Know Your Numbers, Protect Your Business

Ask a question hereYour total alkalinity is 100 ppm. So is the pool next door’s. Why does one keep climbing in pH while the other takes a dive when you add alum?On this Floc-It Friday, Rudy Stankowitz breaks down what’s behind that number on your test kit. He runs through a pool with 100 ppm total alkalinity and 100 ppm cyanuric acid, shows how the one-third shortcut changes the Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) calculation, and explains where that shortcut can get you in trouble. Then he takes it back to the equipment pad with a pool whose pH keeps creeping up, an acid dose, and an alum treatment.Rudy opens with a thank-you to Olga Welch at Rutgers University for a letter about his years teaching pool water quality. He also reads past the headline on Haviland’s announced $26 million Indiana facility and gets to the questions that matter when chemicals are included in your monthly service rate. Will it handle the products you buy? Will it change what’s available? What will you actually pay?And in Hudson, Florida, two pickups roll onto a jobsite with a championship belt for John Poma, the 2026 Talking Pools Podcast Pool Industry Mentor of the Year. Rudy tells the story of the surprise and shares how John handles a late-night call about a plaster problem. He asks what you saw, what you checked, and what you think it means. The next time you see it, you know where to start.Chapters00:01 A letter from Rutgers and a thank-you to Olga Welch00:38 Haviland’s $26 million announcement and what to ask your supplier03:28 What your total alkalinity test actually measures07:59 The 100 ppm example, the LSI calculation, and rising pH11:48 John Poma’s surprise championship belt reveal13:24 The mentor who shaped John’s approach and how the award was decided19:01 The limits of the one-third CYA shortcut and what happens when you add acid24:21 Alum, alkalinity demand, and why starting pH only tells you part of the storyGot a water chemistry question you’d like Rudy to tackle on Floc-It Friday? Email [email protected]. Support the showThank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: [email protected]

Ask a question hereA pool tech shocks a public pool, pulls out a test kit, and holds up a yellow chlorine sample for the camera. Wayne sees the clip and has one question. What did you actually measure?With Steve traveling, Wayne takes the mic solo for Thursdays with Steve and Wayne. He uses that clip to get into the difference between free, combined, and total chlorine, what to look for in a test kit, and how glare and subtle shades of pink can make a simple color match harder than it sounds. Then he walks through the FAS-DPD drop test, including what to look for when the sample turns pink a second time.Wayne also congratulates John Poma, the 2026 Talking Pools Podcast Pool Industry Mentor of the Year, and shares what it was like to score the nominations with the names removed.In the Insurance Interlude, Steve Sherwood and Pat Grignon of the California Pool Association talk directors and officers insurance, crisis management, and the question every business partnership eventually has to answer. What happens when one of you wants out?Chapters00:01 Wayne flies solo from Maryland01:15 John Poma named 2026 Pool Industry Mentor of the Year06:02 The public pool test that set Wayne off07:03 Free vs. total chlorine, DPD color matching, and FAS-DPD17:42 Counting drops and checking for combined chlorine22:28 Breakpoint chlorination and a quick detour into test strips33:23 Insurance Interlude with Steve Sherwood and Pat Grignon40:20 Directors and officers insurance and crisis management50:46 Business partnerships, buyouts, and exit plansGot a poolside testing question or a topic you want Wayne and Steve to tackle? Email [email protected]. Support the showThank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: [email protected]

Ask a question hereTalking Pools Podcast | Myth-Busting Wednesday with Natalie HoodIf you lose $3 every time you service a pool, what happens when you add 50 more to the route? Dan Lenz has a few things to say about that.This week, Natalie Hood calls in the pool industry’s Batman. Dan explains how a two-week summer job breaking concrete turned into nearly four decades in the pool business and how a Polaris Slingshot earned him the nickname. Then they get into the stuff that can cost a pool company real money: assuming an inspection tells the whole story, matching a competitor’s rates without knowing your own costs, and mistaking a packed schedule for a profitable one.Dan shares how he stretched a short Chicago pool season, why a clear quote and a firm appointment can win a job, and what happens when a tech takes the time to tell a customer their heater is on its last legs before it quits. And yes, Batman gets his own song.In this episodeWhat a passing inspection tells you and where engineering, installation practices, and workmanship come into playHow to set service prices around your own costs and explain what customers get for the moneyHow to spread out seasonal bookings and use the slower months to train your crewWhy a clear price, a firm date, and a returned call can matter more to a customer than the lowest bidHow documenting what you see on a service call helps customers plan for future repairsHow to tell whether more pools, more equipment sales, or more hours are actually improving your bottom lineChapters00:00 — Natalie tees up the myths02:56 — How Dan Lenz became Batman04:40 — The two-week pool job that turned into a career08:38 — Does passing inspection mean the pool was built well?16:55 — The race to the bottom on pricing19:29 — Giving customers a reason to buy from you23:25 — Making the most of a short pool season28:41 — Off-season training and getting your crew to trade shows31:54 — What customers value when they call for service37:12 — Bat Dan gets a theme song39:19 — How communication keeps customers coming back42:45 — What a tech can spot beyond the original service call50:39 — More sales, more stops, more profit?55:31 — Dan’s advice for techs, builders, and business ownersFollow Talking Pools Podcast for more Myth-Busting Wednesday with Natalie Hood. Support the showThank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: [email protected]

Ask a question hereA stained pool gets the phone ringing. Knowing whether it needs a wash or a complete resurface is where the experience comes in.This week on Tru in the Loop, Truman sits down with Mike from Stay Fresh Pools and Dope Boy Pools in Arizona’s East Valley for a frank conversation about chemical washing, customer expectations, and building a pool business that actually pays.Mike walks through how his company evaluates pool interiors, why he puts his service customers on a two-year drain schedule, and how his washing process has changed over the years. He discusses his experience with Pool Wash, bicarbonate baths, and MicroGlass, while Truman asks how those services fit into ongoing pool care.Then the conversation turns to the money. Included filter cleanings. Chemical costs. Hiring technicians. Customers who say no. And the expensive lesson that a full route doesn’t necessarily mean a profitable business.In This EpisodeChemical wash or resurface? How Mike evaluates a pool before recommending the work.Arizona versus Florida: Different markets, maintenance practices, and customer expectations.Mike’s washing process: His approach to Pool Wash, bicarbonate baths, and MicroGlass.Customer education: Explaining the scope and price of a service.The cost of callbacks: Why Mike makes reducing return visits a business priority.Pricing for growth: Charging enough to support employees and build careers.Filter-cleaning economics: Truman examines the unpaid time hiding in his service rate.Industry education: Manufacturer relationships, formal training, and field experience.Entrepreneurship: Finding room for family when the business follows you home.Episode Chapters00:00 — Truman introduces chemical washing01:46 — Meet Mike from Stay Fresh Pools02:57 — What is a chemical wash?04:45 — Mike’s two-year drain policy06:31 — Bicarbonate baths in Mike’s process08:25 — Evaluating an interior: wash or resurface?09:54 — Stain treatments and Pool Wash12:16 — How Mike’s washing methods evolved14:24 — Discussing MicroGlass17:05 — Communicating value and reducing callbacks18:44 — Truman questions the chemical-use argument22:24 — Discussing LSI and scale23:53 — Business tip: set your standards and your price26:15 — Filter cleanings and service-rate economics28:36 — Pricing, hiring, and growth32:07 — Where to find industry education34:31 — Advice from a mentor35:45 — Connect with Mike37:57 — The demands of business ownership39:04 — Closing thoughtsConnect with the GuestFind Mike through Stay Fresh Pools and Dope Boy Pools on Instagram, or Mike StayFresh on Facebook.Sponsor: This episode is brought to you in part by Pool Brain.Enjoyed the conversation? Follow Talking Pools Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app, and share this episode with another pool professional.This episode contains explicit language. Product descriptions, treatment claims, and service schedules reflect the guest’s views and practices. Support the showThank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: [email protected]

Ask a question hereTalking Pools Podcast | Mondays Down UnderA water test gives you numbers. Knowing what to do with them is where the job starts.Lee continues the conversation with Chris and Nick about proposed changes to Australian Standard AS 3633—and what those changes could mean for pool technicians, retailers, and commercial operators.The discussion tackles supplementary treatment systems, hydrogen peroxide, sulfate concerns, commercial pool backwashing, and the complications of testing mineral pools. Nick shares a commercial pool case involving deteriorating grout, while Chris describes a mineral dosing mistake that left a customer facing a major water replacement.They also examine proposed alkalinity ranges, adjustments to saturation index calculations, and why the pool surface and its warranty deserve a place in every treatment decision. A broad operating range doesn’t tell you where an individual pool belongs within it.In This EpisodeProposed chlorine concessions for pools with supplementary treatment systems.Hydrogen peroxide and the challenges of managing chlorine residuals.Sulfate accumulation concerns associated with ongoing acid use.A commercial filtration system limited by its backwash disposal capacity.Make-up water allowances and their implications for busy spas.Questions about the draft’s TDS guidance for salt and mineral pools.Magnesium hardness, calcium testing, and a costly mineral dosing error.TDS factors and proposed mineral-pool adjustments in LSI calculations.Lower proposed alkalinity limits and the importance of surface warranties.Why technicians’ field experience belongs in the standards discussion.Episode Chapters00:01 — Supplementary treatment and proposed chlorine concessions01:32 — Hydrogen peroxide enters the discussion05:23 — Chlorine removal and the “chlorine overdraft”07:19 — Mondays Down Under theme07:56 — Recognizing the industry’s mentors10:38 — Sponsor: Pool Brain10:51 — What experienced technicians can teach the industry11:17 — Sulfates, acid use, and deteriorating grout14:50 — A commercial pool’s backwashing problem17:25 — Make-up water and commercial spa turnover18:33 — Questions about TDS limits in mineral pools19:57 — Magnesium hardness and misleading test results23:15 — Hardness parameters and saturation index discussion29:49 — Proposed lower alkalinity limits32:36 — Pool surfaces, warranties, and treatment decisions34:00 — Closing thoughts and listener questionsDiscussion context: This conversation concerns a draft standard under review at the time of recording. Several figures and interpretations are expressly flagged by the speakers for further checking; they should not be presented as confirmed requirements.Episode sponsor: Pool BrainHave a question or a topic you want the crew to tackle? Email [email protected] Talking Pools Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. The Pool Shop Coachan online store offering industry-specific business mentoring, coaching, and training programs Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showThank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: [email protected]

Ask a question hereTalking Pools Podcast | Floc-It Friday with Rudy StankowitzIf we tell people to do better, we have to leave them somewhere to go when they try.After several episodes that stirred up the pool industry, Rudy asks a question that includes himself: Can somebody earn our respect after they’ve lost our approval?From his conversations with Eric Knight to the response surrounding the 14 PSI interviews, Rudy talks about recognizing experience earned through different paths, correcting people without humiliating them, and giving progress a chance without letting anyone off the hook. An announcement isn’t proof of change. What happens in the next difficult interaction matters.Then the conversation turns to water chemistry. Rudy explains why he teaches a preferred operating pH of 7.2–7.6, looking beyond saturation index and chlorine effectiveness. Drawing on published research and his six years studying swimming pool algae and cyanobacteria, he discusses the factors behind that preference, the limits of the evidence, and why the pool in front of you still requires judgment.In this episode:Recognizing professional growth, even when you disagree with someone.Eric Knight, Lauren Broom, and acknowledging the work people put into learning.The 14 PSI conversations, accountability, and rebuilding trust through actions.Helping new technicians ask questions without regretting it.Why Rudy’s preferred pH range considers more than LSI.Copper behavior, iron discoloration, and the distinction between precipitation and corrosion.Rudy’s algae investigations and the biological communities behind visible growth.Why findings about particular cyanobacteria or diatoms need careful interpretation.Disinfection byproduct trade-offs and treatment-specific considerations involving coagulation and ozone.Making recommendations you can explain, monitor, and adjust.Episode chapters00:03 Can people earn back our respect?01:57 Disagreement, experience, and recognizing effort03:34 Eric Knight, Lauren Broom, and making room for learning05:20 The 14 PSI conversations and expectations for change08:47 Help one person move forward11:52 Why Rudy prefers a pH of 7.2–7.614:02 Iron, discoloration, and upward pH drift14:52 Algae research, biological complexity, and treatment trade-offs21:23 Closing thoughtsChapter times are approximate.The challenge: Explain something. Share a resource. Give someone credit for improving. If you owe an apology, make it without attaching a closing argument.Join the conversation: Send questions and feedback to [email protected] note: Explicit language. Support the showThank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: [email protected]

Ask a question hereTalking Pools Podcast | Thursdays with Steve & WayneYou spend hours inspecting a commercial pool, identifying problems, calling suppliers, and building a proposal. Then the customer takes your scope of work to somebody cheaper. Congratulations. You just did their homework for free.This week, Steve and Wayne tackle the cost of giving away your expertise and the uncomfortable question that comes with it: Should pool professionals charge for commercial site visits and proposals? Steve shares a recent bidding experience, the advice he received from a commercial builder, and why being helpful needs some boundaries.The guys also discuss screening prospective customers before getting stuck in traffic, pricing difficult pools, setting expectations with homeowners, and making business decisions around three things: time, money, and energy.Plus, Pat joins the conversation for an insurance discussion about running a business from home, using vehicles for both work and personal errands, and reviewing coverage when your services or route change.In this episode:Chemical handling, protective equipment, and the consequences of getting careless.Wayne’s encouragement to get involved in industry committees and local associations.How Truman’s pool service story prompted Steve to rethink customer conversations about difficult pools.Working with a hotel client to explore a heater schedule and reduce operating costs.Screening residential leads with photos and preliminary pricing.Questions to ask about personal and business insurance coverage.Why selling a route deserves a conversation with your insurance agent.The difference between a service proposal and a paid pool inspection.Setting limits when “a quick question” becomes an unpaid consultation.Paying employees for added responsibility and accounting for time spent sourcing expensive equipment.Episode chapters00:01 Chemical handling and liability03:21 Getting involved in the pool industry05:13 Learning from other Talking Pools hosts05:53 Difficult pools, pricing, and customer expectations09:00 Time, money, energy, and a hotel heater project12:30 Screening leads before making the drive16:30 Insurance questions with Pat31:25 When proposals become free consulting39:21 Inspections, professional boundaries, and client relationships45:28 Rudy and Eric Knight’s three-part conversation46:54 Productivity, employee incentives, and equipment sourcingChapter times are approximate.We want to hear from you: Do you charge for commercial site visits or proposals? Do you credit that fee toward the work if the customer hires you? Send your experience to [email protected] mentioned: Rudy Stankowitz and Eric Knight’s three-part discussion, with two installments on Rule Your Pool and one on Talking Pools.Content note: Explicit language. Support the showThank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: [email protected]

Ask a question hereThat vacation rental has a hot tub. Great. When did somebody last test the water?Natalie Hood welcomes microbiologist Dr. Roy Vore back to the Talking Pools Podcast for part two of their hot tub myth-busting conversation. This time, they get into the plumbing, the maintenance shortcuts, and the uncomfortable questions every service professional and vacation rental owner should be asking.Roy discusses biofilm management, the limits of shocking, and why he considers once-a-week service inadequate for busy vacation rental hot tubs. Natalie also asks the question guaranteed to settle an argument in somebody’s house: Does sitting in a hot tub count as taking a bath?Between the laughs, the conversation gets serious about guest safety, operator responsibility, and charging enough to do the job properly.In this episode:Biofilm inside hot tub plumbing and Roy’s approach to purgingWhat shocking accomplishes and where its usefulness stopsWater replacement, bather load, and total dissolved solidsShowering before soaking and washing swimsuits between usesWhy Roy calls for daily attention at vacation rental hot tubsPseudomonas, Legionella, and the risks discussed in the episodeSkin irritation, chloramines, and that familiar “chlorine smell”Ozone and bromine compatibility concernsWhy an unused hot tub still needs maintenanceTesting, service records, and knowing when to ask for helpEpisode chapters00:00 What’s hiding in the plumbing?04:40 Biofilm and hot tub purges07:23 Can you shock your way out of biofilm?09:11 Water replacement and service expectations10:32 Does a hot tub count as a bath?12:35 Showering before soaking15:20 Wash your swimsuit19:59 Testing schedules and vacation rental hot tubs29:21 Skin sensitivity and disinfection byproducts34:11 Ozone, chlorine, and bromine35:48 The neglected hot tub myth38:39 Preparing a hot tub for arriving guests41:17 Roy’s final advice for service professionalsThe takeaway: A hot tub is an amenity that comes with responsibility. Test the water, take the service seriously, and charge for the work it takes.Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Support the showThank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: [email protected]

Ask a question hereThree raffle entries. One winner. Six months of pool cleaning True wishes he hadn’t given away.This week on Tru in the Loop, True shares how a holiday giveaway landed him a problem pool with relentless debris and a layout that made every visit a headache. The experience changed what he looks for before quoting a new account.Then pool builder Adam joins the conversation to explain how his years on a service route shaped the pools he builds today. From equipment access to return placement, Adam builds with the person maintaining the pool in mind. He also shares how he grew from a teenage pool tech into a business owner overseeing construction and roughly 250 service accounts, and why keeping his maintenance route has helped him weather construction’s slower stretches.Plus, should cleaning algae off the coping be included, charged separately, or handled as goodwill? True weighs the responses and explains why taking care of customers starts with pricing your service correctly.In this episode:Gas Money Monday (Not affiliated with the Talking Pools Podcast) turns one pool pro’s generosity into help for another.The giveaway that became six months of unpaid headaches.Why True now counts and checks return locations before quoting service.Building pools with maintenance and equipment access in mind.Adam’s approach to plumbing upgrades and customer expectations.Creating distinctive pools with Baja shelves and custom spa finishes.Adam’s perspective on contractor credentials, written agreements, and progress payments.Knowing when to hire instead of doing everything yourself.How recurring service revenue supports a construction business.Pricing the little extras without building resentment.Setting phone boundaries so work doesn’t follow you everywhere.A takeaway worth remembering:“Don’t jump over dollars to pick up dimes.”This week’s business tip:Separate your business number from your personal number and establish a cutoff time. Being available to customers shouldn’t mean being on call every waking hour.Sponsor:This episode is brought to you in part by Pool Brain, software built to help pool service businesses operate more efficiently.Listen to Tru in the Loop every Tuesday on the Talking Pools Podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and your favorite podcast app. Support the showThank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: [email protected]

Ask a question herePool equipment has changed. Water testing has changed. So why has Australia’s pool water quality standard taken so long to catch up?On this episode of Mondays Down Under on the Talking Pools Podcast, Lee Salisbury and Nick welcome Chris Smith from Waterco for a look inside the proposed rewrite of Australian Standard AS 3633.With 42 years in the industry and a seat on the technical committee, Chris explains how the draft came together, why its scope is expanding beyond private pools, and which proposals are generating debate. The conversation tackles filtration, testing, supplementary sanitizers, and the challenge of creating consistency across state health requirements.There’s also a question for every pool business owner: Have the people recommending your products actually used them?In this episode:Chris’s journey from building equipment to chemical training and research.Why retail staff need hands-on experience with green pool cleanups.Reading product labels and catching changes to instructions.Expanding AS 3633 to address residential and public pools.How working groups, technical review, and public comments shape the draft.Australian Standards versus state and local requirements.Professional water testing and the tools technicians use.Proposed testing frequencies, including total alkalinity.Chlorine dioxide and the discussion around supplementary sanitizers.Proposed chlorine limits and the practical challenges of heavy bather loads.Accounting for cold plunges, warmer water, filtration, and equipment response.Episode chapters:00:12 | Welcome to Mondays Down Under02:14 | Meet Chris Smith: 42 years in the pool industry07:05 | Research, product trials, and asking why08:46 | Get your retail staff out into the field09:58 | Read the label, even when you know the product12:35 | Why AS 3633 needed a rewrite18:49 | Expanding the scope to residential and public pools24:43 | When standards and local requirements differ28:22 | What counts as professional water testing?31:23 | Public comments and evidence behind the proposals33:24 | The alkalinity testing discussion34:26 | Chlorine dioxide and supplementary sanitizers44:27 | Proposed combined chlorine limits45:25 | Temperature ranges, cold plunges, and sanitizer targets47:23 | Chlorine limits, bather loads, and equipment capacityAbout the guest:Chris Smith of Waterco brings experience across pool equipment, water chemistry, training, and product development. He joins the conversation as a participant in the AS 3633 technical committee.This episode discusses draft proposals under review at the time of recording. Proposed values should not be treated as final requirements.Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow Talking Pools for more conversations from across the pool industry. The Pool Shop Coachan online store offering industry-specific business mentoring, coaching, and training programs Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showThank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:FacebookInstagramTik TokEmail us: [email protected]