool. I go over these dos and don’ts in this podcast episode. Leslie’s Pool Supplies has been do-it-yourselfe...

If you work in the industry long enough or have taken care of your backyard pool for years, you are aware of the health hazards of many of the chemicals we use for pool care. I go over some of the more toxic chemicals and ways to avoid getting hurt, burned and poisoned around your swimming pool.  Leslie’s Pool Supplies has been do-it-yourselfers and pool trade professionals trusted partner since 1...

Like any job after awhile you put things on cruise control and are often not aware of if you did something or forgot to do something. A pool route can be very complex in that it becomes hard to remember if you actually did something week in and week out since you see the same pools every week all year round.  Having a set routine is critical to prevent oversites and error.  Leslie’s Pool Supplies...

I really like the SweepEase pool brush and use it as my go to pool brush.  It is specially designed to create more force as you brush the pool walls and force. Recently SweepEase has undergone a color change and a complete name change to the StrinRay Brush by SweepEase. I will go over some of the great features of this brush in this podcast. Leslie’s Pool Supplies has been do-it-yourselfers and po...

Everyone knows how easy it is to check prices online. Often the price online will be close to the actual wholesale price that we will pay for an item. But there are some effective ways to sell products to customers and there is also a new realistic expectation for profit from sales of parts and equipment. Listen to learn more about selling effectively to your customers. Leslie’s Pool Supplies has...

One thing that can happen is that metals can enter your swimming pool water. Copper is the most common metal and it can enter through the fill water, the equipment or by using copper-based algaecides. A green tint to the water is one of the first signs that you have metal in your pool water. Listen to learn more and to learn how to remove the metals.  Leslie’s Pool Supplies has been do-it-yourself...

Does it make sense to purchase 10 to 15 pools to quickly expand your current pool route? It may or may not depending on your market and if you are able to grow organically through advertising and word of mouth. But in some cases buying a small pool route may the answer you need to expand quickly. Leslie’s Pool Supplies has been do-it-yourselfers and pool trade professionals trusted partner since 1...