The Pool Guy Podcast Show

David Van Brunt
  • 4.7 (133)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Daily

In this podcast I cover everything swimming pool care-related from chemistry to automatic cleaners and equipment. I focus on the pool service side of things and also offer tips to homeowners. There are also some great interviews with guests from inside the industry. 

  1. 6h ago

    Avoid Liability on Your Pool Start-Ups

    Brand new plaster looks perfect for about five minutes, then reality hits: dust, rising pH, builder timelines, and a homeowner who expects the finish to stay flawless forever. We walk through how we approach a new plaster pool startup using a traditional startup method that is easier to execute, easier to explain, and far easier to defend if anyone tries to pin plaster defects on the startup tech later. We point you to practical resources from the National Plasterers Council, including the NPC startup card and the option to take a startup technician certification course. Then we get into the day-one mindset that keeps you out of trouble: show up as close to fill day as possible, never let the water stop mid-fill, and document everything before you touch the pool. We talk about what “normal” plaster variation can look like, why lighting changes your inspection, and how photos plus written notes protect you when discoloration or mottling becomes a warranty argument. From there we dig into the core water chemistry fundamentals for new plaster pools: tracking pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, metals, and keeping an eye on LSI during the first 28 days. We cover why fresh plaster creates heavy acid demand, how to think about alkalinity targets, and how brushing twice daily with a nylon brush helps manage plaster dust. We also flag common early mistakes like wheeled vacuums, stainless steel brushing, auto cleaners, and adding salt too soon. If you want more startup wins with fewer headaches, subscribe, share this with a pool pro who does startups, and leave a review with your best day-one documentation tip. We break down how to do a new plaster pool startup with fewer surprises and less liability by sticking to a traditional, step-by-step method. We also explain why documentation, photos, and consistent chemistry logs are the difference between getting blamed and being protected when plaster issues show up later. • why many pool pros avoid startups and where the risk really comes from • using National Plasterers Council resources, the NPC startup card, and certification training • traditional startup vs acid or hot startup and why traditional is easier to defend • documenting plaster appearance, lighting effects, and pre-existing conditions • logging pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, metals, and every chemical addition • keeping alkalinity in a safe range and managing pH rise from fresh plaster • dealing with plaster dust and when additives or sequestrants can help • fill day rules like never stopping the water mid-fill • brushing twice daily and avoiding wheeled vacuums, stainless brushes, auto cleaners, and salt early • how disputes usually play out and why records matter even years later Join the pool guy coaching program. Learn more at swimmingpoollearning.com. If you want this, I can send this to you. Just email me at David at Swimmingpoollearning.com. Send us Fan Mail Support the Pool Guy Podcast Show Sponsors!  HASA  REWARDS App https://hasa.com/hasa-app The Bottom Feeder. Save $100 with Code: DVB100 https://store.thebottomfeeder.com/ Try Skimmer FREE for 30 days: https://getskimmer.com/poolguy  Get UPA Liability Insurance $64 a month! https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Support the show Thanks for listening, and I hope you find the Podcast helpful! For other free resources to further help you: Visit my Website: https://www.swimmingpoollearning.com Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SPL Podcast Site: https://the-pool-guy-podcast-show.onpodium.com/ UPA General Liability Insurance Application: https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Pool Guy Coaching Group Join an exclusive network of Pool Service Technicians to access the industry’s leading commercial general liability insurance program. Protect your business. Premium is $64 per month per member (additional $40 for employees and ICs) $59 per month for Pool Guy coaching Members - join here! https://www.patreon.com/poolguycoaching Limits are $1,000,000 in occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate - Per member limits      [ $1,000,000 per occurrence and $4,000,000 aggregate available for $75 per month ] $50,000 in HazMat Coverage - clean up on-site or over-the-road Acid Wash Coverage - Full Limits

    Avoid Liability on Your Pool Start-Ups

  2. 1d ago

    FieldPay: Get Paid Before You Pack the Truck!

    The fastest way to create friction in a pool service business is to make good people wait for money they already earned. I sit down with Flavia de la Fuente, creator of Field Pay, and pool pro Brett Murdoch to talk about the messy reality most of us live with: checks piling up in a glovebox, subcontractors billing months late, and “quick” payments through Zelle or Venmo that turn into a recordkeeping nightmare. Try it for FREE at the Growth and Pro with Promo Code: BRETT We break down what Field Pay is built to do: help pool companies pay technicians and 1099 subcontractors quickly after work is completed, with clean logs that make accounting and profitability tracking easier. Flavia explains how the platform supports the ways field teams actually get paid, from per-job and per-stop payouts to performance-based incentives, and how integrations with systems like Skimmer and Housecall Pro can reduce steps even further. Brett shares what changes once approvals become a one-tap habit and payouts are predictable instead of sporadic. We also get specific about W-2 teams versus 1099 vendors. Payroll still handles taxes and remains your source of truth, but Field Pay can accelerate spiffs and bonuses tied to behaviors you want more of, like five-star reviews, lead spotting, route coverage, and holiday calls. We cover safeguards like roster-based access to reduce fraud and mistakes, plus practical touches like reimbursements and a Spanish-language app experience. If you want a tighter back office, better technician retention, and fewer payment surprises, press play. Subscribe, share this with a pool pro who’s tired of chasing invoices, and leave a review so more service companies can find it. We dig into why paying technicians and subcontractors is one of the biggest hidden choke points in a pool service business, and how speed and clarity can change everything from retention to profitability. Flavia de la Fuente and Brett Murdoch break down how Field Pay streamlines approvals, records, and payouts so we can stop chasing invoices and start running cleaner systems. • Brett’s origin story in the pool industry and why process matters for scaling • why cash, checks, and late subcontractor invoices create avoidable risk and wasted time • how instant payouts after job completion change technician behavior and job coverage • handling real-world pay types like per stop, per job, route pay, commission-style earnings • using fast “spiffs” for reviews, leads, referrals, and weekend or holiday coverage • where Field Pay fits with W-2 payroll and why payroll stays the tax source of truth • integrations with tools like Skimmer and Housecall Pro to pull completed-work data • cleaner records for profitability tracking, reconciliations, and year-end reporting • roster-based controls to prevent misdirected payments and reduce fraud • pricing tiers and quick setup at Myfieldpay.com Learn more at swimmingpoollearning.com. Myfieldpay.com. you can learn more at PoolGuyCoaching.com. Send us Fan Mail Support the Pool Guy Podcast Show Sponsors!  HASA  REWARDS App https://hasa.com/hasa-app The Bottom Feeder. Save $100 with Code: DVB100 https://store.thebottomfeeder.com/ Try Skimmer FREE for 30 days: https://getskimmer.com/poolguy  Get UPA Liability Insurance $64 a month! https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Support the show Thanks for listening, and I hope you find the Podcast helpful! For other free resources to further help you: Visit my Website: https://www.swimmingpoollearning.com Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SPL Podcast Site: https://the-pool-guy-podcast-show.onpodium.com/ UPA General Liability Insurance Application: https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Pool Guy Coaching Group Join an exclusive network of Pool Service Technicians to access the industry’s leading commercial general liability insurance program. Protect your business. Premium is $64 per month per member (additional $40 for employees and ICs) $59 per month for Pool Guy coaching Members - join here! https://www.patreon.com/poolguycoaching Limits are $1,000,000 in occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate - Per member limits      [ $1,000,000 per occurrence and $4,000,000 aggregate available for $75 per month ] $50,000 in HazMat Coverage - clean up on-site or over-the-road Acid Wash Coverage - Full Limits

    FieldPay: Get Paid Before You Pack the Truck!

  3. 2d ago

    Successful Bidding: Bid Smarter, Not Cheaper

    Most pool service bids aren’t lost because you’re bad at cleaning pools, they’re lost because you were slower, less clear, or less confident than the next company. We walk through a practical, field-tested approach to bidding that helps you win the right accounts without blowing up your schedule or training customers to expect bargain pricing.  We talk about when a photo is enough and when you need boots on the ground, why “first contact” matters so much on platforms like Thumbtack, and how to set up your day so you can actually fit estimates into a working pool route. From there we get real about territory strategy: keeping your service area tight, quickly checking addresses, and knowing when a lead is a bad fit even if you want the work.  Pricing is the next make-or-break skill. We share how to find your local market range, why lowball bids leave money on the table, and how to position your pool maintenance business around reliability, proactive equipment checks, and clear communication. We also cover the softer skills that close deals: showing up looking professional, having a vehicle that inspires confidence, answering customer interview questions, and avoiding overpromising on stains or special requests. To wrap it up, we explain why walking back a quote or underbidding a green pool cleanup can cost you far more than the job itself through lost trust and lost referrals.  If you got value from this, subscribe, share it with a pool pro who’s quoting jobs this week, and leave a quick review with the one bidding mistake you never want to repeat. We break down what actually makes a pool service bid land, from showing up fast to pricing in a way that protects long-term profit. We also share how to handle customer “interview” questions, avoid overpromising, and keep your route tight so new accounts fit your schedule. • choosing boots on the ground over photo-only bids when it matters • responding first and booking fast to beat slower competitors • tightening your territory to protect drive time and route density • checking the address immediately and fitting bids into service days • learning local market rates and staying within a fair range • selling reliability and communication instead of cheap pricing • dressing clean and keeping a professional-looking vehicle and signage • preparing for customer questions about weather, algae, and policies • avoiding overpromising on stains and schedule commitments • never backtracking on a quote and learning from underbidding mistakes • thinking beyond one job to referrals and repeat business Join the pool guy coaching program. Learn more at swimmingpoollearning.com. And if you're interested in the coaching program that I offer, you can learn more at pullgreycoaching.com. And if you're looking for other podcasts, you can find those by going to my website, smoking for learning.com on the banner. Click on the podcast icon. Send us Fan Mail Support the Pool Guy Podcast Show Sponsors!  HASA  REWARDS App https://hasa.com/hasa-app The Bottom Feeder. Save $100 with Code: DVB100 https://store.thebottomfeeder.com/ Try Skimmer FREE for 30 days: https://getskimmer.com/poolguy  Get UPA Liability Insurance $64 a month! https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Support the show Thanks for listening, and I hope you find the Podcast helpful! For other free resources to further help you: Visit my Website: https://www.swimmingpoollearning.com Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SPL Podcast Site: https://the-pool-guy-podcast-show.onpodium.com/ UPA General Liability Insurance Application: https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Pool Guy Coaching Group Join an exclusive network of Pool Service Technicians to access the industry’s leading commercial general liability insurance program. Protect your business. Premium is $64 per month per member (additional $40 for employees and ICs) $59 per month for Pool Guy coaching Members - join here! https://www.patreon.com/poolguycoaching Limits are $1,000,000 in occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate - Per member limits      [ $1,000,000 per occurrence and $4,000,000 aggregate available for $75 per month ] $50,000 in HazMat Coverage - clean up on-site or over-the-road Acid Wash Coverage - Full Limits

    Successful Bidding: Bid Smarter, Not Cheaper

  4. 3d ago

    Pool Guy Tips: Knowing When to Stop Trying

    A single pool can hijack your entire day if you don’t have a line you won’t cross. We’re sharing the kind of “only learned in the field” pool service knowledge that saves hours on a route and keeps you from chasing problems that refuse to cooperate. First, we get practical about one of the most common time traps: a pump that won’t prime after running dry. We talk through quick checks that actually matter, like lubing or replacing the pump lid o-ring, using an attached spa to help establish suction, and knowing when to stop repeating the same steps. The big takeaway is a hard boundary: if it won’t prime fast, shut it down, clean what you can, and come back with time or hand it to a repair tech who can go deeper. Then we shift from equipment to business survival with a clear approach to late payments. We lay out a simple billing rhythm, when to remind, and when it’s fair to pause service so you don’t end up funding someone else’s pool with your own chemicals and payroll. We also cover “mystery algae” that isn’t really a chemistry problem at all. Sometimes the homeowner is turning the system off for noise, cutting variable speed pump runtime to save money, or stopping a standalone VS pump during a party and forgetting to restart it. We finish with a few honest strategies for handling chatty customers so you can stay focused and keep your route on track. Subscribe for more real-world pool pro guidance, share this with a tech who needs boundaries, and leave a review with the biggest time sink you’ve had on a stop. We share field-tested pool service boundaries that save your route when problems, payments, or people start eating your day. We walk through priming failures, late-paying customers, mystery algae tied to pump runtime, and simple ways to keep moving without being rude. • setting a 10-minute limit when a pool pump will not prime • fast priming fixes using spa suction, o-ring lube, and basic tightening checks • recognizing hidden blockages like debris in the suction line • leaving the system off and scheduling a return or referring repairs out • creating a firm billing timeline and stopping service for non-payment • understanding why overdue balances snowball and rarely get “caught up” • diagnosing sudden algae by checking timers, schedules, and customer changes • educating homeowners on variable speed pump electricity use and runtime • preventing shutdowns on standalone VS pumps after parties • using honest exit strategies with chatty customers to protect focus and speed Learn more at Swimmipoollearning.com. If you're interested in the coaching program, you can learn more at PoolGuyCoaching.com. If you're looking for other podcasts, you can find those by going to my website, somethingpoollearning.com. Send us Fan Mail Support the Pool Guy Podcast Show Sponsors!  HASA  REWARDS App https://hasa.com/hasa-app The Bottom Feeder. Save $100 with Code: DVB100 https://store.thebottomfeeder.com/ Try Skimmer FREE for 30 days: https://getskimmer.com/poolguy  Get UPA Liability Insurance $64 a month! https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Support the show Thanks for listening, and I hope you find the Podcast helpful! For other free resources to further help you: Visit my Website: https://www.swimmingpoollearning.com Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SPL Podcast Site: https://the-pool-guy-podcast-show.onpodium.com/ UPA General Liability Insurance Application: https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Pool Guy Coaching Group Join an exclusive network of Pool Service Technicians to access the industry’s leading commercial general liability insurance program. Protect your business. Premium is $64 per month per member (additional $40 for employees and ICs) $59 per month for Pool Guy coaching Members - join here! https://www.patreon.com/poolguycoaching Limits are $1,000,000 in occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate - Per member limits      [ $1,000,000 per occurrence and $4,000,000 aggregate available for $75 per month ] $50,000 in HazMat Coverage - clean up on-site or over-the-road Acid Wash Coverage - Full Limits

    Pool Guy Tips: Knowing When to Stop Trying

  5. 4d ago

    Is AI Better Than Me? & Other YT Questions Answered

    A pool cleaner that devours acorns can get stopped by something the size of a couple grains of rice, and once you know why, you start diagnosing faster and wasting less time on the deck. I’m digging into the most common YouTube questions I get from pool owners and pool service pros and expanding them into practical, real-world troubleshooting you can use on your next stop. We start with the Polaris Max and Polaris Atlas suction pool cleaners and the big design tradeoff behind the newer Halo engine. It’s far better with long string-like debris than older designs, but small pebbles can jam the mechanism and make the cleaner look “dead” even when suction is fine. I explain what’s happening, where it shows up most often (hello, pebble tech pools), and the simple way to clear it and get moving again. Then we shift to a problem that costs people equipment: trying to drain a pool by backwashing. I break down when backwash is safe, why push-pull piston valves and DE grids can get damaged if you run backwash too long, and why a multiport valve with waste mode is the right approach. From there, I walk through pump priming failures, how to check for impeller clogs, why the lid O-ring is not always the culprit, and what lubricant actually belongs on pool O-rings. We wrap with saltwater chlorine generator troubleshooting using the Jandy TrueClear check cell and the fast “bubble test,” plus a clear explanation of borates at 50 ppm for algae control and pH stability. If you got value from these pool maintenance tips, subscribe, share the show with a pool friend, and leave a quick review so more people can find it. I answer a stack of real YouTube questions with field-tested fixes for cleaners, pumps, salt cells, and water balance. We talk tradeoffs, quick diagnostics, and the little mistakes that quietly damage equipment over time. • Why Polaris Max and Atlas can stop with strong suction • How the Halo engine handles string debris yet jams on tiny pebbles • Why draining by backwashing can damage DE grids with push-pull valves • What to check when a pump loses prime including impeller debris • How to lube a pump lid O-ring correctly with Magic Lube • A simple spa mode test to isolate priming problems • How to confirm Jandy TrueClear chlorine production by looking for bubbles • Why output percentage and pump RPM matter for salt cell activation • Where AI comparisons help and where real-world experience still matters • How borates at 50 ppm help as an algostat and pH buffer • Alkalinity targets and using muriatic acid to keep pH in range Are you a pool service pro looking to take your business to the next level? Join the Pool Guy Coaching Program. Get expert advice, business tips, exclusive content, and get direct support from me. I'm a 35-year veteran in the industry. Whether you're starting out or scaling up, I've got the tools to help you succeed. Learn more at Swimmipoollearning.com. If you don't want to rely on AI specifically and are looking for other podcasts, you can find those by going to my website, swimmingpolearning.com. If you're interested in the coaching program that I offer, you can learn more at poolguycoaching.com. Send us Fan Mail Support the Pool Guy Podcast Show Sponsors!  HASA  REWARDS App https://hasa.com/hasa-app The Bottom Feeder. Save $100 with Code: DVB100 https://store.thebottomfeeder.com/ Try Skimmer FREE for 30 days: https://getskimmer.com/poolguy  Get UPA Liability Insurance $64 a month! https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Support the show Thanks for listening, and I hope you find the Podcast helpful! For other free resources to further help you: Visit my Website: https://www.swimmingpoollearning.com Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SPL Podcast Site: https://the-pool-guy-podcast-show.onpodium.com/ UPA General Liability Insurance Application: https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Pool Guy Coaching Group Join an exclusive network of Pool Service Technicians to access the industry’s leading commercial general liability insurance program. Protect your business. Premium is $64 per month per member (additional $40 for employees and ICs) $59 per month for Pool Guy coaching Members - join here! https://www.patreon.com/poolguycoaching Limits are $1,000,000 in occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate - Per member limits      [ $1,000,000 per occurrence and $4,000,000 aggregate available for $75 per month ] $50,000 in HazMat Coverage - clean up on-site or over-the-road Acid Wash Coverage - Full Limits

    Is AI Better Than Me? & Other YT Questions Answered

  6. Sep 11

    How Many Pools Can One Pool Guy Do in a Day?

    The fastest way to burn out in pool service is chasing a number that doesn’t fit your reality. We get a constant question from pool pros and new pool technicians alike: how many pools can one person clean in a day, and what’s a “good” pool route size if you want steady income without living in panic mode? I break down the variables that actually control your capacity, starting with the one most people ignore: temperament. Some techs move fast and stay in motion, others work methodically and take longer on each stop, and your business plan has to match that. From there, we zoom out to the constraints of your service area. Traffic, parking, and drive time can quietly destroy your schedule, while a tight route with clustered stops can make two to three pools per hour realistic. We also talk pool size, why automatic pool cleaners can dramatically shorten visits, and the customer “optics” problem when you finish too quickly and cameras are watching. Then we get practical with the math: a rule of thumb of roughly 14 to 16 full-service pools per day, plus a solo weekly route sweet spot of about 70 to 80 pools so you still have buffer for flat tires, detours, and the surprises that hit every route. Finally, we tackle hiring, including how to structure employee workloads so one sick day doesn’t turn into a route disaster. If this helps, subscribe, share it with a pool pro friend, and leave a quick review so more service techs can find it. We answer the pool-pro question that never goes away: how many pools a single technician can service in one day without cutting corners or burning out. We lay out the real-world variables behind the numbers and share a practical rule of thumb for daily stops and total route size. • temperament and work pace as a core limiter on daily capacity • how traffic, parking, and drive time set the ceiling on pools per hour • why route density matters and how tightening a service area speeds up days • the impact of pool size and automatic pool cleaners on visit length • customer perception when a stop is “too fast” and how to manage optics • a practical daily target of about 14 to 16 full-service pools • a sustainable solo route size around 70 to 80 pools per week • when adding an employee helps and how to avoid getting overloaded Learn more at swimmingpoollearning.com. If you're interested in the coaching program, you can learn more at poolguycoaching.com. Send us Fan Mail Support the Pool Guy Podcast Show Sponsors!  HASA  REWARDS App https://hasa.com/hasa-app The Bottom Feeder. Save $100 with Code: DVB100 https://store.thebottomfeeder.com/ Try Skimmer FREE for 30 days: https://getskimmer.com/poolguy  Get UPA Liability Insurance $64 a month! https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Support the show Thanks for listening, and I hope you find the Podcast helpful! For other free resources to further help you: Visit my Website: https://www.swimmingpoollearning.com Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SPL Podcast Site: https://the-pool-guy-podcast-show.onpodium.com/ UPA General Liability Insurance Application: https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Pool Guy Coaching Group Join an exclusive network of Pool Service Technicians to access the industry’s leading commercial general liability insurance program. Protect your business. Premium is $64 per month per member (additional $40 for employees and ICs) $59 per month for Pool Guy coaching Members - join here! https://www.patreon.com/poolguycoaching Limits are $1,000,000 in occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate - Per member limits      [ $1,000,000 per occurrence and $4,000,000 aggregate available for $75 per month ] $50,000 in HazMat Coverage - clean up on-site or over-the-road Acid Wash Coverage - Full Limits

    How Many Pools Can One Pool Guy Do in a Day?

  7. Sep 10

    The Truth About Trichlor Tablets

    Trichlor tablets keep pools clear with slow, steady chlorination, so why do they get blamed for “ruining” pool water? We dig into the real chemistry behind the complaints and separate hard facts from pool-store folklore. If you’ve ever heard that cyanuric acid somehow sticks around after a full drain, or that topping off after evaporation fixes high stabilizer, we walk through why those ideas don’t hold up and where the confusing test results actually come from. We also get blunt about what many people are never told at the point of sale: trichlor tablets are trichloroisocyanuric acid, and they add a lot of cyanuric acid (CYA) as they chlorinate. Since CYA doesn’t evaporate, it can climb all season, making free chlorine less active at the same reading. We talk through a practical target approach using the common “free chlorine should be about 7.5% of CYA” guideline, and why that can create real headaches for commercial pool operators who must stay under health department chlorine limits. Then we shift into solutions that let you keep the convenience of tablets without letting stabilizer creep take over: small, scheduled partial drains, using less trichlor by supporting with liquid chlorine or cal-hypo, and water “enhancers” like 50 ppm borates, mineral systems, and phosphate remover plus enzymes to help chlorine last longer. We also cover how heavy rain in some regions can provide meaningful dilution that changes your game plan. Subscribe for more straight talk pool chemistry, share this with a pool owner who’s battling mystery chlorine loss, and leave a review with your biggest trichlor or CYA question. We clear up the biggest trichlor tablet misconceptions and explain why cyanuric acid readings can confuse even experienced pool owners. We also lay out practical ways to keep CYA and free chlorine in a safe, effective range without giving up tablets. • urban legend behind high CYA after a drain and refill • why cyanuric acid testing gets unreliable at high levels • evaporation removing water but not stabilizer • trichlor tablets containing about 50% cyanuric acid • how rising CYA makes free chlorine work slower • the 7.5% free chlorine to CYA rule and why it matters • how a season of tablets can drive CYA to 200+ ppm • partial drains as the simplest stabilizer control • using liquid chlorine or cal-hypo to reduce tablet use • borates minerals enzymes and phosphate control to extend chlorine Join the Pool Guy Coaching Program. Learn more at swimmingpoollearning.com. If you're interested in the coaching program that I offer, you can learn more at poolguidecoaching.com. Send us Fan Mail Support the Pool Guy Podcast Show Sponsors!  HASA  REWARDS App https://hasa.com/hasa-app The Bottom Feeder. Save $100 with Code: DVB100 https://store.thebottomfeeder.com/ Try Skimmer FREE for 30 days: https://getskimmer.com/poolguy  Get UPA Liability Insurance $64 a month! https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Support the show Thanks for listening, and I hope you find the Podcast helpful! For other free resources to further help you: Visit my Website: https://www.swimmingpoollearning.com Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SPL Podcast Site: https://the-pool-guy-podcast-show.onpodium.com/ UPA General Liability Insurance Application: https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Pool Guy Coaching Group Join an exclusive network of Pool Service Technicians to access the industry’s leading commercial general liability insurance program. Protect your business. Premium is $64 per month per member (additional $40 for employees and ICs) $59 per month for Pool Guy coaching Members - join here! https://www.patreon.com/poolguycoaching Limits are $1,000,000 in occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate - Per member limits      [ $1,000,000 per occurrence and $4,000,000 aggregate available for $75 per month ] $50,000 in HazMat Coverage - clean up on-site or over-the-road Acid Wash Coverage - Full Limits

    The Truth About Trichlor Tablets

  8. Sep 9

    Dichlor: The Good, the Bad & the CYA

    Dichlor has a reputation problem, and it is mostly because people expect it to behave like trichlor tablets or like a routine weekly sanitizer. We walk through what dichlor pool chlorine actually is, why it dissolves fast, and why its biggest “hidden feature” is cyanuric acid built into every dose. If you have ever fought rising CYA, stubborn algae, or confusing chlorine readings, this conversation gives you a clean mental model: every chlorine type leaves a byproduct, and dichlor’s byproduct is stabilizer. We get specific about when sodium dichlor makes sense for real-world pool maintenance. We talk pricing and why many pool service pros stopped using it, then shift into the practical advantages that still make it valuable: long shelf life for an emergency supply on your truck, near pH neutral behavior compared to acidic trichlor, and the ability to raise free chlorine while also adding CYA in saltwater pools or fresh fills that start with zero stabilizer. We also compare dosing strength against liquid chlorine and cal hypo, plus a real usability perk: granular dichlor can shock without the same cloudy water effect many people see with cal hypo. We also draw a hard line between granular dichlor and the powdered “dichlor shock” products that tend to cloud water and feel weaker, and we explain why dichlor is not a replacement for trichlor tablets. The combination approach matters here: trichlor plus liquid chlorine or cal hypo can be a balanced way to manage byproducts, while trichlor plus dichlor can stack cyanuric acid too quickly. If this helped you rethink your chlorine plan, subscribe, share the episode with a pool owner or tech, and leave a quick review so more people can find it. We break down what dichlor pool shock really is, why it quietly adds a lot of cyanuric acid, and how that changes your chlorine strategy. We also share when dichlor is a smart emergency tool, when it keeps water clearer than cal hypo, and why it does not replace trichlor tablets for weekly residual. • what dichlor is and why it includes cyanuric acid • rough CYA impact from dosing and why it matters • price and why many pros stopped using it • long shelf life value as backup chlorine • best-fit use cases like saltwater pools or startups needing CYA • pH neutrality compared with trichlor and surface-friendly handling • broadcast dosing guidance and vinyl pool cautions • spot algae treatments on steps and problem areas • strength comparison vs liquid chlorine and cal hypo • why powdered “dichlor shock” is inferior to granular dichlor • why dichlor is not a trichlor tablet replacement • combination approach and avoiding trichlor plus dichlor CYA stacking Learn more at swimmingpoollearning.com. If you're interested in the coaching program that I offer, you can learn more at PoolGuyCoaching.com. Send us Fan Mail Support the Pool Guy Podcast Show Sponsors!  HASA  REWARDS App https://hasa.com/hasa-app The Bottom Feeder. Save $100 with Code: DVB100 https://store.thebottomfeeder.com/ Try Skimmer FREE for 30 days: https://getskimmer.com/poolguy  Get UPA Liability Insurance $64 a month! https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Support the show Thanks for listening, and I hope you find the Podcast helpful! For other free resources to further help you: Visit my Website: https://www.swimmingpoollearning.com Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SPL Podcast Site: https://the-pool-guy-podcast-show.onpodium.com/ UPA General Liability Insurance Application: https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Pool Guy Coaching Group Join an exclusive network of Pool Service Technicians to access the industry’s leading commercial general liability insurance program. Protect your business. Premium is $64 per month per member (additional $40 for employees and ICs) $59 per month for Pool Guy coaching Members - join here! https://www.patreon.com/poolguycoaching Limits are $1,000,000 in occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate - Per member limits      [ $1,000,000 per occurrence and $4,000,000 aggregate available for $75 per month ] $50,000 in HazMat Coverage - clean up on-site or over-the-road Acid Wash Coverage - Full Limits

    Dichlor: The Good, the Bad & the CYA
See All (2K)

Trailer

4.7
out of 5
133 Ratings

About

In this podcast I cover everything swimming pool care-related from chemistry to automatic cleaners and equipment. I focus on the pool service side of things and also offer tips to homeowners. There are also some great interviews with guests from inside the industry. 

Information

  • Creator
    David Van Brunt
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    2K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Pool Guy Podcast Show
  • Show Website
    The Pool Guy Podcast Show

You Might Also Like