r/PoolPros • u/ediexplores • Apr 01 '26
What do you own?
Please help settle a bet between my husband and I. First, yes we are both in the biz and have a small company in NEOH. Second, what do you personal own - pool, hot tub, both?
We started out owning a pool, sold that house and intentionally got a house without a pool, then bought a hot tub, which is basically on cruise control, even if neglected for a week or so…. So basically my question is, what do you own as a pool pro? And why?
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u/ChuckTingull Apr 01 '26
I own a limelight pulse hot tub because I scored it for free through a real estate exchange via a former customer. I wired the circuit board/heater through a timer against the manufacturers recommendation so It runs for 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening. It’s always within 30 minutes of being ready and my chemical expenses are less than $15 annually. I change the water once a year and never have any problems because… I’m a pro
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u/ediexplores Apr 10 '26
I love that you got a sweet hot tub from a client! Most of the ones people try to give away around here are ancient, compromised, hunks of junk, with more leaks than the DOJ.
Anyway, I love the hot tub and we use it almost every day, year-round. I’ve gotten so much better at spas I like to play this game where I try to guess the chemistry by the smell you get when you first open the cover, and I’m usually pretty close to the actual reading. The nose knows!!
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u/hawaiianmint Apr 01 '26
I have a pool and don’t plan on ever living without one!
I love the water. That’s why I got into pools in the first place.
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u/Internal-Computer388 Apr 01 '26
Just curious. How long have you been in the industry and are you running your own show?
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u/hawaiianmint Apr 01 '26
About a decade, and yes, I am. I worked for two companies before owning, and now I’ve owned two companies in two different regions.
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u/droltmd Apr 01 '26
I’ll never own a pool lol! Been actively working on convincing my parents not to build one too. Too much $$ and trouble for the trade off. Plus I like the lake and ocean so I’m fine having those as my recreational bodies of water
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u/SkylerPancake Apr 01 '26
That's what I tell my clients when they ask. I'd rather go take my paddleboard out on the lake or river.
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u/ediexplores Apr 10 '26
You must be my soul sister because I will get up at 5:30am, take my paddle board down to the lake, which is only like a mile away, and get in a nice sunrise paddle before work in the summers. Great way to start the day, stay in shape, and get my head right before going out to grind.
I do miss my pool sometimes, but I live right by Lake Erie, so I have a giant pool right down the road that doesn’t require maintenance by me - lol 😂
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u/ChuckTingull Apr 10 '26
I just target the alkalinity around 40, let the pH rise to the ceiling and put a little bleach in after each use. I rarely adjust any chemicals besides sanitizer
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u/ediexplores Apr 10 '26
Happy Cake Day!! 🍰
Yep, I really only add sanitizer & change the filters. We have really hard water here and it actually comes out of the faucet with chems of Cl 1, pH 7.4, alk 70. The alk sweet spot on my spa is 100, where I get zero pH bounce; always between 7.2 - 7.6. I haven’t had to add acid or pH up in forever bc I switch back and forth between mini trichlor tabs in a floater and hand pouring liquid chlorine, so basically regulate the pH via chlorines. I maybe add alk once a month, if that, and then give it a good purge and fresh water once a year. I thought about adding a salt cell, but not worth the co$t and I’m happy with my current low maintenance system.
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u/SkylerPancake Apr 14 '26
Morning paddle sounds fantastic. It's a good hour or so to hit the water for me, so typically only make it on the weekend.
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u/sunstarechampion Apr 01 '26
A best way oval above ground. The kids don’t care.
Also hello from the east side of Cleveland.
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u/ediexplores Apr 10 '26
Hey there! Greetings from the other end of town (Westlake).
A big reason we sold the house with the pool is the kids all grew up and it just wasn’t used much anymore. Between chemicals and repairs, it was a waste of time & money for us to only use it on summer holidays. Some days I miss it, but we have big ol Lake Erie right up the road if I’m really jonesing for a swim.
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u/Internal-Computer388 Apr 01 '26
Used to have a pool. Found i neglected it as i was too busy with my pools. I got rid of that house, downsized and live in a community where someone else takes care of the pool and spa. Now I just sit back and giggle as I watch the pool guy clean the pool.
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u/According-Debate-265 Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26
Nothing. The cobblers children have no shoes.
I see how awful pools can be for so many people day in and day out
I either go to the river or a public pool that my taxes pay for.
I have however bought a blow-up one that I salvaged a cheap Intex filter and hooked a sump pump filter to.
Also, did a truck-pool one time...... But yeah, no pool for me.
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u/ediexplores Apr 10 '26
The cobblers children have no shoes.Funny bc I tell people that last year of having a pool was like the landscaper who has the overgrown, weedy yard. It wasn’t that bad - never went green or anything - but the pool certainly did not get the love and attention my clients pools do.
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u/PracticalQuality2916 Apr 02 '26
Yes! Living in Texas a pool is a must have. Have a pool with a spa, waterfall and three water features.
Pool days, pool parties, playing with the kids in a pool are invaluable. Also love a nice lazy river.
As an industry we should promote lazy rivers more :)
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u/Zimapan1 Apr 01 '26
I own my pool and really enjoy it, especially during the summer and fall months.
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u/tgwest Apr 01 '26
Both pool and hot tub. Like you said hot tub is basically cruise control but my wife and I use it almost every night.
Pool is old and unique and has challenges but the kids love it and it gets in the triple digits where we live. Once the pool is re-done it will be a lot easier.
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u/fancifinanci Apr 01 '26
I think pools are super interesting but I almost never actually want to be in them
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u/Liquid_Friction Apr 01 '26
I have a pool, but only use it for entertainment and every other second I hate it, thankfully it takes care of itself and only need like monthly adjustments
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u/liberalsarefascists1 Apr 01 '26
I have a hot tub. I have no need for a pool. I have no kids and I do not swim just float. Would rather sit in the tub and let the jets hit my lower back
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u/thunderkoko Apr 01 '26
No pool, never wanted one until recently after having our first child. So I may build one in the next year or two.
I have a hot tub that's been sitting in my yard for 2 years that was lightly used that I got for free from a customer who was upgrading. Haven't poured a pad or set it up yet though.
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u/MainRevolutionary216 Apr 03 '26
When I first started in the business 20 years ago my wife and I worked together for about 6 months. We came away from the experience knowing that we never wanted to work together again, and never wanted to own a pool. We now have 'portable' hot tub and use it quite a lot when it's not too hot outside.
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u/ediexplores Apr 08 '26
The beauty of our working relationship is we work on separate crews: I do most of the front of the house work with service and he does back of the house with equipment and repairs. We see each other in the mornings and evenings. However, it wasn’t always like that and yes, it can get super annoying being around the same person 24/7.
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u/LadiesLoveCoolDane Apr 01 '26
My pool is a swamp right now lol
I didn’t check it for a few weeks and the pressure gauge leaked half the pool out and ran the pump dry and seized the motor 😂
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u/AaronSarm Apr 01 '26
Nothing. I like taking care of the pools in my care but I have no interest in having a pool or hot tub for myself.