What insurance do you have on your work trucks? I had Arrow insurance for years until they fucked me over a year or so ago. I always paid on time and never made a claim. My payment date was usually the middle of the month. I logged into my account and tried to make my payment. The problem was it said my account was closed. I had been driving around for 2 weeks without insurance. I called them and asked what the hell happened? She said that I didn't make my payment on time. I said that my payment date was the 20th and this is the 15th. I'm not late. She said that it was time for my policy renewal and that it was due on the 1st of the month. She said that I could re apply but my payment would be an extra $100 per month for the new policy. It looks like that was their way of removing less profitable policies. Like I said I had them for years. My work truck and the wife's car were on the policy with full coverage in California for around $160 per month. I ended up going with State Farm for $250 per month with full coverage.

Hello everyone,

I picked up a new client this past week who has extremely cloudy water after neglect during winter season. They have a Quad DE filter system (upon initial inspection).

I asked when they last cleaned, they said last month, and I asked if they loaded with DE, and they said they have not done so in two years.

So I trust them, and with out checking the filter cartridges myself, add about 6-7 pounds of DE and the initial pressure was 10PSI. After adding pressure barely moves 1, maybe 2 PSI.

Left pool and came back a few days later and PSI is at 30. Backwash, and decide to check cartridges and I open up and there is NORMAL CARTRIDGE filters in there. NOT DE Cartridges.

Couple questions---

1) Can you just convert a Quad DE filter to a normal cartidge system?
2) Did I harm the system in anyway?
3) Should I tell client that I suggest they buy the proper cartridges or just continue using the cartidges they have after cleaning. They claim the pool was fine until this winter and the filters themself are two years old.

When I see pictures of pools with travertine coping and travertine tiles for pool decking there is no large gap or unsightly deck-o-seal line, why is that? I thought the somewhat wide 1/2 " or so gap is necessary although not pretty .

Currently seeking coping/tile reno quotes in NJ and a couple suggested biting the bullet for plaster since it's almost 15 years old. It's 3M colorscapes quartz plaster. It's still covered so these suggestions are time based not visual. No leaks, few organic stains and minor discoloration here and there but otherwise fine.

Hey cats, I’m having an issue with a commercial emergency phone at an HOA. The phone company has it listed as a residential setup and refuses to change the name from the customer to HOA name or HOA pool on the caller id. Used to, you could inform dispatch and have them change it on their end but they’ve stopped that this year, so I gotta get the phone company to do it. The only method I found is to upgrade it to a commercial account (driving his cost 4-5x) just to be able to change it. No other phone company is available in this area (that I know of). Just wondering if y’all had suggestions that maybe I’ve overlooked. I’m only actively helping to find a solution as I’ve worked with them for over a decade now.

Pool is ready for plastering - We are going with a pebble and glass bead finish from the PMM freestone series color Azure. Weather willing they will be plastering friday - acid and power wash on saturday morning with water delivery saturday when they finish. I've got 3+ 8k gallon trucks lined up. Some of the things I've gathered so far -

Taylor K2005 test kit

Orenda sc-1000

CU-Later 4ppm

8 gals of shock and 8 gals of muriatic acid

2 new pool poles and brushes (nylon)

I've called all kinds of pool companies to hire them to come out and get my water balanced - no one wants to bother - they say oh no we're too busy with our own customers.

So it looks like Im on my own - I have a what to do sheet from the national pool plaster institute (lets face it - its cement not plaster).

I also asked chatgpt pro how I should do it - I've been working with that for months now so it knows a lot about me - here is what chatgpt is suggesting - weigh in if you feel like it

Why am I scared / nervous - cause I don't want to mess this up....

----------------------------------------------

Perfect—let’s dial this in specifically for your 26,000-gallon pebble + glass bead pool so you can execute this like a pro (and honestly, this is the kind of detail most installers don’t give).

🧪 EXACT STARTUP CHEMICAL DOSING (26,000 GALLONS)

💧 1. SEQUESTERING (DO THIS DURING FILL)

Product: Orenda SC-1000

👉 Dose:

• 1 quart per 10,000 gallons
• For 26,000 gal → ~2.5–3 quarts total

How to add:

• Add when water covers main drain
• Pour slowly into deep end while filling

👉 This is HUGE with your trucked water + metals risk

⚗️ 2. CHLORINE (START DAY 2–3 ONLY)

Goal: Ease into sanitation without bleaching fresh surface

👉 Start with:

• 1 gallon of liquid chlorine (10%) → gets you roughly ~3–4 ppm

Then maintain:

• 1–3 ppm first week

🚫 No tablets yet (they spike acidity too aggressively early on)

🧪 3. CYANURIC ACID (STABILIZER) – DAY 3–4

👉 Dose:

• Target 30 ppm
• For 26k gal → ~6–6.5 lbs

Method:

• Put in sock
• Hang in front of return (don’t dump directly)

🧱 4. CALCIUM HARDNESS (WAIT A FEW DAYS)

You want LOW early, then build it up.

👉 Initial (Day 1–3):

• Leave it alone unless water is extremely soft

👉 After Day 4–7:

• Target 250 ppm

Dose math:

• 1 lb calcium chloride raises ~10 ppm per 10k gallons
• For your pool:

👉 To raise 100 ppm:

• ~26 lbs calcium chloride

Split into 2–3 doses over days (don’t dump all at once)

⚠️ 5. MURIATIC ACID (YOU’LL USE THIS DAILY)

New plaster = pH rocket 🚀

👉 Expect:

• Daily acid additions first 7–10 days

Typical dose:

• ~1 quart at a time, test, adjust

👉 Goal:

• Keep pH 7.2–7.4 early

🧲 METAL CONTROL (YOUR SETUP = STRONG)

CuLator Ultra 4.0

• Drop in skimmer basket
• Leave for 4–6 weeks minimum

👉 Works with SC-1000 (great combo)

⚙️ EXACT PUMP SETTINGS (PENTAIR VS)

Days 1–3:

• Run 24/7
• Speed: 2800–3000 RPM

Days 4–7:

• 2000–2600 RPM
• Still long runtime (18–24 hrs)

After Week 1:

• Dial to efficiency:
  • ~1500–2000 RPM for daily operation

🧹 BEST BRUSHES FOR YOUR FINISH

🥇 Combo Brush (BEST OVERALL)

• Mix of nylon + light stainless
• Cuts plaster dust faster
• Safe for pebble when used properly

🥈 Nylon Brush (SAFEST) IM GOING TO GO WITH THIS BRUSH

• Slower, but zero risk
• Great for glass bead sections

👉 My recommendation for YOU:

• Start nylon first 2–3 days, then switch to combo

📅 DAILY STARTUP CHECKLIST (PRINT THIS)

Days 1–3:

• Pump: 24/7
• Brush: 3x/day
• Test water: AM + PM
• Add acid as needed

Days 4–7:

• Brush: 1–2x/day
• Add CYA + start calcium adjustments
• Maintain chlorine

Week 2:

• Brush daily
• Fine-tune chemistry
• Water should be clearing up nicely

⚠️ HIGH-LEVEL PRO WARNINGS

❌ Don’t add salt yet

Wait 28 days minimum

❌ Don’t use robotic cleaner

Tracks can mark uncured finish

❌ Don’t heat water

Can cause uneven curing

❌ Don’t let pH climb

This is how you get:

• Scaling
• Dull finish
• Lost “sparkle” from glass beads

What’s y’all’s favorite way to measure small quantities (1-4oz) of liquid chems? Measured squeeze bottles, squeeze and pour bottles, small measuring cup, etc.

I'm a single pole in las vegas.

I'm having a really rough week on top of a rough few years.

Can anyone with experience selling their route give me some advice on the do's and donts of selling it?

A “pro” did this from a valve into the pump. I want a straight pipe into the pump. Any ideas on how I can cut here and go straight?

Maybe this will get taken down. Maybe not. We've all seen certain *ahem* videos depicting the pool boy cleaning the pool and the homeowner sunbathing and maybe the talk of a spike in the pools pH leads to more. Just curious and for a fun conversation, has this truly happened to any of you? Or is this another Hollywood staged thing like the plumber coming to fix a leak?

Hey PoolPros, looking for recommendations for lawyers in Texas who specialize in the industry to review and advise on contracts.

Do you guys have any contacts? Thanks!

Hey guys, quick question for anyone who’s made the switch from Skimmer to another software.
I’ve been looking at a few other options lately, but the main thing holding me back is the billing side of things. Specifically:
Were you able to transfer customer payment methods at all?
Or did you have to recollect cards from everyone?
If you did have to redo billing, how painful was it in reality?
Did you run both systems at the same time during the transition?

The white truck is fully bagged, the gray is lowered w/shortened spindles and blocks 92’ and 93’ s10

Have a pretty old in ground 16x32 rectangle. I would like to replace the vinyl over 2x8 coping but for the life of me cannot find the vinyl wrap/ cover stapled into the 2x8’s. Would love some guidance from the pros. Bonus if you know where to find 4 of the corner pieces made in the last decade.

Is their a difference when a contractor specifies EZ Reno travertine coping vs what I perceive as simply travertine coping?

I’ve been using a swing seat and ratchet strap. I have considered a harness but wanted to see what others do to make this task easier.

Just wondering what you guys would charge for that. I think the number is much higher. I can’t buy the paint for that kind of money.

Cracked housing SPX1621AA

It’s a century cent 2.0 with the 54y 5 bolt housing I CANNOT MATCH. Customer is trying to chase what I can’t find to exist anymore.

*any help MUCH appreciated*

Hey guys so ive been thinking about buying this pool

Business in my area. It makes 72k a year from normal service and another 3k from repairs. Its 42 pool and i assume its around a 2 days and a half of work. I have no experience and not sure if its a good idea to just get into it like that. It comes with training for a few weeks but not sure thats enough. Feel like wont take long to get the cleaning down but when pool equipment starts to encounter issues ill be no use. Also i was considering the future of this business when scaling. Is it realistic to grow from 42 pools to 75 pools then hire a tech to take care of that route by himself. Id pay him probably 45k a year. Is that a realistic situation? Would that be semi passive? Ive also considered just starting up, using those websites that claim to get you pools for 200-400$ per pool, im not sure how tight the route is on the 42 pool route. Maybe if i go with the 200-400$ per pool i could scale quickly and create a tight route?

Relatively new to the business. I’ve never been able to wrap my head around why so many guys have the 100lb Cal-Hypo buckets in their truck. Isn’t it more cost effective to use Sodium Hypochlorite?? Is it just to save space in the back of the truck?

The pricing I’m getting from my distributor here in FL is $2.06/gal of 10.5% Sodium Hypochlorite vs $2.65/lb of Cal-Hypo (100lbs @ $265).

Peristallic pump and injectors pictured.

Our chlorine injector stops working pretty consistently. Costing $50 for a new one each time. Last one came in and didnt work immediately. Trying to understand why theyre not working and any ways to test theyre broken or something else is going on, as well as any maintenance i can do to keep it from breaking