Things I Would Tell Myself About Running a Pool Service If I Could Go Back In Time
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- Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
- When I started the Pool Guy Podcast Show back in August of 2017 I didn’t think I would be doing it for very long. A few guests here and there and that is it. Fast forward to 4 years later and I have hit episode 700!
My podcast covers everything from automatic cleaner, business tips, chemistry, equipment, filtration, pool pro tips, and more. I have interviewed just about everyone in the industry and my monthly guest Bob Lowry has given listeners great insight into the chemistry of swimming pools. You can find every podcast listed on my secondary podcast site which has a search box feature. In the search type in “liquid chlorine,” “Bob Lowry” etc and all the podcasts with that subject will pop up for you.
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In this episode, I focus on some things I would tell myself if I could go back and talk to my younger self. The first thing I would tell myself is to learn more about why things happen to a pool instead of trying to just treat the symptom. What effect does very high Cyanuric Acid have on the pool chemistry? What effect the filtration has on pool chemistry and clarity? These are things I really never thought about and I just went about my day treating algae and spending more time and energy struggling to keep the pool blue. Thankfully now there are many resources available including Bob Lowry’s 20-page handbook which is essential in
knowing the “why” out in the field.
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Another thing I would have done would be to get a vacuum system. I wasted a lot of time out there before I got my Riptide and Bottom Feeder. A Vacuum system just makes cleaning a pool that much easier and if you haven’t picked up one yet you have to put it on your must-have list.
I think this is one that made a big difference and that is I would tell myself not to worry so much about everything. I spent too much time worrying about a customer’s pool or something I did or may have done wrong. In the big picture, it really is not a big deal. I spend needless hours worrying when the customer didn’t even notice most of what I was worried about.
To hear more of the things I would have told myself you can listen to the podcast and hopefully you will learn some things that I wish the younger me knew when I first got started.
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Love the advice about losing sleep about not being able to fix something. Best thing I did when I first started out was sub out all my repairs and just focus on the cleaning part of pool service. Over time I would pick things up at my own pace. All my customers didnt care if I couldnt repair something. They were just appreciative if I could connect them with a mechanic. 🤙🏽
Great podcast show David, I sit here and grin while I listen because 6 yrs ago when i started, I had the same frustrations, waking up in the night wondering if I left someones water on. I also did the same thing with the backwash valve and blew up the grids and ruined them, LOL. The first thing I would tell myself is 1. most customers dont care about you.. at all. They will barely remember your name, no matter how long you work for them. 2. Customers care more about seeing you labor on their pool, then they do about how clean you keep it. sounds like a sour attitude, but its just the truth. No matter how clean the pool is, they will complain if you dont spend enough time there, or look like you are working hard. 3. Get paid up front, no exceptions. These days, I only accept credit cards, set up on auto-pay, and paid within the first week of the month. I don t even accept cash anymore, tired of chasing customers down for payment. 4. Charge what your worth. when I bid a pool, I ask a high price for my service, i explain that it includes everything even filter cleans. I explain to them that filter cleans can cost you as much as $300 per year as a hidden cost from the other guy. There are more, but my post is already long winded :)
Great stuff! 👍👍
I do to much
I am a customer and I sincerely do care about the person who cares for my pool. He was surprised when I referenced something he told me about himself so maybe I’m unique. When he was here last week I thanked him and sent him away with some homemade cake as an extra thank you. So, please don’t make the assumption that customers don’t care about you. I, for one, am very grateful for the knowledge, skill and expertise that Greg brings to care for my pool. 😊
@@saraw112 you are an exception. Location has alot to do with it. I service a low income area. Alot of my customers are tenants, on some form of assistance, and most have sour attitudes. Sweet when they need you, jerks when it time to pay the bill.
@@darinferreira4448 oh I’m sorry to hear that. I’m in Seattle. There are not a lot of pools in Seattle so we don’t have a lot of options when it comes to people servicing pools. I try to do most things myself (I’m not rich… I splurged on a pool as my “retirement” gift) Anyway, I just felt bad when I read your comment about customers not caring about you. I
Really good advice and things to think about keeping future in mind. Not in the pool business but this can be applied to any physical activity in life.
One Love From New Orleans. Waiting to get back home to take care of the pools in my community.
Gonna be rough for sure. I feel for those in that region.
Great podcast with excellent information as always. As another Californian I do use tennis shoes with wool socks because I like the comfort over boots. I do buy gore-tex shoes for the Winter months. I bought a Peet boot dryer as well. A great mentor pool guy told me to take that extra minute or two to scan and make sure it's done right. Thank you for another great podcast.
Great tip!
Like the show brought back many memories. Going back to the early 80's I needed a new leafmaster, at that time I was getting my pool supplies at Chatsworth Pool supply, gave me basically wholesale prices plus 10% and it was on the way home to Simi Valley. Ray who worked there a retired pool tech of 40 years. When I asked for one he made a face and said I hate those excuse language fing things. The next time I came into the store he brought out a contraption that he made looked almost identical to the leaf master or gobbler or eater whichever one it was, It was around disc of plexiglass three wheels and a four inch round tube with a top on it "wow" the pre of all what I just mentioned. He actually made one for his friend and guess what his friend patented it and made whichever one of those it was. He said he got the idea from some type of sprinkler on a pool step and it was drawing in dirt - so I give him credit where credit is due The prerunner of anything you see now too bad he didn't patent it he'd been very wealthy. My idea back then was I wish I didn't have to hook up a hose to this. So again hats off to power vac the originator of the power vacuums and last and never least bottom feeder great idea not quite as powerful as others but amazing. Talk to you pool mafia.
As my friend's call me Youngster
Thanks for that Youngster! 👊
That thumbnail is gold 😂
Once I realized I had left the hose on n it was like 9pm .went back rang the door bell customer got mad I was there at that time .. Stopped service next day .
Oh wow. They should appreciate you went back but - yeah, leaving the hose on is something I have done as well.
You can get one of those coil pool rings at most stores. You put it on the hose bib. Won't get far without your keys.
Great episode David!
Hey can you do a comparison of vac with pool pump n the ones u mentioned ..starting from when u get off the truck
Sure. I will work on that.
We're can I find more information on Borate? Interested never heard of it.
Here are some of the podcast I have recorded on it. I also have UA-cam videos on them. the-pool-guy-podcast-show.podsite.io/search?s=borate
ua-cam.com/video/uFfn4Wcv1rE/v-deo.html
Are the vacuum systems really worth the $1000 price tag vs a $15 leaf master?
I got the hammerhead you will never go back!
For me, no. My pools have too much fine dirt for a bag type vac system. Really good if you have pools with tons of leaves and little to no dirt.
In the long run yes. But it is area dependent. I use mine a lot in Southern California. the guys in AZ not as much.
@@SPL I'm in AZ, so you get the Santa Ana, we get the monsoons which bring a lot of dust so I'm definitely familiar with the leaf raking the bottom before you vacuum technique 😂
I got my CPO certification from Rudy. I've never heard of Bob before
Yeah, Bob Lowry just recently started advertising his Certified Residential. Check out PCTI.online
Good info like always, question, just got new pebble sheen, pool guy from pb throws in 2g acid, 2g bleach, few lbs of stable, says good for 3 days, as a pool guy would you recommend this , i then tested my water locally 3 days later, ph 8 , chlorine at 0, so i adjusted it properly. My concern is the white blochy marks or streaks on fresh pebble , 1 week old, can that be from chemicals or cream, just takes time to adjust, pools been acid washed and buffed, brushing does nothing. Thanks.
Not sure what those could be but I would have maybe the builder stop by and look at it. It's been a week so he should swing by without any issues.
Hey great info. Currently working for a pool company, and looking to get my own route started. If you had to pick one, hammerhead or riptide? Thanks and take care!
Riptide.
If you can get military boots they are great. You can literally stick your whole foot in a puttle.
With your 90 pools a week, are you ever able to give yourself time off? A week for the holidays, thanksgiving, vacation? Is it possible to do this as a one person show?
90 is pushing it. I have less pools now - a sweet spot is 75-80 really.
@@SPL thanks! My main question is, if I have a one man operation. Are there any possible ways to work in a week off? How can vacation time be worked into a route, if at all?
@@RockyStatue Key is letting your customers know you charge weekly, bill monthly, and the months you come 5x you don't charge them, you simply take a week off later in the year. 52 weeks a year, 48 service weeks.
@@jeremyhancock321 exactly. that's the way I was taught and have been doing it for 28 years now. once in awhile you get a customer who doesn't get it. either move on or charge them weekly they will turn it down every time.
Do you think starting a pool business in 2023 is still profitable for someone planning on starting one?
Yes. There is still plenty of upside!
Can I get a copy of your service agreement?
Email me at david@swimmingpoollearning.com 👍
I'd like one too, also do you have one for residential v. commercial?
🥃🍿😐🍺👍🏻