Pool Pros text questions here

In this episode, Andrea discusses the importance of pool filtration, different types of filters, and best practices for maintenance. She shares insights on how filters impact water clarity, safety tips, and common mistakes to avoid.

Keywords

pool filtration, pool maintenance, DE filters, sand filters, cartridge filters, pool chemistry, water clarity, pool safety

Key Topics

• Pool filter types (sand, DE, cartridge)
• Proper filter maintenance and cleaning
• Water clarity and turbidity measurement
• Safety tips for filter handling and backwashing
• Common mistakes and troubleshooting in pool filtration

Sound Bites

• "Tortillas in the pool make me laugh"
• "Congratulations to the winner, Keith"
• "Do you want to swim in a clean pool?"

Chapters

00:00
Conclusion and Key Takeaways

22:08
The Importance of PSI in Pool Maintenance

23:20
Cleaning Cartridge Filters: Best Practices

27:26
Using Degreasers and Enzymes Effectively

30:41
Acid Washing Cartridges: When and How

32:19
Safety Precautions with DE Powder

33:43
Maintaining DE Filters: Key Steps

41:02
Sand Filters: Backwashing and Maintenance

43:53
Final Thoughts on Filter Maintenance

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

Pool Pros text questions here

This episode covers essential winter preparation tips for pool service professionals, including equipment maintenance, marketing strategies, and safety regulations. Learn how to turn winter into a profitable season and ensure safety compliance.

Keywords

pool service, winter preparation, pool maintenance, safety regulations, marketing strategies, pool covers, leaf skimmers, pool cleaning

Key Topics

• Winter pool maintenance strategies
• Pool safety regulations and compliance
• Effective marketing for off-season pool services

Sound Bites

• "Heavy leaf litter can stain your pool."
• "Plan your winter marketing early."
• "Turn winter into a profitable season."

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to Seasonal Pool Maintenance

01:36
Equipment Spotlight: Robotic Pool Cleaners and Skimmies

03:22
Using Winter Covers and Debris Covers Effectively

06:56
Safety Regulations and Pool Fencing Requirements

11:04
Seasonal Business Planning and Marketing Strategies

18:00
Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Insights

23:42
Preparing Your Business for Winter Challenges

26:13
Promoting Safety and Compliance to Clients

28:41
Closing Remarks and Next Steps

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

Pool Pros text questions here

In this episode of Flock It Friday, Rudy Stankowitz revisits the topic of borates in swimming pools, exploring the chemistry behind them, the regulatory history, and why recent geopolitical tensions have brought boron compounds back into the conversation.

Recent instability in key shipping corridors such as the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, and the Suez Canal has raised concerns about global freight movement. Since Turkey holds the world’s largest boron reserves and supplies a significant portion of the global market through its state-owned producer Eti Maden, disruptions in shipping routes could tighten the supply chain that delivers boric acid to the U.S. market. The chemistry itself hasn’t changed—the mines are still operating—but the logistics that move industrial minerals around the world can shift quickly.

Rudy then breaks down the science behind borates. In pool water, boron compounds typically exist as boric acid and borate ions, forming a secondary buffering system that helps resist pH drift, especially in pools with saltwater chlorine generators, where aeration accelerates carbon dioxide loss and causes pH to rise.

Most pools that use borates maintain concentrations between 30 and 50 ppm. Below that range the buffering effect becomes minimal, and above it there is little additional benefit. Once added, borates remain stable in the water and are only removed through dilution, splash-out, backwashing, or water replacement.

Borates are often described as algistatic, meaning they may inhibit algae growth, but they should not be considered a primary algaecide. Chlorine remains the primary sanitizer responsible for algae control.

The episode also touches on the regulatory evolution surrounding borates. Following the introduction of NSF/ANSI Standard 50 Annex R in 2015, many niche pool chemical additives—including borate products—were not pursued for certification under the updated framework. As a result, borates largely disappeared from modern certification listings, though they remain widely used in residential pools where certification is not required.

The bigger takeaway is that the chemistry hasn’t changed—but the systems that deliver pool chemicals have. In today’s global economy, the most complicated part of pool chemistry may not be the reactions happening in the water, but the international supply chains that bring those chemicals to the pool service professional.

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

Pool Pros text questions here

Insurance Interlude: 1099 vs W-2, Water Balance, and Pool Industry Realities

In this episode of Thursdays with Wayne & Steve, the show opens with a quick look at the winter weather hitting the Northeast before diving into two important conversations affecting pool professionals: employee classification in the service industry and the importance of water balance and documentation in pool care.

Joining Steve for the Insurance Interlude is Pat Grignon from the California Pool Association, where they explore the ongoing debate between 1099 independent contractors and W-2 employees in the pool service industry.

1099 vs W-2: What Pool Companies Need to Know

Steve and Pat discuss the legal and operational differences between hiring technicians as independent contractors (1099) versus employees (W-2). While some companies successfully operate with contractors who maintain their own businesses, problems arise when contractors function essentially as employees.

The conversation highlights a real-world case where a company classified dozens of workers as independent contractors, even though they only worked for that company. The result was a state investigation and a $750,000 fine, demonstrating how seriously regulators view employee misclassification.

Pat explains that legitimate 1099 relationships typically require:

• Workers operating their own independent business
• Maintaining their own insurance
• Working for multiple clients
• Using their own equipment

Later in the episode, Wayne shares a call from a listener in Port Orange, Florida dealing with corrosion around brass light fittings in two stainless steel pools.

After discussing the issue, it becomes clear that the root cause was not high total dissolved solids (TDS), but severely unbalanced water chemistry.

The technician had been lowering the pH to 6.8, which is far below recommended swimming pool levels. Combined with low alkalinity readings around 40–50 ppm, the water had become extremely corrosive.

Wayne walks through the fundamentals of restoring proper balance:

• Maintain pH between 7.4–7.6
• Keep alkalinity between 80–120 ppm
• Maintain calcium hardness above 150 ppm
• Monitor TDS relative to source water

The example serves as a reminder that water balance is critical, especially when dealing with metal components or unusual pool construction materials.

Why Documentation Protects Service Companies

The episode closes with a discussion about the importance of record keeping when servicing pools, particularly after renovations or plaster work.

If problems arise after a pool build or resurfacing, contractors may ask for detailed chemistry logs to determine whether improper water chemistry caused the issue.

Maintaining records from systems like:

• Skimmer
• Pool Brain
• PayThePoolMan

can provide service companies with data-backed proof that proper chemistry was maintained.

Without documentation, pool companies may struggle to defend themselves when blame is assigned for plaster defects or equipment failures.

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

Pool Pros text questions here

In this episode, Natalie Hood interviews Sean McDermott from H2 Flow to bust common myths about pool water circulation, flow measurement, and system efficiency. They explore how proper understanding and technology can improve water quality, safety, and energy use in pools.

keywords

pool water circulation, flow measurement, VFD, pool system efficiency, water quality, pool safety, flow meters, pool automation, pump protection

key topics

• Myth of continuous circulation with pump running
• Flow rate vs filtration effectiveness
• Importance of accurate flow measurement
• Role of VFDs in energy savings
• Mechanical issues masquerading as chemical problems

guest name

Sean McDermott

Sound Bites

• "Flow measurement is critical for safety"
• "VFDs are widely used in pools now"
• "Reducing pump speed saves energy"

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to Pool Water Movement and Misconceptions

00:55
Sean McDermott's Background and Industry Journey

03:35
The Industry Setup and Education in Pool Management

05:57
Myth 1: As long as the pump runs, circulation is proper

08:47
Myth 2: Higher flow always means better filtration

10:09
The importance of accurate flow measurement

11:42
The significance of flow measurement for safety

13:15
Flow meters: Accuracy matters

14:22
VFDs in residential and commercial pools

16:02
Modern VFDs and their ease of use

17:36
Autofill systems and automation benefits

18:56
Durability of outdoor pool systems

20:27
Pump protection and system safety

21:37
Low flow alarms and their role

23:30
Energy efficiency and pump speed reduction

25:01
Adjusting for environmental factors in pool operation

26:47
Water quality issues: Chemical vs mechanical causes

28:04
Mechanical issues masquerading as chemical problems

32:21
Final thoughts and advice from Sean McDermott

Resources

• H2 Flow
• NSF International NSF 50 Standard
• VFDs in Pool Systems
• Sean McDermott on LinkedIn

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

Pool Pros text questions here

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Talking Pools Podcast has officially opened nominations for the 2026 Talking Pools Podcast Mentor of the Year Award, an industry recognition created to celebrate the individuals who go beyond their daily work to teach, guide, and elevate others in the swimming pool and spa profession.

Nominations will be accepted from March 15 through May 15, 2026, inviting pool service technicians, builders, retailers, educators, manufacturers, and other professionals across the industry to submit the name of a mentor who helped shape their career.

The award was created by Talking Pools Podcast host and industry educator Rudy Stankowitz to shine a spotlight on the unsung leaders of the trade—those who invest their time and experience in helping others succeed.

“Every great pool professional started somewhere, and chances are someone helped them along the way,” said Stankowitz. “This award exists to recognize the people who take the time to teach judgment, protect standards, and build technicians who will carry the industry forward.”

Recognizing the Quiet Builders of the Industry

Unlike many awards that highlight business growth or product innovation, the Mentor of the Year Award focuses specifically on mentorship—the act of teaching, guiding, and developing professionals in the field.

Eligible nominees must be actively involved in the swimming pool industry or a closely related field, including service, construction, retail, manufacturing, education, or other supporting roles.

To maintain fairness and integrity, the award program does not allow self-nominations, family nominations, or nominations of Talking Pools Podcast hosts. Each submission must come from a professional working within the industry.

A Championship Recognition

The Mentor of the Year recipient will be presented with a custom championship belt, symbolizing the impact mentors have on shaping the next generation of professionals. The belt was designed by Wildcat Belts, the same manufacturer that produces championship titles for organizations like WWE and UFC.

The inaugural 2025 award attracted dozens of nominations from across the global pool industry, with finalists selected through a multi-stage anonymous review process to ensure a merit-based evaluation.

In keeping with the spirit of the award, the winner will not be asked to attend a formal ceremony. Instead, the Talking Pools Podcast team will deliver the championship belt in person, surprising the recipient at their workplace or job site while they are doing what mentors do best—helping others succeed.

How to Nominate a Mentor

Industry professionals can nominate their mentor by submitting the individual’s name along with a description of how that person helped them grow in their career or business.

Submissions can be made online at:
https://cpoclass.com/pool-news/mentor-award/

Alternatively, nominees can be submitted by visiting cpoclass.com and selecting the Talking Pools Podcast Mentor Award tab.

The Top 10 nominees will be announced later in 2026, with one individual ultimately earning the title of Talking Pools Podcast Mentor of the Year

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

Pool Pros text questions here

In this episode of Mondays Down Under, Lee and Shane discuss a frustrating service case involving an ionizer sanitation system with an integrated salt cell that isn’t producing enough chlorine to maintain a residential pool.

The system is rated for pools up to 150,000 liters, yet the pool in question is only 60,000 liters and repeatedly turns green. Despite increasing runtime to 24 hours per day and raising output to nearly 100%, chlorine levels remain extremely low.

After performing a full troubleshooting process—including cleaning the pool, eliminating algae, verifying circulation, and treating potential biofilm with chlorine dioxide (C5)—the issue still persists.

Manufacturer Advice Raises Questions

When Shane contacted the manufacturer’s representative, the recommendation was to run the unit 24 hours a day at 100% output.

This raised several concerns:

• It dramatically increases electricity costs for the client.
• It may shorten cell lifespan.
• It could exceed the unit’s 10,000-hour warranty limit in just over a year.

Even more confusing, the representative suggested adding cyanuric acid, despite the system being marketed as a “freshwater pool system” and the manual specifically advising against adding stabilizer.

When Manuals and Advice Don’t Match

Lee and Shane point out the contradiction between manufacturer marketing, written instructions, and real-world recommendations. Being told to add chemicals that the manual says not to use places technicians in a difficult position if warranty issues arise later.

Lee stresses an important rule for service professionals:
If a manufacturer instructs you to do something outside their manual, request the instructions in writing to protect yourself.

Not All Ionizers Are the Same

Shane also maintains another pool with a similar ionizer system from a different manufacturer that works perfectly, running 11 hours per day at about 80% output with no stabilizer in the water.

This comparison suggests the issue may not be ionization technology itself, but potentially a problem with the specific unit or controller.

Takeaway for Pool Pros

The discussion highlights an ongoing challenge in the industry: technicians often follow a careful process of elimination, only to be told the problem must be something else.

Sometimes, however, the problem is simply the equipment itself.

📧 Have a topic suggestion?
Email the show: talkingpools@gmail.com

Thanks for listening to Mondays Down Under on the Talking Pools Podcast.

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

Pool Pros text questions here

This week, Rudy tackles something the “state of the industry” reports don’t always capture:

First: How the War on Iran is likely to impact the U.S. Boric Acid/Borax Market

Next, the emotional strain underneath the numbers.

From Florida techs charging $70–$100 per month (including chemicals) and still feeling squeezed…
To competitors undercutting bids out of fear…
To Amazon underpricing distribution channels…

The conversation isn’t about collapse.

It’s about reorganization under pressure.

🧾 The Fault Lines Showing Up in the Field

Across warehouse aisles and Facebook threads, several themes emerged:

• Chronic underpricing driven by fear, not math
• Manufacturer channel conflict with online retail giants
• Distribution distrust and eroding brand loyalty
• Software fatigue from per-account pricing models
• Fragmentation from low barriers to entry
• Burnout among seasoned veterans

This isn’t collapse.

It’s an inflection point.

Industries don’t disappear overnight.
They stratify.

High-volume / low-margin operators.
Fearful middle-tier operators.
Disciplined top-tier professionals.

Where you land depends on pricing discipline, positioning, and chemistry literacy.

💬 Simon Sprague’s Question: LSI vs Disinfection

Rudy also responds to Simon Sprague of Tech Pools of Alicante, Spain, diving into:

• The 7.5% Free Chlorine to Cyanuric Acid ratio
• Saturation Index vs. disinfectant balance
• Why ideal ranges still matter
• Why pH affects more than comfort
• Why specialty chemicals have functional pH windows
• Why dumbing down the trade hurts the industry long-term

Education matters.

Not to make techs chemists.

But to prevent the industry from flattening into “chlorine and acid and hope.”

🧪 Deep Dive: What Disinfection Actually Is

This episode goes further than most service conversations ever do.

Rudy breaks down:

• Hypochlorous acid vs hypochlorite ion
• pH-driven speciation and kinetics
• Cyanuric acid equilibrium chemistry
• Breakpoint chlorination and nitrogen chemistry
• ORP as redox potential — not chlorine level
• UV photolysis and chlorine half-life
• Disinfection byproducts (THMs, haloacetic acids)
• Advanced oxidation systems and hydroxyl radicals
• Biofilms and oxidant demand
• Metal redox couples affecting ORP readings

A swimming pool is not a sterile container.

It is a sunlight-exposed, nitrogen-fed, electrochemically active oxidative reactor.

Stop thinking in parts per million.

Start thinking in equilibrium kinetics and mass transfer.

🔥 The Hard Question

As manufacturer and distributor costs rise…

As Amazon undercuts local supply chains…

As customers push back on rate increases…

Is there a ceiling on what homeowners will pay?

And what happens when margin shrinks into single digits?

God bless the pool pro.

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