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Hot Tub Care Tips from Bob Lowry: Keep Your Spa Sparkling

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Hot tub maintenance gets confusing fast because spa water chemistry is not the same as pool care. Hot tubs run hotter, hold far less water, and see heavy bather load, so sanitizer demand spikes in minutes. That is why the bromine vs chlorine debate matters less than understanding what each product does. Bromine is a reliable disinfectant at higher temperature and higher pH, and bromamines stay active without the strong “chlorine” odor people hate. But bromine has a key limitation: it does not oxidize the oils and wastes bathers bring in, like sweat, urine, deodorant, lotions, and sunscreen. That missing oxidation is why many spas look fine and then suddenly smell or feel dull a day or two later. Without an oxidizer, bromine can kill germs but it cannot break down the contamination that feeds problems and creates odors. A practical routine is to add an oxidizer after you soak, often a non-chlorine shock (monopersulfate) or a chlorine-based shock. The challenge is there is no simple test...
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Bob Lowry Explains Why Borates Are a Game-Changer

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Borates have become one of the most practical “set it and forget it” upgrades in modern pool chemistry, especially for pool service pros managing a weekly route. The big appeal is simple: borates are typically a one-time addition that you only verify occasionally, yet they deliver ongoing benefits in swimming pool maintenance. At the recommended borate level of about 50 ppm, they act as a secondary pH buffer that helps slow the upward pH drift many pools experience. That matters most in saltwater chlorine generator pools, and in pools with constant aeration like spillovers, waterfalls, negative edge designs, or heavy return turbulence, where carbon dioxide outgassing pushes pH higher and higher. The second benefit is algae prevention. Borates are best described as an algostat rather than an algaecide: they do not “kill” algae the way chlorine does, but they can make it harder for algae to get started. That distinction is important for realistic expectations and for sanitation. You stil...
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Bottom Feeder vs Shrimp: Which Vacuum Fits Your Pool Route Best?

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  Bottom Feeder vs. Shrimp Cleaner A Professional Pool Vacuum Comparison for Route Efficiency When it comes to battery-powered pool vacuums, both the The Bottom Feeder systems—the full-size Bottom Feeder and the compact Shrimp—are built on the same core platform. But in real-world use, they serve very different roles on a service route. This breakdown focuses on practical differences that matter in the field: speed, maneuverability, debris handling, and workflow efficiency. Side-by-Side Comparison Feature Bottom Feeder (Regular) Bottom Feeder Shrimp Purpose Full-size professional route vacuum Compact spot-cleaning vacuum Vacuum Head Size ~18" × 11" × 9" 12" × 8" × 9" Weight ~18 lbs ~14 lbs Cleaning Coverage Wide path for large pools Tight access for small areas Run...
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Salt Water Pool Pros and Cons – Advice from Bob Lowry

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Saltwater chlorine generators keep getting sold as a “chlorine alternative,” but the chemistry never changed: a salt pool is still a chlorine pool. You add salt, the cell applies electricity, chloride converts to free chlorine, and that chlorine sanitizes the water just like liquid chlorine or dry chlorine. The big win for many pool owners is convenience and steadier dosing, but the big misunderstanding is thinking sanitation is somehow different. A quick look at any owner’s manual reveals rated production in pounds of chlorine per day, which makes the marketing language hard to defend. For pool service techs, the practical takeaway is simple: test and manage free chlorine and combined chlorine the same way you would in any properly maintained swimming pool. Dialing in salt level and run time is where performance and cost meet. Most manufacturers target roughly 3,000 to 3,500 ppm salt, which can mean hundreds of pounds of salt in an average residential pool. Output is controlled mostly...
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5-Star or Bust: Protect Your Business Reputation

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Online reviews are no longer “nice to have” marketing for a pool service business, they are the front door. When homeowners search “pool service near me,” they make a fast decision based on Google reviews, Yelp ratings, and a quick scan of recent comments. A 4.8 feels safe, while a 3.8 often gets skipped without a second look. That’s why online reputation management matters as much as water chemistry or route efficiency. Star ratings shape leads, call volume, and pricing power, and they also signal whether you run a reliable service company that respects the customer’s time.   A strong local SEO foundation helps you earn reviews consistently instead of randomly. Start with a clean website and make sure your Google Business Profile is complete, accurate, and active so you show up in local search results and on Google Maps. If you use Google Ads, even a modest budget can drive initial visibility and help you land the first wave of customers who can later leave honest feedback. A...
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Pool Questions Answered: Tricks, Tips & Truths

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Pool pros and DIY owners face a common set of problems that rarely have one-button answers: sky-high cyanuric acid, chlorine that won’t hold, mystery copper stains, angry pressure cleaner tails, fittings fused in place, and cleaners that eat parts like snacks. This episode digs into each challenge with field-tested solutions that save time, money, and callbacks. We start by challenging the number on an overrange CYA test. When your stabilizer reads 200 ppm, it might be guesswork unless you dilute the sample. A 1:1 or 1:4 dilution with bottled or tap water brings the result back into a readable range, which lets you plan a real fix instead of throwing product and hoping. The goal is clarity: verify the number, then choose the least disruptive path to bring balance back. Once you confirm CYA is excessive and a drain is off the table, the fastest way to stop the rise is to eliminate the source. That means quitting trichlor tablets and moving to calcium hypochlorite tablets in the skimmer ...
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Bottom Feeder Cartridge: Dirt Gone in Minutes!

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Pool service pros are always looking for pool cleaning equipment that saves time without sacrificing results, and the biggest pain point is fine dirt that slips right through most vacuum bags. The Bottom Feeder and Shrimp Cleaner cartridge filter adapter aims straight at that problem by turning a battery-powered pool vacuum system into a true dirt-filtering machine. After months of real route use, the big win is practical: you can drop the cleaner in, vacuum like normal, and capture particles down to roughly 10 to 20 microns. That level of micron filtration is the difference between “looks better” and “water is dialed in,” especially when dust, silt, or dead algae keeps returning to the pool. A lot of skepticism comes from earlier cartridge-style add-ons that were awkward, leaky, or simply not effective enough to become an everyday tool. Low-micron vacuum bags help, but they have tradeoffs. Fine bags clog fast, coat over, restrict flow, and can tear easily when they snag on sharp edges...
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