Auto Added by WPeMatico

Drain Saver Pool Chemistry

Vac-to-waste after complexing with aluminum sulfate (alum). Water conservation has been in the spotlight as the result of drought conditions affecting various parts of the country from year to year. In an effort to be responsible for the conservation of this valuable resource, onBalance has been investigating various ways the pool and spa industry can

Off-Season Marketing

The “off” season should really be called the “on” season, as it offers a strategic opportunity for pool and spa businesses, regardless of what weather the off-season brings. In the Sunbelt, where warm weather is nearly year-round, business might slow down, but it rarely stops. On the other hand, in the Frostbelt, winter brings an

Adventures in Service

As pool technicians step into a customer’s backyard, they’re often greeted with the unexpected. Whether it’s the surprising, the humorous, or the downright baffling, these professionals are prepared to handle whatever comes their way. Here, we present an array of memorable encounters shared by technicians from across the industry.  Floatation Innovation Introducing the latest in

Industry Spotlight: Merchant Cost Consulting

Matthew Rej | Partner | Merchant Cost ConsultingCredit card processing fees can fly under the radar if you don’t know what to look for. Getting assistance from someone who knows the industry as well as the financial world can be helpful in many ways — and it’s only a free consultation away. We spoke to

Helene Left a Tree in My Pool

Rudy Stankowitz is a veteran of both the industry and the U.S. armed forces. He has owned a retail store and done his own research on pool chemistry. It started getting bad somewhere around 8 o’clock at night. I don’t know why they always seem to get angry after dark. It adds a different terrifying

PHTA’s Q3 Quarterly Pulse Survey is Open for Submissions

The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) has announced that their Q3 Quarterly Pulse Survey is open for submissions. In order to identify the latest trends driving the pool, spa and hot tub industry forward, they need your input. The survey takes only a few minutes, after which you’ll gain “exclusive access to vital industry

What You Measure, You Can Improve

Few things are as important to your business as what you decide to measure — your Key Performance Indicators, or KPIs. For what you measure, you can improve. That adage comes with a corollary: What you fail to measure, you are less likely to improve and in fact, have no idea about. The term KPI

Rudy Stankowitz: Reinventing the W̶h̶e̶e̶l̶ (Tire)

Are we stuck? Have we been doing things the same way for so long that we’ve developed tunnel vision? The swimming pool industry is a trade where traditions and set practices often dominate. We have established ways of doing things — tried-and-true methods that have been passed down from one generation of pool professionals to

How to Prime Pool Cover Pump Sales

Pool cover manufacturers include a cover pump with each cover sold in the United States. That industry standard makes a lot of sense, because pumps allow pool owners to maintain clean covers that fit properly and — in the case of automatic pool covers — help prevent rainwater and snowmelt from entering the cover box.

How to Get Algae to Give Your Pool a Bad Review

Laboratory research has shown that when phosphate is removed from the water, algae growth is impacted. In such situations, reason dictates, it is much easier to control with EPA-registered algicides — chemical compounds such as chlorine, bromine, quaternary ammonia compounds, poly quats, copper and silver. With less algae to deal with overall, a registered algicide,