Pool Pros text questions here

In this episode of Talking Pools, hosts Lee and Shane reflect on the past year in the swimming pool industry, discussing significant changes in leadership, the recognition of the trade, and the importance of planning for the future. They emphasize the need for work-life balance and personal growth as they look forward to 2026 and the upcoming Splash trade show.

takeaways

• The swimming pool industry has seen significant leadership changes recently.
• Recognition as a trade is a major milestone for the industry.
• Planning for the future is essential for personal and business growth.
• Work-life balance is crucial for long-term success in the industry.
• The upcoming Splash trade show in 2026 is highly anticipated.
• It's important to appreciate achievements from the past year.
• Setting goals for the new year can help maintain focus and direction.
• The industry needs more formal training and apprenticeships.
• Taking time for personal enjoyment is vital for overall well-being.
• Engaging with the community can lead to new opportunities and connections.

link : https://courses.thepoolshopcoach.com.au/store

Sound Bites

• "It's sink or swim for our industry."
• "We are a trade that can electrocute you."
• "Take care of your golf balls first."

Chapters

00:00
Welcome and Reflections on the Year

01:44
Industry Changes and Leadership Transitions

05:38
Recognition of the Swimming Pool Trade

10:50
Personal Growth and Business Planning for 2026

24:17
Work-Life Balance and Future Aspirations

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Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:

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Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com

Pool Pros text questions here

It’s the day after Christmas, and Rudy is not here to sing carols—he’s here to correct one of the most common (and most expensive) field habits in pool service: measuring dry chemicals like you’re baking cookies. The “two cups equals a pound” rule gets dragged into the sunlight, and then the episode pivots into a full chemistry fundamentals reset that separates pool-water reality from industrial-label marketing.

Rudy breaks down the difference between “available chlorine” and “active strength,” explains why “stronger chlorine” is a myth once it hits the water, and connects that misunderstanding to overdosing, misapplied shock treatments, and combined chlorine problems that never seem to resolve. He also lays out the most overlooked concept in pool operations: oxidation and disinfection are not the same job, don’t happen on the same timeline, and don’t respond the same way to “just add more chlorine.”

If you’ve ever heard “cal-hypo is stronger,” “it’s almost as strong as chlorine gas,” or “hit it with 10x and it’ll break,” this episode is your reset button.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Rudy digs into the stuff that gets repeated in the industry until it sounds true:

Why “2 cups = 1 lb” is a trap
A pound is weight. A cup is volume. Different products—even the same chemical at the same percentage—can take up very different space depending on bulk density, granule size, moisture, and how it packs in a scoop.

The only responsible way to measure dry chems
A scale is the gold standard. But if you’re stuck doing field conversions, Rudy explains how to use the SDS to get the one number that matters: bulk density.

The correct pounds-to-cups method (no guessing, no folklore)
Rudy shows the logic: convert 1 lb to grams, convert grams to volume using bulk density, then convert that volume into cups. He also explains why SDS sheets often give ranges, and why that’s a red flag for “one universal scoop.”

Available chlorine vs. active strength
Available chlorine is a comparison metric—industrial chemistry language. Active strength is concentration—how much product you need to hit a target ppm. Mixing these concepts is where dosing myths come from.

The “chlorine identity” myth
Once dissolved, product identity doesn’t matter the way people talk about it. Pool water doesn’t contain “liquid chlorine” or “cal-hypo chlorine.” It contains free chlorine species in equilibrium, governed mainly by pH (and heavily influenced by cyanuric acid in stabilized pools).

Why oxidation ≠ disinfection (and why that matters)
Disinfection is a biological kill/inactivation mechanism driven largely by hypochlorous acid. Oxidation is electron-transfer chemistry attacking ammonia, urea, sweat, and organics. They don’t behave the same, and more chlorine doesn’t magically turn slow oxidation into fast oxidation.

Why shocking can make combined chlorine look worse
Rudy explains how organic nitrogen doesn’t “break clean” like ammonia-based breakpoint assumptions. Sometimes adding more chlorine increases chlorinated intermediates—so CC goes up before it goes down, or never resolves the way people expect.

Cyanuric acid changes the game

Where modern systems are headed

Non-chlorine oxidizers (MPS) in plain English

Support the show

Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:

• Facebook
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Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com

Pool Pros text questions here

In this holiday edition of Thursdays with Steve, Steve Sherwood checks in from a festive (and very on-brand) Hawaiian Christmas shirt and talks straight to the pros who keep pools running even when the calendar says “day off.” From commercial clients who expect service 365 days a year, to the reality of managing staff with families, to planning holiday schedules before the season hits—Steve breaks down how to protect your time, your team, and your business.

Then the episode pivots into a practical “Insurance Interlude” conversation with Pat of the California Pool Association about high-level pool inspections, protecting yourself from liability, and why general liability is not the same thing as professional liability. If you’re putting numbers in writing, making recommendations, or supporting insurance-related claims, this one is essential listening.

The episode closes with a reminder that your business doesn’t matter if your health falls apart—and Steve shares real talk on building more time off into your calendar, managing workload creep, and protecting your energy so you can stay in the game long-term.

Steve covers what pool pros actually deal with during the holidays—and how to make it easier next year:

Holiday service reality for commercial clients, and why some contracts quietly force you to work on sacred days. How to prevent that with better language and upfront communication, including shifting service times on holidays when possible and setting expectations months in advance.

How to plan time off like a real business owner instead of panicking the week of Christmas. Steve explains why the holiday conversation needs to happen before Thanksgiving, sometimes as early as October, especially when you have employees with kids or anyone traveling.

The “sweet spot” for single-operator pool pros. Steve shares his view that around 40–60 clients is the zone where an owner can still deliver high-level service without the wheels wobbling—while also keeping enough time for repairs, life, and sanity.

Time, money, and energy—the three currencies that actually run your business. Steve reinforces that if you can save even one of these without sacrificing quality, you’re building a company that lasts.

Why LA traffic is a business expense—whether you admit it or not. Steve talks about scheduling appointments during smarter time windows to avoid burning hours that you can’t bill for.

A holiday reminder about health and longevity. Steve encourages listeners to treat physical and mental health like a business asset, not an afterthought—because burnout doesn’t care how many clients you have.

Support the show

Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Tik Tok

Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com