Bob Lowry a Legend of the Industry: All Podcast Episodes with Bob Lowry

Bob Lowry passed away on November 17^th, 2021 and a true legend has left the pool and spa industry. He was the author of over 23 books but this has to be one of his most relevant and shortest books coming in at just 19 pages thick. But it is packed with so many essentials on residential pool chemistry that you will want a copy to carry in your service truck. Bob Lowry has been in the industry for over 47 years and is the Lead Consultant at Lowry Consulting Group, leads the Pool Chemistry Training Institute, and has created the Certified Residential Pool & Spa Certification Program. Learn more at  https://pcti.online/

Here are all of the podcasts that I recorded with Bob Lowry:

A Tribute to Bob Lowry (October 1st 1946 to November 17th, 2021) https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/9579620

The Four Different Testing Methods and Which is Best with Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/9411868

Borates and Mineral Systems with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/9411862

Will There Be a Chlorine Shortage in 2022? Bob Lowry Answers This and More: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/9411855

Cold Water and Your Pool Care with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/9411824

What is Better? Residential Pools or Commercial Pools? With Bob Lowry?: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/9284375

What Would Bob Lowry Do? Short Pump Run Time & You Shock a Pool and It Turns Neon Green: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/9284368

What Would Bob Lowry Do? You Have 4” of Rain Forecast and Bidding an Airbnb Rental: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/9284343

What Would Bob Lowry Do? A Pool with Constantly High pH and No Chlorine at the Supplier: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/9284320

Common Chemical Myths with Bob Lowry Part 2 – Tri-Chlor is the Strongest Chlorine Type: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/9117034

Common Chemical Myths with Bob Lowry Part 1 – Evaporation lowers CYA in a pool: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/9117015

What If? Part 3 With Bob Lowry – You Smell “Chlorine” At the Hotel Pool and More!: What If? https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/9116998

What If? Part 2 with Bob Lowry – Cal Hypo Left a Black Stain in the Pool and More!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/9116978

What If? With Bob Lowry – Adjusted Alkalinity with CYA over 200 and More! Part 1:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/9116998

Is Copper Safe to Use in a Pool? With Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8938204

Low pH and How it Affects a Pool with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8938190

How Nitrates and Phosphates Affect a Pool with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8938178

Problem Pool: Not Holding Chlorine or Constant Algae with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8938166

Why High Cyanuric Acid a Bad Thing with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8938126

Rookie Chemistry Mistakes and More with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8784921

Why is my pH always going up in my Pool? With Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8784832

Tips on Pool Service at Short Term Rentals & Airbnb with Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8784819

How Strong is One Chlorine Type Compared to Another? With Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8784807

Different Chlorine Types and Which is the Best with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8784778

Pool Chemical Dosing Basics with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8587086

Pool Surface Type Care & Cautions with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8587061

Water Basics with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8587051

Pool Start Up Methods with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8587019

Color Bodies: Why Your Water Has That Odd Color to It with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8417687

What is TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8417666

Signs a Swimming Pool Has a Leak with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8417637

Are Adding Borates an End All Cure-All? With Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8417625

All About Swimming Pool Algaecides and Ways to Prevent Algae with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8417575

All About Swimming Pool Algaecides and Ways to Prevent Algae with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8417575

Dogs in your Pool and Ways to Keep the Pool Balanced with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8234764

Residential vs Commercial Pool Service with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8234747

Best Pool Water Testing Methods with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8234710

Products That Can Zero Out Your Pool’s Chlorine Level with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8234675

Pros and Cons of UV and Ozone Systems with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8234232

Hot Tub Care with Insights from Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8063312

What Exactly is a PPM? Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry Explains: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8063286

Switching from Tri-Chlor to Cal Hypo Tablets – Some Cautions with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8062864

About “Pool Chemistry for Service Pros” book with the author Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8017530

Proper Pool Filtration and Cloudy Pool Water with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/8017483

Saltwater Generators Pros and Cons with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/7361707

Non-Chlorine Shock and Shocking a Pool with Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/7361437

The Different Chorine Types With Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/7361323

Raising and Lowering the pH in a Pool With Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/7361284

pH and Why it is So Important in Balancing a Pool With Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/7361140

“Borates, Are They for Real?” With Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/6683579

“Swimming Pool Metal Staining 101” With Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/6683558

“Preventing Algae in Your Pool” With Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/6683519

“Is Cyanuric Acid Testing Accurate?” With Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/6682265

“Is High CYA Really a Problem?” With Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/6681473

“Why is Balancing Your Pool Important Anyway?” With Chemistry Expert Bob Lowry: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/6680642

 

 Links to some of Bob Lowry’s books:

 Pool Chemistry for Service Pros: For Residential Pools Only

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1694296156/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=swimmingpooll-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=818d60a64d23193203d1a9157004b221&creativeASIN=1694296156

Pool Chemistry for Residential Pools

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1694504980/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=swimmingpooll-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=8cf854cb95acecaed5e234527215cfe6&creativeASIN=1694504980

Easy Pool Chemistry

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1092188150/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=swimmingpooll-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=91bfab178166e27dbd7932b27e881291&creativeASIN=1092188150

Bob Lowry teaches Target Chemistry and here are his recommended target numbers. Not a range but a specific number to shoot for.

Sanitizer 3.0 ppm

After the alkalinity & pH are brought into range, the next adjustment is the sanitizer. Liquid Chlorine or Bleach is the most common and least expensive of the available sanitizers. The acceptable range is 1.5 - 3 ppm, though 4 - 5 ppm is absolutely fine. A commercial spa should be maintained at much higher levels - 5 - 6 ppm. Bob Lowry has the Target at 3.0 ppm so you should always aim for that for your residential pool.

A residential pool should be maintained at 3.0 ppm. The higher levels ( 4 - 5 ppm) should be established, prior to a large party or heat spell. Try not to allow the levels to drop below 3 ppm, as this will prevent the need to shock or take other corrective action after the party.

ALKALINITY 90 ppm

There are a number of factors that contribute to the "balance of the water." The most important is the pH and the alkalinity. The alkalinity is the ability of the water to buffer the pH (or buffer chemicals that may affect the pH). The alkalinity is like an auto-pilot or cruise-control for the pH.

If the alkalinity is out of the acceptable range, then any small factor will cause a wild swing in the pH. This is called "pH bounce." Because of this, alkalinity is the first thing that should be brought into line when balancing the water.

An ideal range for the alkalinity is 100-120 ppm (though 80 - 140 ppm is acceptable).

pH 7.5

The pH of the water determines if it is acidic or basic. Either extreme can have disastrous effects on the pool finish, equipment, or plumbing. When the pH is out of range, bathers may complain of eye discomfort or other ailments.

An acidic pH will cause the water to become aggressive. It will etch the plaster and cement finishes around the pool. Worse yet, it will dissolve the metallic components of the pool. The most expensive metallic component is the copper heat exchanger within the pool heater.