Pool water can look crystal clear and still be quietly destroying your surfaces and equipment. We sit down with Joe  Laurino of Periodic Products, known to many pool pros for Culator metal elimination, to break down what “balanced water” really means and why it is the first step in preventing metal staining, corrosion, and costly repairs. If you’ve ever wondered why a heater fails early, why plaster starts to feel rough, or why stains keep coming back, the answer often starts with aggressive water chemistry. 

We get specific about the chemistry that matters most for everyday pool maintenance: keeping pH in the 7.2 to 7.8 range, using total alkalinity as a true buffer, and maintaining calcium hardness so water doesn’t try to pull minerals from plaster. Joe shares a simple, standards-based rule of thumb for water replacement using total dissolved solids (TDS), and we talk about why “old water” can become chemically ugly even when it still looks clear. We also cover when high cyanuric acid (stabilizer) pushes you toward partial draining because it is so hard to remove any other way. 

Then we tackle the big question pool service professionals hear all the time: drain and acid wash, or treat the stains with the pool full? Joe explains why acid washing is a last resort because it dissolves and thins the surface, and he walks through a safer ladder of stain removal options, starting with mild acids like ascorbic and citric, then stepping up only if needed. You’ll also learn why vinyl and fiberglass surfaces often release stains faster than porous plaster. Subscribe for more practical pool chemistry guidance, share this with a pool owner or tech who fights stains, and leave a review with your biggest water balance question.

We talk with Joe  Laurino from Periotic Products about why water balance is the foundation for preventing corrosion, surface damage, and metal staining. We also share a practical way to decide when to drain water, plus a safer progression for stain removal before you ever consider an acid wash.
• why aggressive water dissolves plaster, metals, and even vinyl plasticizers
• how pH 7.2 to 7.8 supports chlorine performance and protects equipment
• why total alkalinity buffers pH swings and helps prevent corrosion
• when TDS rise signals old water and partial draining
• why acid washing thins and roughens plaster and should be a last resort
• how no-drain treatments can lift stains and let you dump metals with the water
• why vinyl and fiberglass stains often remove more easily than plaster
• choosing ascorbic, citric, then oxalic before muriatic acid
Join the Pool Guy Coaching Program. Learn more at swimming poollearning.com. So email us, call us, and we’ll be happy to address issues. If you’re interested in the coaching program they offer, you can learn more at poolguycoaching.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the Pool Guy Podcast Show Sponsors! 

HASA 
https://bit.ly/HASA

The Bottom Feeder. Save $100 with Code: DVB100
https://store.thebottomfeeder.com/

Try Skimmer FREE for 30 days:
https://getskimmer.com/poolguy 

Get UPA Liability Insurance $64 a month! https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA

Pool Guy Coaching: https://bit.ly/40wFE6y

Support the show

Thanks for listening, and I hope you find the Podcast helpful! For other free resources to further help you:
Visit my Website: https://www.swimmingpoollearning.com
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SPL
Podcast Site: https://the-pool-guy-podcast-show.onpodium.com/

UPA General Liability Insurance Application: https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA

Pool Guy Coaching Group

Join an exclusive network of Pool Service Technicians to access the industry’s leading commercial general liability insurance program. Protect your business.

Premium is $64 per month per member (additional $40 for employees and ICs)

$59 per month for Pool Guy coaching Members - join here! https://www.patreon.com/poolguycoaching

Limits are $1,000,000 in occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate - Per member limits

     [ $1,000,000 per occurrence and $4,000,000 aggregate available for $75 per month ]

$50,000 in HazMat Coverage - clean up on-site or over-the-road

Acid Wash Coverage - Full Limits