The Pool Guy Podcast Show

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...

Your pool test is only as good as the tool you choose—and the eyes reading it. We dive straight into the real-world trade-offs between test strips, reagent kits, and photometers, showing where “good enough” saves time and where precision protects plaster, budgets, and your reputation. You’ll hear how modern strips have improved, why big manufacturers now back them, and the simple reason human colo...

Think a “low salt” alert means grab another bag? That assumption can wreck a salt system, corrode equipment, and leave you with a pool that won’t chlorinate. We break down the most costly mistakes we see on routes and at home—oversalting, starving circulation, and ignoring water levels—and share practical steps to keep water safe without wasting money. We start with salinity. False low readings ha...

Prices at the supply house keep climbing, and chlorine isn’t bouncing back to 2016. We dig into the real reasons chemical costs surged 100–160% in just five years—pandemic shocks, the Biolab fire, transportation and regulatory pressures, payroll hikes—and why those forces keep a firm floor under today’s pricing. From tabs and liquid chlorine to cal-hypo and specialty products, we connect the dots...

Tired of white dust on your dark pebble finish, shredded filter media, or the stress of a sudden cold snap? We dig into the practical, money-saving tactics that keep pools clear and equipment safe, backed by decades in the field and feedback from real service routes. You’ll hear exactly why pressure washers and cartridge filters don’t mix, plus the simple nozzle upgrade that speeds cleaning withou...

Clear water starts with the right filter, not a monster pump. We dive into the real drivers of pool clarity and ease of maintenance, showing why filter sizing determines circulation, energy use, and how often you clean. If you’ve battled cloudy water, sluggish skimmers, or a cleaner that crawls, the culprit may be a filter that’s too small for your pool and conditions. We break down how different...

Heavy leaves or fine dust—what’s slowing you down? We break down the real-world tradeoffs between the most popular pool vacuum systems so you can match the right tool to every stop and cut your cleaning time without cutting corners. Drawing on years in the field, we compare Riptide and Hammerhead cart rigs, the updated Power Vac handheld, and the ultra-portable Bottom Feeder and Shrimp. We also sp...

Ever heard a variable speed pump scream for a minute on a cold morning and wondered if the motor is toast? We dig into the real-world signs that separate normal quirks from costly failures, sharing field-tested ways to read noises, clouding, and pressure spikes without overreacting or replacing parts you don’t need. We start with cold-start pump behavior and why grease viscosity makes a VS motor s...

Clients adore their dogs, and many let them swim daily. We get real about what that means for your route: higher bather load, stubborn scum lines, clogged filters, and chlorine that seems to vanish overnight. Instead of fighting the habit, we show you how to build a resilient service plan that keeps water safe, controls algae pressure, and protects your margins without overpromising on crystal cla...

Want a pool service schedule that actually lets you take time off without losing momentum or money? We break down a practical framework for solo operators and small teams to reclaim rest, reduce burnout, and keep customers happy year-round. We start with the hard truth: summer time off is risky. Heat, bather load, and algae pressure make July and August the most fragile weeks on a route. Then we f...

Leaves don’t just make a mess, they steal your time, stress your body, and starve your margins. We break down a clean, repeatable system to handle heavy debris pools without burning out: what to avoid, what to automate, and where to invest so your route stays profitable even when the wind goes wild. We start with selection strategy—why a mature business doesn’t need every account—and how saying no...

Saying yes to every pool is the fastest way to burn out your route and your margins. We break down a practical bidding system for weekly service, green pool cleanups, acid washes, and installs that protects your time, sets clear expectations, and helps you win the right work at the right price. We start with the mindset shift: only bid work you’re ready to start. From there, we walk through a thor...

Dust lines, cloudy steps, and second passes with a manual vac eat time and profit. We tackled the root problem—fine debris slipping through bags—and put the Bottom Feeder Cartridge Assembly Kit 2.0 to the test. The result is a portable vacuum that captures down to about 20 microns without losing thrust, letting us collect leaves and silt in one run while keeping maneuverability in tight spaces lik...