Pool Pros text questions here

Welcome to the episode where three seasoned pool pros from opposite sides of the planet casually admit…

👉 nobody does floccing the same way
 👉 everyone thinks they’re right
 👉 and somehow… they all still get paid

Yes, this is the “we’ve been doing this for 60+ years combined and still argue like it’s day one” episode. 

🌏 What You’re Walking Into:

Lee is holding it down in New South Wales, Nick is on vacation but somehow still talking shop, and Shane is over in New Zealand ready to throw powdered alum at anything that looks remotely green, brown, black… or emotionally unstable.

There’s rugby rivalry. There’s mild political comparisons. There’s a toaster in a service truck.
 Yes… a toaster. Priorities.

🧪 Today’s Topic: FLOCCING POOLS

Or as this episode proves:

“Three techs. Three methods. Same result. Total chaos.”

🧨 What Gets Unleashed:

•  Shane goes full “dump it in the skimmer and let God sort it out”
•  Nick mixes it like he’s crafting a potion in a backyard cauldron 
•  Lee shows up with a watering can like she’s baptizing the pool into clarity

And somehow…

👉 All of it works
 👉 None of it matches the label
 👉 The label contradicts itself anyway

(Seriously… one product says pH 6.5–7… then immediately says 8.2. Pick a lane, chemicals.)

🧠 Key Takeaways (If You Can Call Them That):

•  Floc doesn’t care about your feelings… but it does care about pH, alkalinity, and whether your pump is garbage 
•  Dead spots in circulation will ruin your day faster than a customer saying “it was clear yesterday” 
•  You can underdose floc… or overdose it and create a science experiment that fights back 
•  Sometimes the best method is:
   👉 brute force
   👉 blind scooping
   👉 and emotional detachment 

🧟‍♂️ Real Field Horror:

One pool described as:

“You couldn’t see your fingertip in it.”

Another featuring:

“a new species growing out of the skimmer.”

Congratulations. You’re not a pool tech anymore.
 You’re a biological researcher with a net.

⚡ Rapid Fire Chaos:

•  Floc floating instead of sinking? Congrats, you broke physics. 
•  Cartridge filter + alum tablet? Enjoy your new brick. 
•  Customer vacuuming after floc? Say goodbye to all your hard work. 

🧬 The Unspoken Truth:

There is no single “right” way.

There is only:
 👉 what works
 👉 what you think works
👉 and what you’ll defend in a Facebook argument at 2AM

🏁 Final Thought:

This episode isn’t about floc.

It’s about the reality that in this industry:

Experience beats instructions.
 Results beat theory.
 And everyone secretly thinks their way is the best… even when it’s not.

📬 Got a better method?

Email it in.

Rudy will route it to the appropriate host…

…and they will absolutely argue about it on air.

🎧 Listen. Learn. Disagree aggressively.
Welcome to Talking Pools.

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Pool Pros text questions here

In this episode, Rudy Stankowitz breaks down two industry staples—breakpoint chlorination and enzymes—and explains why what’s commonly taught doesn’t fully match the chemistry happening in your water.

This isn’t about being wrong.
 It’s about going one level deeper.

⚗️ Breakpoint Chlorination – The Reality

•  The 10x rule is not how breakpoint is defined in chemistry 
•  True breakpoint is based on ammonia (as nitrogen), not combined chlorine 
•  Pools measure combined chlorine (as chlorine) → not a direct match 

👉 Result:
 You’re applying a fixed rule to a variable system

💡 Key Insight

•  Oxidation starts immediately 
•  Breakpoint is not a moment—it’s a process
•  Real demand depends on: 
  •  Organics 
  •  Nitrogen compounds 
  •  pH 
  •  reaction conditions 

⚡ Salt Systems Reality Check

•  Salt cells produce chlorine slowly
•  They are built to maintain, not spike

👉 In high demand situations:
 External chlorine is often required 

🧬 Enzymes – What Actually Happens

•  Enzymes break down organics (true) 
•  But they are proteins in an oxidizing system

👉 Chlorine can chemically alter and deactivate them

⏱️ Why Enzymes Still Work

It’s a competition for reaction:

•  Chlorine reacts with everything in the water 
•  Enzymes survive temporarily because chlorine is “busy” 

👉 They work within a limited time window

•  Higher chlorine = shorter window 
•  Less time = less impact 

🧱 Enzymes & Biofilms

•  Enzymes do not remove biofilms
•  They weaken the protective matrix

👉 This allows chlorine to penetrate more effectively 

Best results require:

•  Proper chemistry 
•  Physical disruption (brushing) 

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Service Industry News


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What looks like algae… isn’t always algae.
 And what looks like “clear but weird” water? That’s where things get expensive.

In this episode of Talking Pools Thursdays, Steve and Wayne break down one of the most misunderstood issues in pool service: metals in the water—how to identify them, where they come from, and what actually works when you’re dealing with them in the field.

It starts with a simple truth:
 👉 Water has no color.
So when it turns green, blue, brown, or something that just feels “off,” something else is driving that change—and metals are often the culprit.

They walk through the key differences between algae vs. metals, including:

•  Why algae presents as cloudy, opaque, or “carpeted” 
•  Why metals (like copper) often show up as clear, tinted water 
•  A simple field test using your brush to tell the difference instantly 

From there, the conversation goes deeper into where metals actually come from, including:

•  Source water (especially wells) 
•  Heater corrosion and heat exchanger failure 
•  Overuse of copper-based algaecides 
•  Aging infrastructure and legacy municipal systems 

They also cover the thresholds where metals become a real problem:

•  Copper above ~0.2 ppm 
•  Iron above ~0.3 ppm 
•  And how rising pH (above ~7.6) triggers precipitation, staining, and discoloration 

Then comes the part most techs get wrong—treatment strategy.

This episode breaks down the difference between:

• Sequestering agents (hide the metals, prevent staining) 
• Chelating agents (bind metals into larger particles for filtration/removal) 
•  Why most modern products attempt to do both 
•  And why you’re still often vacuuming to waste or cleaning filters after treatment 

They also get real about the operational side:

•  Why chelation jobs can take multiple visits 
•  Why sequestering requires ongoing maintenance dosing 
•  And why metals are “not a problem… until they’re a problem” 

There’s also a candid discussion on:

•  The risks and realities of acid washing 
•  Why vinyl and fiberglass pools present different limitations 
•  How improper dosing in small bodies of water (like spas) can trigger metal precipitation instantly 
•  And why no two metal situations ever behave exactly the same 

The episode wraps with a broader industry conversation on rising costs—fuel, materials, and equipment—and how those pressures are forcing service companies to rethink pricing, efficiency, and long-term profitability.

Because whether it’s metals in the water or money in your business…
 👉 Ignoring the problem doesn’t make it go away.

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Pool Pros text questions here

This Myth-busting episode reveals how pool pros can maximize their relationships with manufacturer reps to grow their business, increase margins, and avoid costly mistakes. Laci Davis (Grit Game) shares practical tips on finding, evaluating, and leveraging reps effectively.

Keywords

pool industry, manufacturer reps, business growth, sales strategies, industry relationships

Key Topics

• Types of industry reps and their roles
• How to identify a good manufacturer rep
• The importance of follow-up and relationship-building
• Strategies for leveraging reps to increase sales and margins
• Practical steps to find and connect with reputable reps

Sound Bites

• "Good reps have real industry experience"
• "Follow-up shows a rep's diligence"
• "Don't treat reps like transactions"

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to the Grit Game and Pool Pros

03:50
Understanding the Role of Reps in the Pool Industry

06:37
The Importance of Building Relationships with Reps

08:50
Identifying Quality Reps and Their Impact

11:32
Maximizing the Value of Reps for Business Growth

13:41
Finding and Connecting with Reps

15:07
Conclusion and Call to Action

The Grit Game
The Grit Game, is not just playing the game, we’re changing it. 500+ years industry experience,

Revdup Apparel
a custom apparel company built for the pool industry. Founded by pool professionals

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In this episode of Talking Pools Podcast, Andrea wraps up her multi-part deep dive into pool chemistry with a no-BS breakdown of what actually matters when it comes to testing, dosing, and not screwing it all up.

And yes… she’s cooking chicken while recording.

🔍 What This Episode Covers

This isn’t textbook chemistry.
 This is real-world, boots-on-the-ground pool service knowledge—the stuff that actually saves you from making expensive mistakes.

📊 Testing Frequency (What You Should Actually Be Doing)

Andrea breaks down what needs to be tested—and how often:

• Weekly: Free chlorine, combined chlorine, pH, total alkalinity 
• Bi-weekly (max): Total alkalinity (don’t push it further) 
• Monthly: Cyanuric acid, calcium hardness, salt 
• As needed: Phosphates, metals, TDS 

And one big reminder:

If you’re not testing combined chlorine… you’re missing half the story. 

⚠️ Test Kit Lies (Yes, They Lie)

Ever get a reading that makes zero sense?

It might not be you.

This episode dives into:

• DPD bleaching → false zero chlorine readings 
• MPS interference → false high readings 
• High chlorine messing with pH tests
• Metals affecting calcium hardness results

👉 Translation:
 Your test results can absolutely betray you if you don’t know what you’re looking at.

🧠 The Dilution Trick (That Most Techs Don’t Use)

When your test maxes out…

You don’t guess.

You dilute.

Andrea explains:

•  How to properly dilute samples 
•  When to multiply results 
•  Why guessing high readings is a mistake 

Including real-world examples of CYA levels hitting 300+ ppm in Florida.

💣 Chemical Dosing (Where People Go Off the Rails)

This is where things get dangerous—and expensive.

Andrea walks through:

•  Proper dosing based on 10,000 gallons 
•  Why dumping “a gallon of acid” is a terrible idea 
•  How to actually adjust pH and alkalinity correctly 

And the reality:

Most chemical mistakes aren’t accidents… they’re impatience.

⚙️ Feeders, Automation & Salt Systems

From manual dosing to full automation, this episode covers:

•  Stenner pumps & peristaltic systems 
•  Tab feeders vs erosion feeders 
•  Ozone, UV, and gas systems 
•  Salt cells and how they actually generate chlorine 

Including a key reminder:

👉 Salt is not the sanitizer
 👉 The cell produces chlorine gas → which becomes hypochlorous acid 

🔥 The Real Problem with the Industry

Andrea calls out a growing issue:

Conflicting information between:

•  CPO materials 
•  Manufacturers 
•  Field experience 

And the result?

👉 Confused techs
 👉 Bad chemistry decisions
 👉 Arguments in comment sections

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Pool Pros text questions here

In this episode of Talking Pools Podcast, the Mondays Down Under crew takes on a topic that doesn’t get nearly enough honest discussion: building a swimming pool from the perspective of the people who actually have to service it later.

Because here’s the truth…

👉 Builders don’t always think like service techs
 👉 And homeowners don’t always know what to ask

That’s where things go sideways.

🔍 Inside This Episode

Lee and Nick pull back the curtain on what really happens during pool construction—sharing real-world stories, mistakes they’ve seen firsthand, and the kind of advice that only comes from years in the field.

From backward installations to impossible-to-service equipment setups, this episode highlights a simple but critical concept:

Always think about the next person who has to work on it.

⚠️ The Biggest Problems They See

•  Equipment installed with zero service access
•  Pumps and filters placed where maintenance becomes impossible 
•  Chlorinators and plumbing configured so they can’t even be removed
•  Builders choosing products based on convenience—not performance 

And the worst part?

👉 Many of these issues are completely avoidable.

🧠 Advice for Homeowners (and the Pros Guiding Them)

If you’re building a pool—or advising someone who is—this episode delivers some of the most practical guidance you’ll hear:

💡 What matters most:

• Shape, size, and color → You can’t easily change these later 
•  Equipment? You can upgrade that anytime 

💡 What to question:

•  Filter type (cartridge vs media) 
•  Plumbing size and flow design 
•  Future upgrades (heater, automation, sanitation systems) 

💡 What to avoid:

•  Choosing the cheapest builder without due diligence
•  Overcomplicated designs that create long-term headaches 

🌊 Real Stories from the Field

This episode isn’t theory—it’s reality.

•  A deck built directly over a filter… with no access 
•  A pool with no skimmer and constant circulation issues 
•  An infinity edge pool that drained a homeowner’s water supply—twice 
•  A brand-new pool left untouched for weeks… resulting in severe scaling 

These aren’t rare cases.

They’re happening every day.

🔥 The Big Takeaway

Building a pool is easy.

👉 Building one that works long-term? That’s the challenge.

And if you don’t think about:

•  Maintenance 
•  Hydraulics 
•  Access 
•  Water chemistry startup 

You’re not building a pool…

You’re building a future problem.

📩 Got a topic?

Send it in: [email protected]

Rudy will route it to the right host 👀

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Pool Pros text questions here

🔥 Episode Breakdown

This episode cuts through one of the biggest misconceptions in pool chemistry—and then zooms out to what’s really happening across the industry right now.

🧪 180 ppm CYA – What Actually Happened

No—nobody said to run pools at 180 ppm.

That number came from ratio-based chemistry, not a recommendation.

•  CYA doesn’t sanitize 
• HOCl does
•  Higher CYA can work if chlorine is increased proportionally

Problem?

👉 Most people won’t maintain the ratio correctly 

That’s why the industry stayed conservative.

🧠 Chlorine Misunderstood (Again)

• Available Chlorine ≠ % chlorine in the bucket
• Active strength ≠ oxidizing power
• Free chlorine ≠ active sanitizer

👉 HOCl is all that matters
Controlled by pH and CYA equilibrium—not guesswork.

⚠️ March Reality Check

•  Drownings labeled “accidents” 
•  Safety barriers missing 
•  Suction injuries still happening despite the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act

Nothing shocking—just constant failure.

⚖️ Lawsuits & Industry Pressure

• Hayward Holdings facing reported legal pressure 
•  Market slowdown hitting Fluidra and Pentair
•  Shift to repairs and service

👉 Pressure rolls downhill—to you.

🧯 BioLab – Still Not Over

The situation in Conyers, Georgia isn’t resolved.

It just stopped making headlines.

🏆 Mentor of the Year

Someone helped you in this industry.

Nominate them:
 👉 Talking Pools Podcast Mentor Award

🎯 Final Thought

Nothing changed…

Except expectations, liability, and attention.

And if you’re still operating like it’s 2019—

You’re already behind.

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Pool Pros text questions here

What starts as a routine pool inspection can turn into a liability nightmare—fast.

In this episode, Steve breaks down a real job where fire-damaged fencing, questionable decking, and one simple question—
 👉 “Will insurance cover this?”
—pushed the inspection way outside its lane.

⚖️ The Core Issue

Where does your responsibility actually end?

•  You’re there to inspect the pool
•  Not the fence 
•  Not the deck 
•  Not the insurance claim 

And that line matters more than most people realize.

🚧 The Rule

👉 Just because you see it… doesn’t mean it’s your responsibility.

Your job:

•  Identify pool-related conditions
•  Flag safety hazards
•  Recommend a licensed professional

And then…

Stop.

⚠️ The Exception

If something creates a direct safety risk to the pool (like a compromised fence):

•  Document it 
•  Recommend repair 
•  Do NOT price it or manage it 

💰 The Trap

Giving quotes for insurance work can:

•  Turn you into the contractor 
•  Invite scrutiny from insurers 
•  Kill your credibility as an independent expert 

🧠 The Takeaway

You don’t need every answer.

You need to know:

•  What’s yours 
•  What’s not 
•  And when to stay in your lane 

Because the moment you step outside your expertise…

👉 You’re not helping anymore.
 👉 You’re exposing yourself.

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Pool Pros text questions here

The myths just keep coming… and in this one, they don’t stand a chance.

In Part 2 of Natalie Hood’s Myth Busting series, industry veterans George Williams and Ken Rogner step in and do what most people in this industry won’t—tell the truth.

Not the sales version.
 Not the “it depends” version.
 The real version.

From the idea that pools don’t add value… to the belief that social media is the only way to grow… to the quiet damage done when service pros choose profit over trust—this episode pulls apart the assumptions that are quietly shaping bad decisions across the industry.

And here’s what becomes clear:

👉 Pools aren’t just features anymore—they’re environments
 👉 Marketing matters—but it’s not the foundation
 👉 Trust is still the most valuable asset you have
 👉 And the wrong service decision can cost you a customer forever

If you’ve been in this industry long enough, you’ve heard these myths.

If you’re new… you’ve probably believed a few.

Either way—this episode resets the conversation.

⚠️ MYTHS WE DESTROY IN THIS EPISODE

“Pools don’t add value to a home.”
→ In the Sunbelt? Not having one might cost you buyers. 

“Leads come from social media and ads.”
→ Helpful? Yes.
→ The reason people choose you? Not even close. 

“Replace the pump—it’s better for business.”
→ Short-term profit. Long-term damage. Trust doesn’t come back. 

“Weather doesn’t affect the pool industry.”
→ Hurricanes, freezes, heat waves… they literally drive demand. 

“Vinyl liner pools dominate the Northeast forever.”
→ That was then. Fiberglass and concrete changed the game. 

🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS

•  A pool isn’t just a feature anymore—it’s part of a lifestyle environment 
•  Geography matters: what’s optional in one region is expected in another 
•  Social media amplifies—but reputation closes 
•  The fastest way to lose a customer is to recommend what benefits you, not them 
•  Weather doesn’t just influence demand—it can create entire revenue cycles 
•  The industry evolves… but trust is still the constant 

🔥 THE REAL TALK MOMENT

“If you can save a customer a few hundred dollars… and you don’t…
 you didn’t just make money.

You made a short-term decision
 that cost you a long-term relationship.” 

🎧 WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS

Because bad information spreads faster than good service.

And in this industry, myths don’t just sit there…

They cost people money.
 They cost companies customers.
 And they quietly shape how the next generation does business.

This episode fixes that.

📲 LISTEN NOW

🎧 Apple Podcasts
 🎧 Spotify
 🎧 All major platforms

👉 Follow the Talking Pools Podcast for more episodes that keep things wet, wild, and wonderfully honest

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Pool Pros text questions here

 This isn’t a calm episode.
 This isn’t a polite episode.

This is Andrea… slightly unhinged… walking straight into the chaos of how people are actually taking care of pools—and calling it out.

From test strips that don’t tell you what you think they do… to calcium myths that refuse to die… to phosphate treatments that turn into unnecessary full-blown disasters—this episode is a reality check for anyone still guessing their way through water chemistry.

And underneath the sarcasm and frustration… there’s something important:

👉 Most bad pool care isn’t complicated
 👉 It’s just built on bad habits, bad info, and shortcuts

This episode strips all of that down and replaces it with something better:

Understanding what actually matters.

⚠️ WHAT ANDREA GOES AFTER

Test Strips
→ They don’t test calcium hardness
→ They test total hardness
→ And that difference matters more than people realize 

Calcium Hardness Myths
→ “It doesn’t matter in fiberglass or vinyl”
→ Wrong
→ It still needs to be in range—even if the consequences look different 

pH Obsession
→ Chasing 7.4 constantly?
→ You’re creating your own problem through aeration and rebound 

Cyanuric Acid Confusion
→ It protects chlorine… until it starts limiting it
→ And yes, there’s actual math behind what your chlorine level should be 

TDS Panic
→ “Drain it, TDS is high!”
→ Based on… what starting point?
→ Because without that, you’re guessing 

Phosphates (the hot take)
→ Not a problem… until they are
→ And overcorrecting them can create more work than the problem itself 

🔥 THE MOMENTS THAT HIT

“Phosphates are not a problem… until they’re a problem.” 

“If you’re testing while algae is present… you’re probably getting a false low.” 

“You don’t even know your TDS limit… unless you know where it started.” 

🧪 WHAT YOU ACTUALLY LEARN

•  Why calcium hardness still matters in every pool 
•  The difference between total hardness vs calcium hardness 
•  Why chasing pH can make your water harder to control 
•  How CYA changes chlorine effectiveness (with real ratios) 
•  Why TDS is often misunderstood—and misused 
•  A smarter, low-impact way to manage phosphates 
•  How bad testing technique leads to bad dosing decisions 
•  Why your test kit might be lying to you (and how to fix it) 

⚠️ REAL TALK

If your testing is wrong…
 your dosing is wrong.

If your dosing is wrong…
 everything that follows is wrong.

And most of the time?
 It started with something as simple as:

👉 Holding the bottle at the wrong angle
 👉 Using the wrong test method
 👉 Or trusting a strip that doesn’t measure what you think it does 

📲 LISTEN NOW

🎧 Apple Podcasts
 🎧 Spotify

👉 Follow the Talking Pools Podcast for more episodes that hit harder than they’re supposed to.

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Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:

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