If you’re like me, you never felt caught up in 2020. Every time I thought things were about to get back on track, something would happen. School was open. School was closed. The babysitter had to quarantine. There was an ice storm. And I had it easy compared to many. But when I look back…
Tracy BondOwnerGreat Valley PoolFrazer, Pennsylvania We try to hire as many people as we can get in the spring. We are always looking for unskilled helpers to assist our technicians with openings and closings. We hope they gain skills and progress into a service technician. Depending how good they are, they may be able to…
As the industry faces a chlorine shortage in 2021, pool pros are looking for ways to reduce chlorine usage in the pools they serve. Jandy’s latest development, the TruGuard Mineral Sanitizer, is one such product. Released in February, TruGuard utilizes an EPA-registered mineral solution designed to destroy bacteria and algae growth, curtailing excessive chlorine use….
If you’re trying to get by in the pool industry without making friends, well, you must be a newbie…or you don’t like earning new business. That’s right, we said it, but we’re not the only ones. Kevin Cobabe, president of Dynamic Pool & Spa Construction in Redondo Beach, California, says he realized early on that…
Poles and nets are important tools for pool professionals, but not all are created equal. Whether it is portability, maneuverability or durability, there are many factors to consider when selecting the right tools. Matt Brannon, owner of Freedom Pools in Northern Virginia, values durability when it comes to poles. “I had a yellow fiberglass pole…
I was a lifeguard in college. During one annual August shutdown, I was restringing lane ropes while contractors in a lift serviced the event lighting above the 50-meter competition pool. It was hot, they were in a rush to make up time — one technician was new and inexperienced — and they did not stop…
I was vehemently opposed to online training for pool technicians when the pandemic first hit. It didn’t make any sense to me. Over the years, I’d molded the classes I taught in person into something that was my own. Some enjoy that whole “death by PowerPoint” lecture environment, but it’s not my thing — and…
Web maintenance is a necessary, time-consuming task for pool professionals. When balancing other business priorities, website issues can go undetected for weeks. That’s where learning the basics of Google Search Console can help. The Biggest Benefits of Google Search Console Google Search Console provides tools and reports to measure a site’s search traffic and performance….
Working around beautiful pools all day sounds nice in theory, but when a repair or touch-up needs to happen in a customer pool, service pros must plan and prepare. No, we’re not talking about tools and materials here — we’re talking about the logistics of looking and staying professional when you may need to get…
Due to unprecedented pool use, supply-chain issues and a major chlorine manufacturer’s fire, chlorine tablet availability remains limited this year. Stephen Boswell, marketing communication supervisor at CMP in Newnan, Georgia, says that from distributors, pool pros and in online forums, he is seeing increased interest in alternatives to traditional chlorine methods. Some are looking to…
Chris CavanaughOwner Cavanaugh PoolOwensboro and Madisonville, Kentucky The 2021 trichlor shortage is on every retailer’s mind. [In 2020] between both of my retail stores, we sold roughly 25,000 pounds of 3-inch tablets. My manufacturer is promising 100% of what I purchased in 2020 to be available to me for 2021. I typically buy 75% of…
For many, we’ve never looked forward to a new year as much as 2021. The problems of 2020 did not magically go away upon the Times Square ball drop, but a new year represents a clean slate. Even if it’s just symbolic, I’ll take it. That being said, I think most anticipate 2021 looking quite…