In over three decades of talking to swimming pool professionals, I’ve realized one thing — most of you don’t understand how totally badass you are. Do you ever tap the brakes and take a moment to appreciate everything you do as a pool service professional? You’re not just a pool guy or gal; you’re a jack-of-all-trades superhero! Think about it…
In my best TV announcer voice (think George Reeves as Superman here):
- Faster at diagnosing a pump problem than a Naomi Osaka serve!
- More knowledgeable about water chemistry than Bill Nye the Science Guy!
- Able to manage customers, design dream poolscapes, and remove a brutal copper stain — all before the 9-to-5 crowd even hits snooze for the first time!
- It’s not a bird! It’s not a plane! It’s… the Pool Service Pro!
Yes, it’s you! You are that backyard hero who relocates rogue turtles, replaces impellers, backwashes filters, and navigates the treacherous waters of pool owner quirks and idiosyncrasies! Armed with unmatched skill, unwavering dedication, and the uncanny ability to keep pools sparkling and clients smiling, Service Pro fights the forces of dirt, dysfunction, and disarray for truth, clarity, and the aquatic way!
Seriously, you’re not just cleaning pools, you’re mastering physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, and business management all at once. The challenges you face daily aren’t for the faint of heart. From diagnosing mechanical issues to navigating wildlife hazards, this industry keeps you on your toes in ways most people can’t imagine. Let’s face it: working near swamps or remote areas can mean coming face-to-face with creatures that aren’t exactly thrilled about sharing their space.
Thirty minutes — that’s the ideal amount of time you have to get to a hospital after a pit viper bite. One to two hours? That’s pushing it. And yes, I know which hospitals in my area carry the necessary antivenom. This knowledge doesn’t come from some fascination with snakes, it’s a necessity when working near areas like Paynes Prairie, a swamp teeming with pit vipers: water moccasins, rattlesnakes, and copperheads. Many of the pools my company serviced bordered this marshland, and the warmth beneath a pool motor on a chilly morning? The perfect hideout for a venomous visitor. Yikes.
Need another reason to love VSPs? Snake abatement. Yes. Single-speed and dual-speed pool motors typically run between 150 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit (65 to 82 degrees Celsius). This heat loss, a hallmark of traditional squirrel cage induction motors, can account for up to 12% of energy waste. Enter variable-speed pumps (VSPs) — the smarter alternative. Their permanent magnet motors eliminate this heat loss, drastically reducing electrical consumption. Don’t believe me? Touch one. Single-speed = Hot. VSP = Not. This doesn’t only save customers on energy bills, but it also reduces the chances of a nope rope cozying up to a warm motor. Call it a win-win for safety and sustainability.
As an employer, I had to think beyond pool care to calculate hospital travel times and understand antivenom logistics for every route. Sounds extreme? Maybe, but again, this job isn’t for the faint of heart.
What?! Did you think I was going to talk about how your telepole prowess could lend itself to an unexpected transition into Canne de Combat, the French martial art of stick fighting? Years of wielding a net must make you comfortable enough to fend off an attacker, a rogue gator, or a rabid raccoon. Whether your style leans toward Bojutsu (Japanese staff fighting) or Nguni Stick Fighting (a South African tradition), that telepole might just double as your secret weapon.
They’re adding lots of new sports to the Olympic lineup. I mean, you saw the breakdancing in Paris last year. Is ‘Pooljutsu’ next?
REAL TALK
This industry is as versatile as its professionals. Consider a pool service pro whose knack for netting leaves, rescuing turtles, and catching bullfrogs evolves into advanced blue-crab- catching techniques. The same skills for cleaning pools translate into maintaining aquariums or animal enclosures, often using similar filtration and automation systems. There’s a reason I’ve been spotted carrying live alligators into my CPO classes. #FACTS
Take Randy Canova, known as Poolboyinthahouse, as an example of how far pool skills can take you. With 469.3K TikTok followers and 8.3M likes, Randy turned his visual learning style into a platform for teaching others. He says, “You become a little bit of everything — a chemist, an electrician, a plumber. I was lucky to have a mentor, but not everyone has that, so I share what I learn through my content. This industry is all about sharing knowledge and lifting each other up.”
Then there’s Andrea Nannini, a South Florida pool pro and co-host of the Talking Pools Podcast. Andrea’s passion for rescuing critters from pools has made her a hobbyist herpetologist, relocating hundreds of reptiles and amphibians over the years. Her efforts contribute to local biodiversity while educating others about wildlife conservation. Talk about blending pool expertise with a love for nature!
The pool industry fosters a surprising blend of talents. Some pool pros branch out into creative side hustles: Kristen MacDowell crafts and teaches beaded jewelry, while Kathryn Neill explores graphic design. Others, like Derrick Todd, spice things up with his Poolboyrubs.com. Holly Beau Mistletoe reflects on her career as a band lighting director, and Esteban Fuentes continues to engineer sound for live performances. From bass-playing Ronald Reggie Klein to Frank Disher’s podcasting ventures, pool pros prove their adaptability.
“I just like to share knowledge. When I start talking, it’s normally one-sided if I’m the only one with knowledge to share. If I can learn, I’ll shut up. I love people and like making friends and building trust. I try to draw a line where DIY is safe and easy, and where a pro is needed. I want to be an advocate for pool pros and pool owners. I want people to feel good about pros, and pros to feel good about their profession,” says Frank Disher, host of The Deep End Pool Podcast.
RECIPES FOR A GREAT LIFE
And then there’s me, venturing from horror movie fan to horror fiction writer to producer of horror movies. I had written articles for pool industry trade magazines such as AQUA Magazine for six years before I attempted putting 70K+ words into a book. Even aspiring authors like Jennifer Foulk and salsa-making families like Erin Ward’s add to this rich tapestry of creativity.
Michelle Campbell of AquaTek Pool Care credits responsible dosing in pool care with teaching her accuracy in baking. “If you’re under on chemical measurements — just like in baking — you won’t get the same result,” Campbell explains. “A cake won’t rise if the measurements are off. Add too much of a chemical, and pool chemistry levels will spike; add too much of an ingredient, and a pastry won’t taste right. Too much salt in a pool will make a SWG stop working; too much salt in a cookie will make it taste horrible.”
Pool service professionals don’t just maintain sparkling water — they build skills that transform lives and open doors to possibilities both within the industry and far beyond the coping. Yes, I’m still talking about you, Pool Service Professionals (the Chuck Norrises of the backyard oasis!).
This article first appeared in the March 2025 issue of AQUA Magazine — the top resource for retailers, builders and service pros in the pool and spa industry. Subscriptions to the print magazine are free to all industry professionals. Click here to subscribe.
