The Intricacies of Automated Chemical Controllers

Advances in chemical automation, disinfection methods, and better education have made the aquatic facility operator’s job easier when ensuring pool water is safe for bathers.

Proper water balance in commercial pools and spas can be the difference between a safe, attractive facility and a disastrous one. Advances in chemical automation, disinfection methods, and better education on the problems associated with water chemistry have made the aquatic facility operator’s job easier when ensuring pool and spa water is safe for bathers. Oxidation reduction potential (ORP)/pH controllers … Read More

Tips on How to Find the Right Workers and Keep Them on Staff

Employee retention is all the buzz these days in the pool and hot tub industry—and rightfully so.

Some professionals looking for employment in the pool and hot tub industry often contemplate taking training programs, but do not simply because he/she does not have the time. At the same rate, many employers in the industry find they are hiring for the same positions year after year, season after season. That said, there is a way to put an … Read More

Today’s Pool Heaters Reduce Costs Using ‘Green’ Technology

Replacing pool heaters is the perfect place to start in the effort to lower facility operating costs.

The buzz words today are all about saving costs and being ‘green’ or energy-efficient. With pool heaters, it is easy to go green. Older heaters, between seven and 10 years old, may have initially been approximately 78 percent efficient, but over time, they are now probably only 60 percent. This degradation typically occurs as heat exchanger tubes become clogged with … Read More

Tips and Tricks for Identifying and Treating Tough Algae

Some pool algae are easy to treat and remove; however, other types can be quite challenging to deal with.

Some algae are easy to treat and remove; however, other types can be quite challenging to deal with. The three main types are green, black, and yellow/mustard algae. Green algae is relatively easy to eradicate, but yellow/mustard and black algae are difficult to kill and, as a result, can make the job of a pool service professional difficult. Green algae … Read More

How Service Techs Can Use Automatic Cleaners to Their Advantage

Service technicians who incorporate robotic and battery-powered pool cleaners into their daily maintenance routines can gain an additional five to 10 minutes in a client’s backyard.

Savvy pool maintenance companies can increase their revenue streams by having their technicians take some time to look around the client’s backyard for additional sales opportunities. Rather than waiting for something to break, maintenance professionals should look for ways to enhance their client’s pool experience and, as a result, earn more income by selling them products such as pool cleaning … Read More

Why Smart People Can Make Bad Business Decisions

Every organization consists not only of individuals, but a hierarchy of power among those individuals. No matter how noble the group’s goal, there is often a struggle for power beneath the surface.

Companies in the pool and spa industry are facing an ironic problem. Success depends on the quality of everyday decisions made by people in the company. However, people have hardwired flaws in their thinking that are reinforced by a multi-tasking, time-constrained environment. In fact, many companies are doing little to help improve their employees’ quality of thinking and instead, in … Read More

Best Practices for Using Robotic Pool Cleaners in Commercial Pools

Robotic pool cleaners can be easily incorporated into the maintenance protocol of any medium-to-large aquatic facility.

Pool cleaning, namely brushing and vacuuming, is a science not an art. A pool (i.e. the water) is a living thing as it constantly changes. Beyond the water and the supporting structure, every pool is composed of millions of living and non-living organisms. Some are innocuous, while others are deadly. Pool water is exposed to every change in the surrounding environment—from … Read More

Advice on How to Handle Off-Season Water Quality Issues

When opening a pool, there are a few universal steps that should always be taken; however, before worrying about the water, it is important to make sure the equipment is working properly first.

Editor’s note: Due to the seasonality of the pool and spa industry and the transient nature of the business, the water treatment information provided in this article can be shared with service technicians who are new to the job. Spring can be an exciting time for pool owners. Everyone looks forward to opening the pool and another season of making many family … Read More

It’s All About the Customer

Lifeguards need certifications that span across first aid, lifeguarding, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

For those in the pool, spa and aquatic facilities industries, predicting and understanding future trends is the easy part—the tough part is applying and adapting behaviors to capitalize on those trends. As pool and spa professionals look to the future, one thing is clear: pleasing the customer, and meeting their needs, is of the utmost importance. What the customer wants … Read More

Making Pool Water Maintenance Easier for Service Professionals

By adding enzymes into the pool on every service visit it helps to break down non-living organics in the water so the filter does not need to work as hard.

Enzymes have evolved over the years to a point where there are now specific products based on the needs of each and every body of water. Today, there are two different types of enzyme products available for use in the pool and spa/hot tub industry—broad spectrum produced through a fermentation process is one, while limited capacity commercially manufactured then blended … Read More