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Bob Lowry Answers the Trichlor Debate

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Trichlor chlorine tablets are popular in pool maintenance because they are convenient, slow-dissolving, and easy to use in a floater or inline chlorinator. The problem is not that trichlor “doesn’t work” as a sanitizer, but that it changes water chemistry in ways that compound over time. As trichlor becomes the primary or only sanitizer, cyanuric acid (CYA) steadily rises, pH steadily falls, and the pool becomes harder to keep stable from week to week. For pool service pros and homeowners alike, the hidden cost is chasing readings and fighting algae even when test results seem normal. The core chemistry issue is cyanuric acid buildup. Trichlor adds stabilizer every time it adds chlorine, so the more you rely on tablets to meet a pool’s daily chlorine demand, the more CYA accumulates. As CYA climbs, it slows chlorine’s killing power, which means the same free chlorine reading becomes less effective at preventing algae and keeping water safe. A practical way to think about this is the ch...
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Bob Lowry Explains Chlorine Strength

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Pool chemistry myths spread fast because the labels look simple and the numbers feel definitive. One of the most common claims in pool maintenance is that trichlor tablets are “the strongest chlorine” because the bucket says 99% trichlor and often lists 90% or so available chlorine. The key detail most pool service pros and homeowners miss is that the big percentage is typically about product purity, not the percent of elemental chlorine that ends up doing sanitizing work. When we treat pool water balance like a shortcut, we end up overdosing, underdosing, or ignoring side effects like stabilizer buildup, rising TDS, and long-term water quality issues. The episode breaks down why “available chlorine” exists as a comparison tool, not a straightforward statement of how much chlorine is inside the product. Historically, chlorine gas became the reference point and got treated as 100% even though, in water, one part forms hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and the other forms hydrochloric acid (HCl)....
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Bob Lowry: Should You Ever Add Copper to a Pool?

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Copper shows up in pool conversations the same way every season: as “mineral technology,” “mineral systems,” or a copper ionizer that promises less chlorine and fewer problems. Products like PoolRx, Nature2, Frog systems, and even solar ionizers all revolve around adding copper to pool water chemistry. Copper can be a real algae prevention tool, and at higher levels it can suppress some bacteria, which is why it sounds like a shortcut for pool owners and pool service professionals. The catch is that clear water is not just about killing living organisms. A swimming pool is full of bather waste like sweat, urine, body oils, and sunscreen, and those contaminants must be oxidized, filtered, and managed with a stable sanitizer residual. That is where copper gets over-credited. Copper does not oxidize contaminants, so even if it slows algae growth, it does nothing to break down sunscreen and organics that drive combined chlorine, odor, and dull water. Chlorine does two jobs at once: sanitat...
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Pool Blaster 200E

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Pool Blaster 200E Cordless Pool Vacuum Review: A Powerful Upgrade for Above-Ground Pool Owners Keeping your swimming pool clean doesn't have to involve dragging hoses across the deck or connecting a vacuum to your filtration system. The Pool Blaster 200E Cordless Pool Vacuum is designed to make pool cleaning faster, easier, and more convenient for both above-ground and inground pool owners. With an upgraded design, larger debris chamber, and improved suction, the 200E is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reliable cordless pool vacuum. Cordless Convenience One of the biggest advantages of the Pool Blaster 200E is that it operates completely independently of your pool's circulation system. There are no hoses to connect and no booster pumps required. Simply charge the unit, attach it to a standard telescopic pole (sold separately if needed), and you're ready to clean. This makes it ideal for quick cleanups after storms, parties, or heavy swimmer use. Large 10.5-Inc...
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37 Years Later: Advice I'd Give My Younger Pool Guy Self

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Running a pool service business can feel like carrying every customer’s backyard on your shoulders, especially when you’re new and you care a lot. I look back at starting in 1988 at 16 years old and the first lesson is surprisingly calming: most homeowners do not obsess over pool maintenance the way a pool technician does. That does not excuse sloppy work, but it changes your mindset. When you understand that many clients barely notice plaster mottling, light reflections, or small cosmetic issues, you stop burning mental energy on problems they may never see. This shift helps prevent burnout, improves decision-making, and keeps you focused on what truly protects water quality, equipment health, and long-term customer satisfaction. The second lesson is the flip side: do not let that reality become an excuse to cut corners. Skipping a proper vacuum, brushing debris into the main drain, under-treating algae, or assuming an automatic pool cleaner will “handle it” often comes back as a gree...
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Big Industry News: HASA Buys Bio-Dex

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Hasa’s acquisition of Biodex matters to pool service pros because it preserves a long-standing chemical line and puts it under a larger manufacturer with broader distribution. Biodex has been making pool chemicals since the 1960s, and the big win here is consistency: you get proven formulations that many technicians have relied on for decades, plus the likelihood of better availability through suppliers. For anyone searching for “best pool chemicals for service routes,” “pool stain remover,” or “acid wash additive,” this conversation highlights a practical, field-tested approach: pick a few products that reliably solve common problems, then learn the exact handling, dosing, and water-balance conditions that make them work.   A key tool discussed is Biodex Plaster White and Bright, an acid wash additive designed to improve how the acid solution behaves on plaster. In a traditional acid wash, an acid and water mix can sheet off quickly, reducing contact time and making coverage ...
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The First-Year Mistakes Every Pool Service Owner Makes

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Rookie mistakes in a pool service business usually show up on the business side first, not the chemistry side. The biggest one is underbidding pool service and then getting stuck with a price that does not match the work. Pool size, heavy bather load, trees, and weekly debris all change how long a stop takes, which changes your real hourly earnings. If you quote a 14,000 gallon pool the same as a 30,000 gallon pool, your profit margin shrinks fast. Strong pool service pricing starts with noticing the hidden workload during the bid, then charging accordingly so your pool route stays sustainable and you can actually enjoy the work. Underbidding is especially painful because raising the price later feels awkward, even when it is completely justified. A clean way to handle it is to own the mistake, explain the specific reason time went up, and give the customer a choice to accept the new rate or cancel. That honesty can work better than trying to silently suffer through a bad rate. The goa...
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