How Pool Service Techs Should Respond After a Wildfire

Pool technicians and service professionals must take great care when handling pool cleanup responsibilities after a wildfire.

No words can adequately express the condolences felt for those who have suffered loss during the wildfires experienced in North America. In the case of active fires, the utmost concern should always be for the immediate safety of persons and property. The devastation of wildfires over recent years has been particularly extreme. The following is some advice for pool professionals … Read More

Social Media 101: How to Use Each Platform Successfully

Few people will stay engaged with a brand that is constantly pushing purchases on them—people want information that is beneficial, interesting, and meshes with their lifestyle.

Using social media marketing as a business tool is no longer an option. Whether social platforms are managed in-house or a third-party communication sub-contractor is used, it is important for the business to be present in this space. The pool and hot tub industry has an undeniable advantage when it comes to social sharing, as its products appeal to the … Read More

Using Liquid Solar Covers to Save Customers Water, Time, and Money

If a service professional has ever observed steam coming off a pool, they have witnessed the evaporation process.

Water is a precious resource that everyone must work to preserve. Reducing evaporation helps conserve water in backyard pool environments and reduces the amount of fill water needed during the season. Industry professionals can save their customers water, money, and energy by recommending the use of a liquid solar cover product as part of their pool maintenance program. Also known … Read More

Seasonal Maintenance Tips for Hot Tub Retailers

Even in the cold, hot tub water chemistry should be kept at the same general levels as any other season.

For many homeowners, the decision to close their hot tub for the season is not as automatic as it is for most pool owners. Just because the leaves change colors and the temperature drops, it does not mean the hot tub has to be winterized, putting an end to the warm-water therapy season (at least for a few months). The … Read More

Best Practices for Maintenance Techs to Ensure Accurate Water Test Results

Common sense goes a long way in assuring a maintenance professional’s testing techniques will produce accurate, reliable, and consistent results.

Water balance in pools and hot tubs is a relatively simple concept. Take the readings from the most commonly tested parameters (pH, total alkalinity [TA], calcium hardness [CH], water temperature, and total dissolved solids [TDS]) and then use these values in a mathematical formula that produces a number. This number defines whether the water is corrosive, scale forming, or in … Read More

Equipping Pools, New and Old, with Remote Control Capabilities

Today, there is pent-up demand for homeowners who want smart controls for their pool.

This season, hundreds of thousands of pool owners will likely replace their pumps because either their current equipment has reached the end of its life or they want to take advantage of the energy efficient benefits of today’s new systems. Some will replace old single-speed pumps with another single-speed, but many will likely upgrade to a variable-speed pump (VSP). VSPs … Read More

Sun Care Best Practices for Pool and Hot Tub Professionals

It is important for outdoor workers to understand the risks of sun and ultraviolet (UV) exposure and know the steps to minimize their risk.

The prevalence of skin cancer is on the rise and not just in North America, but worldwide. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed the incidence of non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers has been increasing over the past several decades. Currently, between two and three million skin cancers occur globally each year. One in every three cancers diagnosed … Read More

Putting Pool Filtration to the Test: The Time Has Come to Establish New Filter Media Standards

Putting Pool Filtration to the Test: The Time Has Come to Establish New Filter Media Standards

Cartridge filter manufacturers believe in making the best products available and know it is feasible to provide the industry with different grades of product based on the type of pool/hot tub, geographic location, what water quality challenges (if any) the customers are facing. Unfortunately, unlike other industries, the aquatics sector has a ‘one size fits all’ approach. That said, to … Read More

An Intermediate Look at Pool and Hot Tub Water Chemistry and Testing

To ensure the health of bathers and the life of a pool or hot tub, it is necessary to monitor a handful of water-quality factors on a regular basis.

Dealing with pool and hot tub water chemistry issues is sometimes confusing and occasionally frustrating because of the many critical components involved. A basic understanding of this topic is often not enough. Sometimes it requires ‘diving in’ a little deeper and gaining a better understanding of what it takes to maintain healthy, balanced water. The first key players in attaining … Read More