Celebrating 100 Years of Innovation with Hayward – Lessons from the Past, Present, and Future of the Pool Industry

In this special episode of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar, John, and Zac sit down with Justin Butler and Ryan Morson from Hayward Pool Products to celebrate Hayward’s incredible 100-year anniversary. 🎉

From a small metal valve company in 1925 to one of the “Big Three” in the pool industry, Hayward’s journey is one of innovation, grit, and vision. You’ll hear untold stories of Hayward’s origin, product breakthroughs like OmniPro, OmniX, and the S3 salt system, and how the company has remained relevant through changing economies and evolving technologies.

They also dive into Hayward’s bold investment in training hubs across the country and why manufacturing in the USA remains a pillar of their success. This episode is a must-listen for pool professionals who want to build lasting businesses, grow through training, and get inspired by a company that went from servicing one pump to leading an entire industry.

👉 Perfect for pool techs, service pros, and anyone who wants to grow in the pool business — this episode brings knowledge, motivation, and a look behind the curtain of one of the most iconic brands in our industry.

0:00 – Intro and Celebrating Hayward’s 100 Years 5:22 – What makes reaching 100 years so rare in business 10:41 – Hayward’s growth: From private to public and why it matters 16:39 – Pool pros can scale just like Hayward — lessons in grit and vision 23:18 – Meet Justin and Ryan: From pool tech to VP of Sales 34:06 – Hayward’s origin: From metal valves to plastic skimmers 44:00 – Game-changing acquisitions: Goldline, Summit, ComfortZone 53:15 – How Hayward stayed ahead during the recession 1:02:30 – The values of Oscar Davis and their lasting cultural legacy 1:09:45 – Hayward’s Flow Control Division: A little-known fact 1:18:10 – Product innovation spotlight: OmniPro, S3 salt system 1:29:02 – The power of salt cells that work at 800 ppm 1:37:49 – Behind the scenes: Hayward’s U.S.-based manufacturing 1:47:20 – Next-gen tech: The future of automation with OmniX 1:56:13 – Why Hayward’s Training Hubs are transforming the industry 2:03:00 – Final thoughts, shout-outs, and what’s next for Hayward

In episode 251 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar, John, and Zach go full pool nerd mode and dive deep into real-world pool chemistry questions submitted by new pool pro Jonah Callahan. From pH creep in saltwater pools to the truth about chlorine lock and how to properly shock your pool, this episode is packed with must-know insights for every pool tech—from beginner to seasoned vet.

John breaks down complex chemistry topics in a way that’s simple and practical, and the team shares insider strategies for managing high CYA, enzymes, calcium hardness, and more. Whether you're battling algae, scaling, or just trying to maintain balanced water, this is the episode you don’t want to miss.

Plus: Edgar announces key dates for the Pool Nation Awards, Women’s Summit, and the $10K Pool Pro Challenge, and the team drops some exclusive details on Business Matrix-only content at the upcoming Pool Nation Conference.

👉 Learn, laugh, and level up your chemistry game—Pool Nation style.

• [00:00] Intro & Pool Talk Weather Chaos – Palm tree nightmares, flooding in Texas, and summer is here.

• [09:00] Pool Nation Awards & Event Announcements – Dates for nominations, Women’s Summit (sold out!), and upcoming events at the PSP Expo.

• [10:50] Business Classes Preview at Pool Nation Conference – Edgar, Zach, and John walk through all 10 business-focused class topics and the Matrix-exclusive advanced tracks.

• [19:10] Listener Q&A: Saltwater Pools & pH Creep – Why salt systems raise pH and what you can do to manage it.

• [23:45] Do Enzymes Really Work in Pool Water? – How and why enzymes like CV-600 can save your time and sanity.

• [27:00] Chlorine Lock: Real or Myth? – The CYA-to-chlorine ratio, nitrate interference, and why "chlorine lock" isn't exactly what you think.

• [31:30] Testing High CYA Levels Accurately – How to use dilution testing to measure conditioner over 100 ppm.

• [39:00] What’s the Best Chlorine for Shocking a Pool? – When to use dichlor, cal hypo, trichlor, or liquid chlorine—and why.

• [43:10] How Dangerous is Slightly Off pH? – What a small pH change actually means for chlorine effectiveness and swimmer safety.

• [45:50] Is High Calcium Hardness Really a Problem? – The difference between safe and unsafe levels, and how to manage it using LSI.

• [54:00] Final Thoughts & Studio Talk – The team recaps the value of bite-size chemistry education and teases future podcast episodes and Pool Man University content.

We want to thank our incredible sponsors who make the Pool Nation Podcast possible:

• The SPPA, BluRay XL, AquaStar Pool Products, Natural Chemistry, Raypak – Hayward Pool Products, Heritage Pool Supply Group, Poolside Tech, Pool Brain, US Motors and Pool Invoice

In episode 250 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar and Zac are joined in-studio by Alicia Stephens and Rick Harvey from BioLab for a hilarious, insightful, and business-packed episode you won’t want to miss. They dive deep into what it really takes to build a 5-star pool business—from premium customer experience and staff onboarding to powerful loyalty strategies that keep customers coming back year after year.

🎤 Plus: Rick shares how he went from Red Bull to pool pros, Alicia spills the story of accidentally giving “the talk” to a 6-year-old, and the crew talks about the magic of time management, retention strategies, and why every pool pro needs to stop shopping with their own wallet.

This episode is a must-listen for service pros, retailers, and anyone looking to level up their business through education, relationships, and premium customer care.

Sponsored by: SPPA, BluRay XL, AquaStar Pool Products, BioLab, Natural Chemistry, Raypak, Hayward, Poolside Tech, Pool Brain, Pool Invoice and Nidec.

• [00:00:00] Welcome to the show – The Pool Nation crew is back with Alicia Stephens & Rick Harvey

• [00:01:30] Marco Polo champions, vacation stories, and wasp attacks

• [00:03:00] Meet Rick Harvey: Yes, he’s not Steve Harvey’s brother… but he’s got the good looks

• [00:06:30] Hilarious family stories, chaos crew updates, and why Edgar now cherishes loud homes

• [00:10:00] Pool Nation Awards nominations, women’s summit prep & Alicia’s comedy debut

• [00:14:00] Pool Nation Conference business classes revealed: Profit, pricing, financials & teams

• [00:19:00] Why Alicia is doing stand-up comedy—and yes, drinks will be required

• [00:23:00] Rick Harvey’s origin story: From Red Bull to BioLab to business strategist

• [00:27:00] Why Biolab is built on education—and how it drives premium retail success

• [00:31:00] How BioLab elevates pool pros through training, coaching, and business support

• [00:34:00] Why fun + learning = retention (and the secret to Alicia’s powerful classes)

• [00:38:00] The ROI of training your employees—even if they’re only with you one season

• [00:41:00] Simple but powerful ways to elevate the customer experience (Retail + Service)

• [00:47:00] Are you a 5-Star Business? Here’s how to find out (and fix it fast)

• [00:50:00] “Don’t shop with your wallet”—How to sell premium without assuming budget

• [00:57:00] What actually builds retention—and why most pool pros overlook it

• [01:04:00] The key to follow-up, trust, and customer loyalty (plus a shout-out to veterinarians)

• [01:08:00] Social reviews, negative feedback, and turning critics into loyal fans

• [01:13:00] Why retaining customers is 10x more powerful than finding new ones

• [01:23:00] Bonus Story: Alicia’s infamous “birds and the bees” moment babysitting Rick’s daughter

• [01:27:00] Final thoughts: What’s your business really doing to go from 4.8 stars to 5?