Pool Chemistry and Maintenance From a CPO
A few summers ago, I got a call from an HOA client in Scottsdale at 7 a.m. on a Saturday. A toddler had gotten through a gate that wasn’t latched properly. Thankfully, the child was found on the pool steps — wet but safe. That call changed how seriously I talk about pool barriers with … Read more
Every summer, I get calls from pool owners who are frustrated that their above-ground pool looks like pea soup — even though they’re doing “everything right.” When I dig into their routine, the problem is almost always the same: they’re following advice written for in-ground pools. That advice does not translate. An above-ground pool has … Read more
A few years ago, I got a call from an HOA client in Scottsdale at 6:47 in the morning. A four-year-old had slipped through a gate latch and made it to the pool deck before anyone noticed. The child was fine — thank God — but only because a neighbor happened to be walking by. … Read more
I’ve walked into more neglected spas than I can count. Cloudy water, slippery walls, that sharp chemical smell that makes your eyes water the second you lift the cover. Every single time, the root cause is the same: no consistent hot tub weekly maintenance routine. People assume a spa is low-maintenance because it’s small. That … Read more
Every single week, someone asks me the same question: bromine vs chlorine hot tub — which one should I use? I get it in parking lots at supply stores, in HOA meeting rooms, and in text messages from past clients at 9 p.m. It’s one of the most debated topics in residential spa care. And … Read more
I get asked about the saltwater vs chlorine pool maintenance comparison at least twice a week. Homeowners see “saltwater pool” and picture a beach. They think it means no chemicals, no hassle, maybe zero cost. I’ve been managing pools professionally for over a decade — resorts, HOAs, private estates across Arizona and New Mexico — … Read more
Here’s a scenario I see constantly: a pool owner calls me because their salt system stopped producing chlorine. I show up, pull the cell, and find a calcium fortress built up on every plate. When I ask how often they’ve been doing salt cell cleaning, the answer is almost always the same — “Is that … Read more
Last summer, a resort client called me in a panic. They had shocked their pool three times in two weeks. They had scrubbed the walls, backwashed the filter, and dumped in enough algaecide to treat a small lake. The water still had that sickly green tint. Sound familiar? If your pool algae phosphate removal efforts … Read more
Last summer, I got a call from a resort property manager in Scottsdale. She was panicking. Her 25,000-gallon pool had turned a swampy, murky green overnight — and guests were checking in at noon. I asked her three questions, had a diagnosis in under two minutes, and walked her through a same-day fix. That’s the … Read more
