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Industry news, training & life on the road

Industry news, training & life on the road

Get started in the community! Check out the latest industry news & training, plus share your stories from the road.

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tpierinnNew Member

asked in Life on the road

Repair Technicians?

I’m in the North Houston area. Is there anybody in here that can recommend or is a licensed repair technician that can help me out?

1 day ago

Lauren BroomSkimmer Verified Partner

posted in News, trends & training

Other training on Residential Water Chemistry

https://www.spacecoastpoolschool.com/residential-advanced-water-chemistry-mini-course/

2 days ago

Lauren BroomSkimmer Verified Partner

posted in News, trends & training

Salt Chlorine Generators and what to know!!

2 days ago

Lauren BroomSkimmer Verified Partner

posted in News, trends & training

July CPO Education

Upcoming virtual Certified Pool Operator CPO courses for July filling nowRegister now before the spots are gone!https://www.spacecoastpoolschool.com/100-online-cpo-class/

2 days ago

Lauren BroomSkimmer Verified Partner

asked in News, trends & training

Dogs in Pools

How many people is an average sized dog equal to in a pool?I know the answer question is do you have a guess? Put in comments!!

2 days ago

JustineThe Pool Deck Community Team

published in News, trends & training

The average service price increased by 9% in 2024

Service Industry News released its 2024 labor and equipment survey results this week. 74% of participants indicated they had raised their rates due to inflation, with an average increase of 9%. Check out the complete survey results here. Interestingly, these findings align with Skimmer’s 2024 industry report on the State of Pool Service from January, where the data indicated that 74% of participants would be increasing their rates this year. Of those planning on increasing prices, nearly 42% of respondents said they were aiming for a less than 10% raise, while just over 40% targeted an 11% to 20% price increase. It’s encouraging to see that most pool pros are delivering against their 2024 business plan. And, if you are still contemplating increasing your rates, here are some additional resources to help you think strategically about your pricing and different business models: Skimmer Service Rate IndexSkimmer’s Service Rate Index for exclusive details about what competitors in your are

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2 days ago

JustineThe Pool Deck Community Team

published in Life on the road

What's your go-to summer song 🎧

Whether you’re getting fired up to get through the work day, winding down after a busy week, or getting ready to have some fun in the sun with friends and family, music ALWAYS helps fuel the mood ☀️😎 So help us create The Pool Deck’s ultimate summer playlist by sharing your favorite songs that make you crank the volume and belt it out 🎤🎶I’ll get us started, as summer for me is time for some 80’s rock nostalgia...a top fave is always a little Def Leppard in rotation with Rocket 🚀 🎸And GOOOOOO 👇

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2 days ago

TravisTeam Skimmer

published in News, trends & training

SRS Distribution announces the completion of acquisition by The Home Depot.

“The Home Depot®, the world's largest home improvement retailer, has completed the acquisition of SRS Distribution, Inc. ("SRS") for a total enterprise value of approximately $18.25 billion. SRS is a leading residential specialty trade distribution company across several verticals serving the professional roofer, landscaper and pool contractor. The agreement to acquire SRS was announced on March 28, 2024.”Read the full release here → https://www.heritagepoolsupplygroup.com/news/#HomeDepotSRS

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6 days ago

JustineThe Pool Deck Community Team

published in Life on the road

What's the strangest thing you've found in a skimmer basket?

Okay, it’s time to have some fun and a few laughs 😂 and give away some Skimmer gear 😎Post the strangest thing you or your team have found in a skimmer basket in the thread below.Photo is optional 📸 The top 3 replies with the most likes 👍 will be sent a Skimmer swag package ☀️And go 👇 **Contest ends Monday, June 17th**

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7 days ago

Lauren BroomSkimmer Verified Partner

posted in Life on the road

CPO Instructor in Prince Edward Island Canada

8 days ago

BlueHeartPoolsRookie Member

posted in Life on the road

Commercial Auto Insurance

Hello, looking for suggestions for commercial auto insurance. Who do you use and are you happy with their rates, support and claims?

10 days ago

JustineThe Pool Deck Community Team

published in News, trends & training

Another example of why pool owners need to hire a professional 😎

Stories like this are a perfect opportunity for an industry marketing campaign to highlight the risks of the do-it-yourself approach and spotlight the technical proficiency of professionals in the pool service business!https://wegotthiscovered.com/social-media/girl-you-just-made-a-war-chemical-pool-cleaning-calamity-leads-to-the-creation-of-mustard-gas-in-womans-backyard/

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11 days ago

Lauren BroomSkimmer Verified Partner

posted in Life on the road

Today at the Pool

Break in the rain!! No sun but water is still 85!! Enjoying pool before we leave for colder temps in PEI Canada on Friday. Gotta show off our tans from Florida!!

13 days ago

Lauren BroomSkimmer Verified Partner

asked in News, trends & training

Todays CPO Class

Today I am Teaching Virtual Certified Pool Operator CPO course for 7 awesome students from the PSATC pool apprenticeship program. Our fun review game for virtual CPO with PSATCWho Wants To Be A CPO?If you want your staff to have fun while learning in a virtual format from home! Next classes in July filling Register here https://www.spacecoastpoolschool.com/100-online-cpo-class/

17 days ago

ProTeck PoolsNew Member

posted in Life on the road

New Here

Hello from San Diego CA

18 days ago

JustineThe Pool Deck Community Team

published in Life on the road

Say hello & share how you got into the pool service business

Hello and a warm welcome to The Pool Deck 🤗 My name is Justine, and I am your go-to for all things community 🙌 I am super pumped to get to know more members and see the co-creation, sharing of knowledge, and learning from one another take root across all our forums, groups, and events!This Life on the road forum is about getting to know each other better and sharing stories from our day. Plus, we’ll have some contests and other posts to make you smile 😀I started building communities working in the beer business and knew I had found my calling. I love bringing together people and watching the magic unfold—whether it’s new ideas, learning, or even just a bit of fun and laughter to brighten each others’ day! I have worked in software for a while now, and when @Travis told me about Skimmer’s mission, and I learned more about the pool service industry, it was an easy YES to join this team!Meeting with Skimmer customers over the past few months has only reinforced my decision -- we have

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19 days ago

DavidSPLSkimmer Verified Partner

published in News, trends & training

Having Trouble controling pH in a pool?

If you're having trouble keeping a pool at 7.4 pH, don't worry, as everyone does. But does the pH actually need to be that low? And what can you do to at least slow pH from rising rapidly in a pool? This video answers those questions and more!

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21 days ago

DavidSPLSkimmer Verified Partner

posted in Life on the road

How to Take 4-Weeks Off Every Year

Memorial Day is just around the corner. Is this one of your days off? I am often asked if you should take these significant holidays off. It depends. If your Mondays are light, you can easily make up the pools during the week. Or if you want to skip the pools entirely, you can, but then you will use up one of your days on your four weeks off. How does a Pool Pro take four weeks off each year? It's simple. There are months when there are five service weeks, and you charge monthly for four weeks. May 2024 has 5 Wednesdays, 5 Thursdays, and 5 Fridays. You explain to the customer that you don't charge extra for the 5th week during these months, which adds up to 4 weeks off for your company. I usually take two straight weeks off during the year and then use the other two weeks for random times. To avoid conflicts, have this written in your service agreement: "Sick Day/Vacation Policy: In case of a sick day or injury, we will do our best to make up the service day for you. If we cannot make

24 days ago

SPPA-InsuranceSkimmer Verified Partner

posted in News, trends & training

SPPA- New here!

Hi! I’m new to the POOLDECK and very excited to make some connections here! My name is Danielle Bahr. I am the owner/Director of SPPA- Swimming Pool Pro Alliance and Bahr Insurance Agency. I was born into the pool industry, as my parents own a highly successful pool business. My passion for the pool industry runs deep, ingrained in me from a young age through the experiences and values instilled by my family's business. I have been providing insurance coverage for pool professionals for over two decades, with a strong track record of ensuring their protection. Ten years ago, I initiated the SPPA program, a testament to my commitment to elevating standards within the industry and offering specialized insurance solutions tailored to the unique needs of pool professionals. Through the SPPA program, we provide General Liability insurance customized specifically for pool professionals, safeguarding their business and livelihoods. The SPPA program offers three insurance coverage options desi

26 days ago

jacknelsonatxTeam Skimmer

published in News, trends & training

Greetings from Jack, Skimmer's CEO

Hello everyone, Welcome to The Pool Deck! At Skimmer, our purpose is to empower pool and spa service professionals with a platform to build great l businesses. We began fulfilling this purpose by developing an all-in-one pool service management platform to simplify running your business, and from the feedback we've received, it seems to be working well. As we continue to grow, we've heard from our customers that they would like more opportunities to learn and collaborate with other Skimmer users and our team of experts. So, we started working on creating a community space where everyone can come together to share experiences and knowledge. We understand the importance of having a safe space to ask questions to learn together. But our purpose for The Pool Deck community goes beyond becoming a Skimmer super user. We have partnered with professionals to contribute in areas essential for helping you grow your business and achieve your goals. These experts will cover marketing, finance

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27 days ago

JustineThe Pool Deck Community Team

published in News, trends & training

REGISTER NOW - Proven Paths to Scaling Your Pool Service Business

Check out our next webinar hosted by @nikiacosta as she moderates a live customer panel.

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27 days ago

DavidSPLSkimmer Verified Partner

posted in News, trends & training

VacDaddy Portable Vacuum

The latest VacDaddy 2.0 version is here. It’s tough to place this in any one category. It has the power of a vacuum system but the capacity of a suction cleaner canister (internal debris bags). It doesn’t use a battery but plugs in. It vacuums a pool like a vacuum connected to the skimmer but rides on your pole with no hoses. It’s the Duck-Billed platypus of pool tools! However, the Vacuum to Waste (V2W) adapter and the shallow water adapter make this a versatile machine.

27 days ago

Lauren BroomSkimmer Verified Partner

posted in News, trends & training

Virtual 2 day CPO cert

https://www.spacecoastpoolschool.com/event/june-15-16-2024-full-2-day-virtual-cpo/

28 days ago

Lauren BroomSkimmer Verified Partner

posted in News, trends & training

Virtual spanish CPO class june 8th!!

https://www.spacecoastpoolschool.com/event/8-de-junio-de-2024-1-dia-cpo-virtual-curso-completo-de-espanol/

28 days ago

Lauren BroomSkimmer Verified Partner

posted in News, trends & training

Virtual CPO Certification

Good Afternoon to everyone On The Pool Deck: First, thanks to Skimmer for this online community!!!OK, who here would like to know more about Virtual CPO certification?? Do you know the difference between the Fusion class and the 2 Day virtual class format?Upcoming classes are 06/01 for Fusion and 06/15-06/16 for 2 Day virtual format. Comment here to find out more information

1 month ago

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