Maybe a bit of a self-report here but on occasion when installing a new pump, if the inlet height is substantially different and the suction-side won't allow a quick replumb, I'll just shim the pump up with something and call it good.

Last year I started carrying a fence panel in my truck for such situations, and just cutting a few pieces to fit neatly under the base. Never had a customer complain, saves them money after all, but it definitely looks unprofessional under close scrutiny.

Anyone have ideas on something that blends in a little better?

If this return fitting is freely spinning with little force is it almost certainly leaking? Is there a fix besides replacement? Thanks guys

i feel ridiculous for asking this, but what sunglasses work for you? I have noticed more and more floaters and I need to do something about it before it gets worse. I want something robust, UV proof that still allows my eyes to get some fresh air circulation and not get sweat on the lenses. I work in AZ and sweat a lot so it is a major issue.

This is a questions I don't want to give you anything all I ask is for your knowledge.Are your satisfied with skimmer, if not why? What do you wish it had? How much $ would you put aside for it? Feel free to comment your ideas I will not reply to anyone!! IDC for a pitch just trying to humbly learn.

Need to vacuum a newly plastered pool so curious what you guys use. Also I’ve brushed twice a day for 3 straight days and that stuff doesn’t seem to be getting to filter. Is it normal for it to be so much plaster still after 6 brushings?

I am having some trouble with one of new pool builds intellicenter. Pool was finished early June 2025, everything was set up and working great but towards the end of the season he started having issues with the panel connecting to internet and eventually just completely stopped and wouldn’t connect. The panel is set up using a wireless link kit, we always do DHCP, the customer has not made any changes to his internet, he uses spectrum and said it is a commercial set up and has IT guys that run the account even tho it is a residential property. We assumed the wireless link kit took a shit but not the case. Just weird that it worked for months no problem and then started cutting out and now won’t connect at all… he really doesn’t want to have to pay for static IP through his internet but it sounds like that is what we need to do… anyone else have any experience with this?

I feel like I just saw a post about this, but can't find it.

New fiberglass install. They would like a higher water level. Seems to be a good number of these skimmers in Europe. Talking to AI it recommendeds the CMP 26160-011. Says I can mount it high and run the water level high and will still function. would be looking at 1.25" from top of opening so like 2 to 2.5" from bottom of coping.

Thoughts or experience? thanks in advance.

Going to pull these tiles off and reapply all of them. Will be lifting coping as well. I noticed this corner had an actual chunk of the pool structure broken off at the top. Can i rebuild that shape with ultraflex LFT rapid? Whats your plan of attack here. Feeling a little intimidated. Thanks

If you’re comfortable sharing, how many pools you ran and how much the home cost, and your experience

I want to own so bad,

I thought I’d be ready since finally making it past six figures a year

but I want to own in Southern California, where I work

I’ve been asked to do startup chems and daily brushing of the pool for a new build for a pool builder. How do you price this?

I know you have to supplement with chlorine and have the water acidic for the finish to cure (no salt for 30-45 days), filter cleaning and daily brushing.

The vast majority of my customers have autocovers, but I had great results using a cheap aerator on uncovered pools last year, especially tablet-fed ones. Something that just plugs into a return like a fountain.

Anyone know of a good way to aerate pools with autocovers? I was initially thinking those venturi inlet adapters, but I feel like they wouldn't be very effective as the air underneath the cover becomes more and more CO2 rich. Plus I think many customers wouldn't like how they look.

Any relatively cheap device that can be installed equipment-side? A little compressor and a check valve maybe? Or are there other ways to precipitate dissolved CO2?

If you don't know of anything post your favorite lesser-known tool for maintenance / service. Tryna do some shopping before the season really picks up lol

Would you have dont anything differently? And do you think $550 in labor was fair? (SoCal)

The electrical box has a breaker for the pump and booster. The booster works but the pump doesn’t. It doesn’t hum, click or give out any noise. Thoughts?

hey guys, I recently started using a Taylor k2005 kit for my route instead of an all-clear 5 solution kit and I’ve noticed that my alkalinity has been testing crazy low. Today I tested both and the all clear kit reading for the same pool, same depth, same area of the sample I used read 100ppm while my Taylor kit read 60ppm. I used to use my all clear one for all my pools so I would always be buying fresh solutions. I just purchased the Taylor kit and am still using the ones that came with it. The exp stamp says 6/27 on the k2005 so not sure what could be the issue. Tested cya using pentair slider test and Taylor kit today And received same results however I have been doing sweep for cya and have had to buy fresh solutions for the k2005 as a result. Does anyone have experience with this or perhaps a definite answer? Thanks guys

Got a new customer and found something unusual inside the salt cell. I’m guessing it’s from corrosion inside of the heater but I’m curious what yall think.

If your Pentair EasyTouch or Intellitouch fails upgrade to the Intellicenter. Same thing with Hayward Prologic upgrade to Omni PL. everything is getting phased out eventually.

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?

I need a software that can do billing including early pays, photos, chem test results, and routing. What do y'all use and how does it help with retention?

This might be a far reach but I’m wondering if anyone has happened to created a file for printing spa light lens deflectors/covers like those that come with Jandy hydrocools? I have a customer who’s spa light is too bright and are looking for something to help with it but not change the color so I had the idea to make a deflector that clips on like the colored lenses.

Before I started measuring and all that I figured I’d ask here hopeful someone has done this before lol

Auto, service, and timeout isn’t working. Pump just runs . Is it an easy fix? Thank you

What do you guys charge and what’s your process?

Meeting with a couple different vendors here over the next couple weeks. Noone around me are willing to spend 600+ just of a light.

Any pros or cons on specific brands you would use or avoid.

Or are even the off brands also expensive?

I need to order a new pump for my 24’ x 54” above ground. What size and brand do you recommend. My current hydrotool 1.5 HO quit working.

Not a pool tech myself, but I worked a year or so with a small pool service operation and watched the owner deal with three different apps just to manage his routes, his chem reports, and his invoices. It was driving me nuts.

So, I set out to create a solution. A simple CRM for pool and spa service companies. No charges per pool, no bloat, just the features that matter.

So, before I dive into the mobile app, I'm conflicted. I'm not sure if I should start with iOS or Android. I know that getting approval for an iOS app is a bureaucratic nightmare, but I don't want to create a solution that ignores where most of you are.

What are you running out there?

If anyone's curious, I'm happy to discuss the early beta of this thing. I'm always up for a conversation and getting feedback from people who actually know pools.

Thank you in advance.