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. 17h ago

    Fred Schweer's PoolRx Sales Playbook

    Your pool route does not need more hustle, it needs a cleaner sales system. We walk through how to position PoolRx as a high-value, once-a-year upgrade that helps prevent algae, improves water clarity, and lowers chlorine demand, while also protecting your profit when chemical prices keep moving. We share a simple Good Better Best framework you can apply immediately: buy during spring promotions to save on the backend, pass the cost through as an annual fee, or charge a fair markup based on what customers see online and use that margin to offset chlorine and other consumables. To make the pitch easier and more consistent, we talk about using pre-written, customizable offer letters you can brand with your company logo and send by email, include with billing, or hand to homeowners at the stop. We also get into the most common PoolRx questions pool pros hear on route. Saltwater pool customers get specific benefits like the ability to turn down the salt chlorine generator, slow the pH rise, reduce acid demand, and potentially cut down on salt cell cleaning, which can help extend equipment life. On the troubleshooting side, we cover algae claims including stubborn black algae, why you must reduce chlorine after adding PoolRx to avoid overchlorination, and the real reason you replace the unit each season instead of trying to stretch it with boosters alone. If you want a practical, field-ready way to sell cleaner pools and fewer problems, this one is built for you. Subscribe for more pool service business and water care training, share this with a pool pro who needs a better add-on strategy, and leave a review with your favorite sales line from the episode. We break down how PoolRx can help pool service pros prevent algae, cut chlorine demand, and sell a cleaner-water upgrade without complicating the weekly route. We also share a simple pricing framework, explain why the unit is replaced each season, and clarify exactly when a booster makes sense.   • good better best ways to price PoolRx on a pool route   • buying during spring promos and protecting your margins   • passing cost through versus charging a markup   • using customizable offer letters to pitch optional or mandatory programs   • strongest talking points for saltwater generator pools   • reducing chlorine output after adding PoolRx to avoid overchlorination   • handling algae cases including green pools and black algae timelines   • why a new unit is needed each season instead of only boosters   • how to size and stack boosters for larger gallons and tougher conditions   If you're looking for more podcasts, you can find those by going to my website, swingprolearning.com. On the banner, there's a podcast icon. Click on that, and over 1900 podcasts will be available for you to listen to at your leisure. And if you're interested in the coaching program that I offer, you can learn more at PoolGuyCoaching.com. Have a great rest of your week and God bless. Send us Fan Mail Support the Pool Guy Podcast Show Sponsors! HASA https://bit.ly/HASAThe Bottom Feeder. Save $100 with Code: DVB100https://store.thebottomfeeder.com/ Try Skimmer FREE for 30 days:https://getskimmer.com/poolguy  Get UPA Liability Insurance $64 a month! https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Pool Guy Coaching: https://bit.ly/40wFE6y 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

    Fred Schweer's PoolRx Sales Playbook

  2. 1d ago

    Fred Schweer Explains PoolRx Compatibility

    Algae that keeps coming back can make even great pool techs feel like they are chasing ghosts, especially when a customer says, “But we already added the mineral unit.” I’m joined by Fred Square from PoolRx to get brutally practical about what actually changes outcomes: correct sizing by gallons, clean filtration, smart placement, and pump run time that lets minerals dissolve the right way instead of dumping into the pool all at once. If you want clearer water with lower chlorine demand, the details in your install and maintenance routine matter more than another round of shock.  We also tackle the question I hear nonstop: where do the minerals go, and do they “build up” as metal in the water? Fred explains how chelated minerals are protected through their useful life, then get used up and filtered out during normal operation and filter cleaning. From there we dig into a big misunderstanding around pool stains. PoolRx often gets blamed for stains that are really caused by existing metals like iron or copper already in the fill water, old plumbing, or a tired heater exchanger, and aggressive oxidation from shocking can make those stains appear suddenly. We lay out a clean workflow: test for metals first, remove them, retest, then install with confidence.  Finally, we cover PoolRx compatibility with common pool systems and chemicals, including borates, enzymes, phosphate removers, salt pools, UV, ozone, and AOP. We also share the simple cal hypo bucket method that helps prevent those ugly black surface spots when granular shock sits on the floor. If you’re a pool service pro looking for fewer algae callbacks and a simple chlorine enhancer story you can explain to customers, this one will help. Subscribe, share this with a pool friend, and leave a review with the question you want answered next. We talk with Fred Shweer from PoolRx about why mineral systems succeed or fail based on sizing, filtration, and install habits, and how to troubleshoot algae without guessing. We also dig into metals, staining myths, and the real-world compatibility rules that keep pool water clear and predictable.   • sizing PoolRx correctly by gallons and keeping chemistry in range   • cleaning and recharging filters properly, especially DE grids   • placing the unit in the right spot for flow and safety   • running the pump after install to prevent mineral dumping   • understanding where minerals go as they get used up and filtered out   • preventing stains by testing for iron and copper before adding minerals   • removing trace metals with a skimmer or pump basket metal trap bag   • ignoring inconsistent copper readings after installation due to chelation   • knowing when to add a booster based on chlorine demand and water clarity  • handling cal hypo safely by dissolving and diluting first   Learn more at swimming poollearning.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 https://bit.ly/HASAThe Bottom Feeder. Save $100 with Code: DVB100https://store.thebottomfeeder.com/ Try Skimmer FREE for 30 days:https://getskimmer.com/poolguy  Get UPA Liability Insurance $64 a month! https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Pool Guy Coaching: https://bit.ly/40wFE6y 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

    Fred Schweer Explains PoolRx Compatibility

  3. 4d ago

    Bob Lowry Explains the Cal Hypo Stain Mystery

    A black stain shows up on the pool floor right after you add cal-hypo and your brain jumps straight to “drain it and acid wash.” We slow that moment down and explain what’s usually happening: copper that was already there, hiding as copper sulfate, getting oxidized by chlorine into black copper oxide. Once you understand that chemistry, you stop chasing the symptom and start fixing the cause.  We also get practical about what actually works in pool stain removal and metal control. Ascorbic acid can lift a stain, but it doesn’t remove copper from the water, which is why stains can come roaring back after you chlorinate. We talk through the real role of sequestrants and chelating agents, why they break down from photodegradation and oxidizers like chlorine, non-chlorine shock, UV, ozone, and AOP, and why following the dosing label is the difference between control and repeat stains. If you want a longer-term solution, we cover metal removal options like Q-Lator setups and the blunt but effective drain-and-refill approach, plus better cal-hypo handling so it dissolves instead of sitting on the surface.  Then we shift into two “easy to ignore” problems that turn expensive fast: algae and zero chlorine. Algae multiplies by cell division, builds a protective polysaccharide layer, and punishes anyone who waits a week to respond. And when a pool has no chlorine residual, the risk isn’t just cloudy water, it’s bather-to-bather disease transmission. You’ll even hear a simple post-swim warm shower tip to reduce exposure when you’re not sure about water quality. Subscribe, share this with a pool pro or homeowner, and leave a review if it helped you prevent the next stain or outbreak. A bag of cal-hypo can “create” a black stain in seconds, but the real problem is usually hidden copper that oxidizes into black copper oxide. We break down how to remove metals for the long haul, why algae gets out of hand fast, and why a chlorine residual is the only real shield against bather-to-bather disease transmission.   • copper sulfate stains hiding in blue water, then turning black when shocked   • ascorbic acid lifting stains but leaving metals behind   • sequestrants and chelating agents binding metals, then degrading from sunlight and oxidizers   • removing metals with Q-Lator options or by draining and refilling   • preventing cal-hypo from sitting on the pool floor by pre-dissolving and dispersing   • algae multiplying fast, forming a polysaccharide shield, and why brushing matters   • why swimming with zero chlorine raises disease risk and what a warm shower can do after   Learn more at swimming poollearning.com.   If you have the coaching program that offer you can learn more at poolcoaching.com.   Send us Fan Mail Support the Pool Guy Podcast Show Sponsors! HASA https://bit.ly/HASAThe Bottom Feeder. Save $100 with Code: DVB100https://store.thebottomfeeder.com/ Try Skimmer FREE for 30 days:https://getskimmer.com/poolguy  Get UPA Liability Insurance $64 a month! https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Pool Guy Coaching: https://bit.ly/40wFE6y 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

    Bob Lowry Explains the Cal Hypo Stain Mystery

  4. 5d ago

    Bob Lowry Explains Why Borates Matter

    Borates get talked about like they’re a cure-all for pool problems, but that belief is exactly what gets pool owners and pool pros into trouble. We sit down with industry veteran Bob Lowry to separate hype from real pool water chemistry, and to explain what borates actually do when you add them to a swimming pool. If you’re chasing constant pH rise, fighting recurring algae, or trying to make a saltwater chlorine generator pool easier to manage, this conversation will give you a clearer, calmer plan. We dig into the non-negotiables first: chlorine still has to be maintained correctly, and cyanuric acid (CYA) still has to be in a sensible range so chlorine isn’t getting crushed by sunlight. Bob explains why low CYA can backfire, why minimum chlorine matters, and how testing accuracy plays into real-world decisions. From there, we tackle the pH buffering tradeoff that surprises people most: borates can slow how fast pH climbs, but once pH finally gets high, it can take significantly more acid to pull it back down, which is why balance before you add. We also get practical about products and process. Bob walks through why boric acid is the preferred borate source for most pools, how borax-based products can spike pH and total alkalinity, and how that swing can push LSI positive and cloud a pool by dropping calcium out of solution. You’ll hear realistic target ranges like 50 ppm borates, when some pros go higher in salt pools, plus what to do when borate testing options are limited and you need to rely on dosing math. If this helped, subscribe, share it with a pool pro friend, and leave us a quick review so more people can find the show. We get real about what borates can and can’t do for your pool, and why “add borates and forget it” is the fastest way to get disappointed. We also break down the chemistry details that actually make borates useful, from pH buffering tradeoffs to the right borate level for saltwater pools. • Borates as a helpful tool, not a magic bullet • Why chlorine level still needs to track CYA and stay above minimums • How borates slow pH rise but can require more acid later • Why pH and alkalinity should be in range before adding borates • Boric acid vs borax products and why borax can spike pH • How cloudy water can happen from LSI and calcium precipitation • Practical borate targets like 50 ppm and when 70 ppm can make sense • Why saltwater chlorine generator pools often do better with higher CYA • Testing options for borates and when dosing math is the workaround • Why borates usually only drop with water loss and need small recharges Learn more at SwimmingPoolLearning.com   If you’re interested in the coaching program there, can learn more at PoolGuyCoaching.com Send us Fan Mail Support the Pool Guy Podcast Show Sponsors! HASA https://bit.ly/HASAThe Bottom Feeder. Save $100 with Code: DVB100https://store.thebottomfeeder.com/ Try Skimmer FREE for 30 days:https://getskimmer.com/poolguy  Get UPA Liability Insurance $64 a month! https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Pool Guy Coaching: https://bit.ly/40wFE6y 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

    Bob Lowry Explains Why Borates Matter

  5. 6d ago

    Bob Lowry Answers the Trichlor Debate

    Chlorine tablets can feel like the simplest path to a clean pool, until the water starts fighting back. We dig into what really happens when trichlor becomes the main sanitizer: cyanuric acid (CYA) climbs, chlorine gets “slower,” and algae can show up even when your test kit says the free chlorine looks fine. We walk through the practical chemistry behind it, including why CYA is more than just “sun protection” and how a rising stabilizer level changes what a safe chlorine target should be. We also share a clear rule of thumb for pool care that helps service techs and homeowners stop guessing: aim for free chlorine at roughly 5% of your cyanuric acid level (often described as a 20:1 CYA-to-chlorine relationship). That simple ratio explains why a pool that was stable at 50 ppm CYA can suddenly struggle at 100 ppm CYA unless chlorine targets rise. Along the way, we talk about balancing side effects, like trichlor’s acidity pushing pH and alkalinity down, plus how high CYA can complicate total alkalinity readings when you’re trying to keep water steady week to week. Then we switch to the safety side of pool maintenance, because the risks are real. If you ever consider swapping trichlor tablets for cal hypo tablets, you need to hear this: mixing them, especially inside a feeder with a little water present, can trigger heat, toxic gas, and an explosion. We also cover gassing buckets, feeder blowback, and storage habits that reduce exposure to dangerous fumes. If you want fewer chemistry surprises and a more stable pool plan, listen through to the end, then subscribe, share this with a pool owner or tech, and leave a review so more people handle pool chemicals safely. We break down why trichlor tablets can quietly destabilize pool chemistry, especially as cyanuric acid rises and chlorine becomes less effective. We also get blunt about real-world safety hazards, including gassing buckets and the explosion risk when cal hypo and trichlor are mixed.   • trichlor as a workable sanitizer that becomes risky as a sole source   • cyanuric acid buildup slowing chlorine and allowing algae despite “good” readings   • using a chlorine-to-CYA target around 5% to keep water safe   • higher CYA forcing higher chlorine targets and creating a runaway cycle   • trichlor acidity driving pH and alkalinity down over time   • subtracting a portion of CYA from total alkalinity to estimate carbonate alkalinity   • cal hypo and trichlor mixing dangers including explosions and fire   • handling and storage safety for tablets, feeders, and buckets to avoid gas exposure   • why long-term success looks like stable weekly chemistry, not constant correction   Join the Fool Guy Coaching Program. Get expert advice, business tips, exclusive content, and get direct support from me. Learn more at SwimmingPoollearning.com. If you're looking for other podcasts, you go to my website, swingprolearning.com. If you're interested in the coaching program that I offer, you can learn more at programcoaching.com. Send us Fan Mail Support the Pool Guy Podcast Show Sponsors! HASA https://bit.ly/HASAThe Bottom Feeder. Save $100 with Code: DVB100https://store.thebottomfeeder.com/ Try Skimmer FREE for 30 days:https://getskimmer.com/poolguy  Get UPA Liability Insurance $64 a month! https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Pool Guy Coaching: https://bit.ly/40wFE6y 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

    Bob Lowry Answers the Trichlor Debate

  6. Jul 14

    Bob Lowry Explains Chlorine Strength

    “99% trichlor” sounds like a mic-drop statistic, but it’s also one of the most persistent sources of confusion in pool care. We sit down with Bob Lowry to untangle what that number actually means, why “purity” is not the same thing as “chlorine strength,” and how the industry’s use of available chlorine (based on a chlorine gas reference) warps the way products get talked about on the truck and at the counter. We walk through the real chemistry behind the label: what free chlorine is doing in the water, why the comparison standard matters, and how trichlor’s makeup includes cyanuric acid that builds over time. If you’ve ever heard someone say liquid chlorine is “weaker” or tablets are “the strongest,” this conversation gives you the language and logic to explain the difference clearly to clients and techs without hand-waving. Then we pivot to cal-hypo, especially the idea that it “doesn’t add much calcium.” Bob breaks it down in practical terms you can use in the field: if you add cal-hypo to raise free chlorine, you are also raising calcium hardness in a predictable way, and that matters a lot in hard-water regions. We also compare how different percentages of available chlorine change dosing, why some cal-hypo tablets can require much more product than trichlor, and how to think about true cost per usable chlorine. You’ll also hear where to find Bob’s resources (pci.org and pccti.online) and how we can help you level up your pool service business. Subscribe for more pool chemistry myth-busting, share this with a tech who still quotes the “99%” line, and leave a review with the biggest pool maintenance myth you want us to tackle next. We revisit a classic pool chemistry myth with Bob Lowry and unpack why “99% trichlor” does not mean you are getting 99% chlorine in your pool water. We also run the numbers on cal-hypo side effects so you can predict calcium hardness rise over time instead of getting surprised by scaling later.   • why “99%” on trichlor labels refers to purity, not chlorine content   • how “available chlorine” is a comparison standard tied to chlorine gas   • what actually gets added when you use trichlor, including cyanuric acid   • why cal-hypo steadily raises calcium hardness and how to estimate it with ppm math   • how different cal-hypo strengths and tablet percentages change dosing and cost   • a simple spreadsheet method to compare true cost per equivalent chlorine   • where to find Bob Lowry’s resources and tech bulletins online   Are you a pool service pro looking to take your business to the next level? Join the Pool Guy Coaching Program. Learn more at swimmingpoollearning.com. If you're looking for other podcasts, you go to my website, swingprolearning.com. And if you're interested in the coaching program that I offer can learn more at folkcoaching.com.   Send us Fan Mail Support the Pool Guy Podcast Show Sponsors! HASA https://bit.ly/HASAThe Bottom Feeder. Save $100 with Code: DVB100https://store.thebottomfeeder.com/ Try Skimmer FREE for 30 days:https://getskimmer.com/poolguy  Get UPA Liability Insurance $64 a month! https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Pool Guy Coaching: https://bit.ly/40wFE6y 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

    Bob Lowry Explains Chlorine Strength

  7. Jul 13

    Bob Lowry: Should You Ever Add Copper to a Pool?

    Copper sounds like the perfect pool hack: add a “mineral system,” fight algae, and use less chlorine. The reality is more complicated, and that gap between marketing and chemistry is where stains, green hair, and unsafe water conditions show up. We’re joined by industry legend Bob Lowry, whose voice and teaching still carry weight across the pool industry, to give a clear-eyed answer to the question pool owners ask every year: is copper safe to use in a swimming pool? We talk through how copper ionizers and mineral technology products work, what copper actually does well (algae control, some bacteria suppression), and why the “copper replaces chlorine” idea breaks down. A big theme is oxidation: copper doesn’t burn off sunscreen, sweat, and other bather waste, so the pool still needs an oxidizer, and chlorine remains the most practical tool for that job. We also dig into real-world safety, including bather-to-bather disease transmission and why copper is too slow to be your primary sanitizer, plus what the EPA requires when ionizers are used. Then we get hands-on with the problems people see most: copper staining on plaster and the green-hair myth. We explain how copper gets into the water (including trichlor tabs in skimmers attacking copper equipment), how sequestrants degrade over time, and a smarter “one-two punch” for stain treatment using ascorbic or citric acid alongside products that actually remove metals from the water. If you want fewer surprises and better pool water chemistry, subscribe, share this with a pool owner who loves shortcuts, and leave a review telling us what copper problem you’ve run into most. We sit down with industry legend Bob Lowry and get honest about copper in pool water, from mineral systems to copper algaecides, and why the chemistry can turn on you fast. We break down what copper is good at, what it cannot do, and how to fix copper staining without draining the pool.   • copper mineral systems and how they add copper to the water   • copper’s algae control benefits and why the effective level is close to the staining level   • why copper does not oxidize bather waste like sunscreen, sweat, and urine   • bather-to-bather disease transmission and why copper is not fast enough   • the EPA position on ionizers requiring chlorine alongside them   • the real cause of green hair and why chlorine is not to blame   • copper algaecides, built-in sequestrants, and how chlorine and sunlight degrade them   • a chlorine-first approach to killing algae and why it is cheaper and simpler   • stain removal without draining using ascorbic or citric acid plus metal removal bags   • tracking the metal source including tabs in skimmers, incoming water, equipment, water velocity, and new surfaces with iron   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. Learn more at swimming poollearning.com.   Send us Fan Mail Support the Pool Guy Podcast Show Sponsors! HASA https://bit.ly/HASAThe Bottom Feeder. Save $100 with Code: DVB100https://store.thebottomfeeder.com/ Try Skimmer FREE for 30 days:https://getskimmer.com/poolguy  Get UPA Liability Insurance $64 a month! https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Pool Guy Coaching: https://bit.ly/40wFE6y 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

    Bob Lowry: Should You Ever Add Copper to a Pool?

  8. Jul 10

    Pool Plaster Problems You'll Get Blamed For

    A pool finish can look “ruined” overnight, yet the real cause might be completely normal plaster behavior. I walk through the plaster problems that trigger the loudest complaints, the ones that quietly build over months, and the ones that only show up years later, right when the pool service pro is the easiest target. If you’ve ever inherited a pool with weird discoloration, streaks, or blotchy shading and felt your stomach drop, this conversation is for you. We talk about plaster modeling and why mottling is often a natural part of cement-based pool surfaces, especially with colored plaster. I share why startup water chemistry matters so much, including what I’ve seen when total alkalinity is left too low after an acid startup or hot startup, and why I prefer a traditional pool startup with heavy circulation. You’ll also hear what white spotting and spot etching can look like, plus how trowel marks, dye batch changes, crazing, and localized etching can come from application, mix, or curing conditions rather than weekly maintenance. Then we get practical: the fill-day mistakes that can permanently mark new plaster, like shutting the hose off before the pool reaches the tile line or using the autofill and leaving a runoff stain. Finally, I cover late-blooming issues like calcium nodules and why they can appear two to three years after the build, plus the pebble finish rust spots that start like algae but may actually be metal in the pebble and need a manufacturer repair. If you work in pool service or you’re a pool owner trying to make sense of surface changes, subscribe, share this with a friend who’s dealing with plaster drama, and leave a review with the plaster issue you want me to tackle next. I break down the plaster changes that make pool owners panic and why the service pro often takes the blame even when the cause traces back to startup, workmanship, or the material itself. You’ll learn how to recognize normal plaster modeling versus real defects, plus practical steps that reduce risk on new builds and protect your reputation. • why plaster discoloration often gets pinned on the service company • how modeling in plaster shows up over time, especially in colored finishes • why low alkalinity during startup can accelerate mottling • traditional startup basics, including high circulation and keeping chemicals in range • white spotting and spot etching tied to mix chemistry and microcracking • trowel marks, dye batch lines, crazing, and etching as workmanship or mix outcomes • fill-day mistakes that create permanent rings, streaks, and hose marks • curing risks like leaves, footprints, and pet paw prints becoming permanent • calcium nodules that appear years later and why they are hard to “prove” • pebble finish rust spots caused by metal in pebbles and how to get them fixed Learn more at swimmingpoollearning.com. If you're looking at my coaching program, you can learn more at poolgatecoaching.com. Send us Fan Mail Support the Pool Guy Podcast Show Sponsors! HASA https://bit.ly/HASAThe Bottom Feeder. Save $100 with Code: DVB100https://store.thebottomfeeder.com/ Try Skimmer FREE for 30 days:https://getskimmer.com/poolguy  Get UPA Liability Insurance $64 a month! https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA Pool Guy Coaching: https://bit.ly/40wFE6y 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 Plaster Problems You'll Get Blamed For
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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

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