Swimming Pool Tips and Reviews

Here is a rundown of the different testing methods for your pool and spa. Each method has their pros and cons and I find a variety of methods works best.  The Reagent Test Kits use a drop test, and when the reagent solution is entered into the water sample, a color change occurs. Taylor is the leading manufacturer of these reagent test kits, and you can also purchase an essential Pool Master Kit at your local pool store. The reagents can test for important factors like Chlorine, Free Chlorine, Total Chlorine, Bromine, Alkalinity, pH, Calcium Hardness, and CYA (Conditioner). These kits are easy to use and a great way to test your pool and spa water each week. The Taylor K-2005 and K-2006 are popular test kits. The drawback of the reagent test kit is user error. You will get a false reading if you don't add the correct number of drops. If the reagents are expired, you will also get an inaccurate reading. Like test strips, you match colors to get your reading, so if you need to improv...

 The number one call I get during heavy Rain is that the pool looks like it will overflow into the yard and house. In most cases, the worry is unfounded, as the drains around the pool should be able to handle the runoff. However, there are times when draining is needed, and it is a good idea to have it set up with the customer beforehand. Teach the customer how to drain their pool to save a service trip. If there is a hose spigot on the equipment pad, usually above the pump, show them how to attach a garden hose to it and drain the pool. It is easy. Attach a garden hose, turn on the pool pump, and open the hose spigot. The pool will drain while the pump is running. Plan B would be to have the customer purchase a small sump pump (submersible pump) and use that to drain the pool down when needed. They can place it on the first step in the pool, attach a garden hose to it, and plug it in. It is easy, and you do not need to go out and drain pools all day if you set things up beforehand...

 The Bottom Feeder has been around for several years, and it is safe to say that it has developed quite a fan following. It has had its share of production issues, but rest assured that the newest version is the best. To order: https://store.thebottomfeeder.com/ The new LiFePO4 batteries are a lithium battery type considered the safest lithium battery type available. They have a long cycle life, high power density, and a wide temperature range. Safety: LiFePO4 batteries are considered one of the safest lithium-ion battery chemistries available. They have a stable chemical structure less prone to thermal runaway or combustion, making them a reliable choice for applications where safety is crucial. Long Cycle Life: LiFePO4 batteries have an impressive cycle life, capable of enduring thousands of charge-discharge cycles without significant capacity loss. This makes them ideal for applications that require frequent cycling, such as electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems...

Robotic Cleaners: A good Robotic cleaner with all the bells and whistles will usually run you over $1,500. It is quite an investment, but you get a good investment return. Today's robotic cleaners are much improved over the 1st generation, which came out a few years ago. The motors are more reliable and longer lasting; they can now clean the walls and tile line, and there are added features like a programmable cleaning cycle, remote control, and an anti-tangle cord swivel.  There are now cordless cleaners from significant manufacturers like Polaris and Dolphin. The cordless cleaners eliminate the cord, and I think the future of robotic pool cleaners will be the cordless type. Most higher-end Robotic cleaners come with a two or 3-year warranty. They are well built and reliable, and the manufacturer can offer a longer warranty since you will unlikely have to use them. Some of the benefits of a Robotic Cleaner are: It runs independently from your pool system, so your filtration system...

 Many of you here participated in the survey and the results are now in. I sat down with Jack Nelson, CEO of Skimmer, and Niki Acosta, who runs their marketing department, and we discussed the very comprehensive pool service industry survey that Skimmer performed. To read the report: http://bit.ly/42AU9WL   The report combines survey data from over 1,700 pool service professionals; platform data aggregated from the activity of over 25,000 users, and market research from the pool service industry.   Skimmer CEO Jack Nelson went over:   Pricing data from over 500,000 pools and spas Trends in business models, labor, and business operations Opportunities for growth through digital marketing   Here are some of the questions that were addressed: Why did Skimmer decide to issue an industry report? How did you create the report? What were the top takeaways? What would you say are some of the biggest opportunities for pool pros? What advice do you have f...

The Bottom Feeder Vacuum System has had some problems in 2023, mainly centering around the battery and the availability of parts. This has led to recalls and shipping delays, which frustrated the customers. Glen Heffernan, the creator of the Bottom Feeder, goes over some of these issues in the podcast interview. Some key takeaways are that the Bottom Feeder has a new battery that won't catch on fire but reduces the rune-time to 1.5 hours. To compensate for this, the new battery can fully charge in 2-3 hours, and you can also set it in your truck between stops so that you never run out of juice. The ability to charge the battery quickly will allow you to get even more significant run time over the previous battery, which took 8-10 hours to charge fully. If you service a standard-size route, this should be plenty of time each day. The battery is what makes the Bottom Feeder so compact and light. It attaches to your pool pole and rides behind the Body, making the battery pack submersi...