Life on the road

When stopped at a location, do you leave your tailgate down or up? Why?

 Even after 15 seasons of balancing chemicals and chasing leaks, I still get that pre-summer buzz. There is nothing like the chaos of opening season to remind you why we do what we do.​The biggest game-changer for me lately? Skimmer. Honestly, seeing how the software continues to evolve and actually listen to what we need in the field makes the "business side" of the biz so much smoother. It’s rare to see a tool stay this hungry to improve after all these years. It’s kept my routes tighter and my sanity intact as we scale.​I’ve seen a lot in this industry since 2010, and I’m big on paying it forward. If anyone especially those just starting out has questions about route density, troubleshooting a stubborn green-to-clean, or how to get the most out of Skimmer, drop a comment or DM me.​Let’s make this the most profitable summer yet. Let’s get it! 🛠️💪 

 This was a really cool event that Poolcorp and Jandy put on. I didn’t leave the house planning to record this but Savannah I should as said as soon as we were getting on the ride to go out to the shoot. So this is completely impromptu. I hope you enjoy. There’s a decently funny outtakes chapter towards the end!Experience the 2026 PoolCorp & Fluidra Pheasant Shoot, an exclusive industry event bringing together top professionals from the pool, spa, and outdoor living industries.This annual pheasant shoot is more than just sport—it’s about networking, relationships, and shared experiences with leaders from PoolCorp and Fluidra in a unique outdoor setting.In this video, we capture highlights from the day, behind-the-scenes moments, and the atmosphere that makes this event a standout tradition in the pool industry. From premium hospitality to world-class shooting, this is a rare look insid

Pros: I am adding a new truck now and have been very happy with the Ford Maverick truck. I am forecasting needing another vehicle this coming spring and have been mulling around the idea of getting a Promaster van. These are the big, high roof sprinter looking box cargo vans. Today I was at the gas station and there were 4 of them there, all wrapped with different service company logos… HVAC, Plumbing etc. They look good and really good when they are wrapped nice. I have always liked vans and the ability to keep massive amounts of tools equipment locked up and out of the elements. I like the Promaster with the low floor for getting heavy items in and out. It, like the maverick gets incredible gas mileage. Here is what has me conflicted…. carrying chemicals. Are you guys using vans? Are you carrying chems in your vans? If so, how do we do it safely? Thanks  

Is the app having issues? I can’t sync, and I can’t even send a diagnostics report. But I have service. 🤔

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

 In this video I recorded a typical day for me to show you what it’s like running a pool business. Estimates, service calls, incoming and outgoing calls and some tips and tricks along the way. I’d love to hear what other types of “day in the life” videos you’d like to see.Spoiler alert: Skimmer really helped during one of the calls to defend us as a company! Enjoy! 

We have a small pool cleaning business, owner operated with 1 tech.  We cater to large property managment companies that have luxury homes with pools.  The rental rates can range from 5K to 15K per week to rent.  Some are beach or lake front.  Most have small pools.  We recently took over this account with 10 pools.  Yea right?  wrong…  Almost every other day, we get a call from management, that “the guest are not happy”  (not happy because pool was being cleaned and it “took away their pool time”.   “ The guest wanted to know “what if” they were not there when chemicals were added?:  The guest states there is debris in the pool (we go running over there and there are nats in the pool due to environment (lake front).    Pool heat needs to be on,  its 96 degrees outside.  Guests want a refund/credit because they didn’t get to be in the pool (heater was fried) as much as they wanted to.After about 2 weeks of this, I called the managment company and let them know we needed to st

Hello everyone, my name is Michael Camarena, owner of Pacific Valor Pool Services in San Diego. I’m a Certified Pool & Spa Operator (CPO), and my business focuses on providing reliable, professional weekly pool care. My services include skimming, brushing, vacuum sweeping, water chemistry balancing, and routine equipment checks to keep pools safe, clean, and ready to enjoy year-round.I also use Skimmer software, which helps me provide transparent service reports, photo documentation, and complete history tracking for each customer.I joined this network to connect with other pool professionals, share knowledge, and continue building best practices that raise the standard of service in our industry.Looking forward to collaborating and learning from you all!— Michael CamarenaPacific Valor Pool Services

Hey everyone! I’m curious to hear from the California companies primarily NorCal. What your hourly rate is for repairs? We charge $125.00 / hr but I’ve been thinking about raising it. I have a friend that owns a pool company out in San Jose and he said his labor rate is $100/hr. That seems too low to me and honestly even $125.00 /hr seems a little low. I was thinking of raising it in the fall. Just wanted to check in with others out around my area and see what you’re getting.  thank you in advance.  mike,

Summer is always the toughest stretch for pool service professionals like me.Here in the middle of the season, the heat is relentless — day after day in the Southwest Florida sun, moving from stop to stop, making sure every pool is safe, clean, and balanced for my customers.That’s why winning a Yeti cooler from The Skimmer Pool Deck’s first birthday sweepstakes couldn’t have come at a better time. I wanted to write about it because while it’s always important to focus on your customers’ pool safety at all times, it’s equally important to focus on your own safety, especially this time of year.Staying hydrated and keeping my core temperature regulated isn’t optional in this business; it’s survival. Heat exhaustion is a real danger when you’re in and out of service stops and on the road all day. Having ice-cold water and electrolytes close at hand in the Yeti makes a big difference: I’m not constantly stopping at convenience stores, and the drinks actually stay cold

I’m sure you all have seen that viral AI gorilla all over the internet. I created a video of him being a pool cleaner for a day. I hope you all get some laughs from it. I have more AI gorilla content coming as well for the pool industry haha.  

Aloha from all of us. Looking forward to learning more about the tricks of the trade from all of you.Just got started on the pool deck to see what it's all about and to expand our interactions with skimmer. Skimmer has been an excellent addition to our company and we love the customer service as well. Looking forward to being in touch and meeting more of you as our colleagues

Hey everyone! I recently came across an above ground skimmer and had a question about it. In the picture, there’s something that looks like a light or sensor at the bottom front of the skimmer. Also, in the top left corner of the skimmer, there’s a circular component that has an electrical cord connected to it from the outside. Does anyone know what this setup is for? Is it some kind of integrated light, heater, or sensor? Just trying to figure out what I’m looking at before I dig in further. Thanks in advance! 

In the beginning of my career, I was told to give the least amount of info to the customer, now I find myself giving too much to where the customer is a bit confused. (Thanks Google! ) I think there is a happy medium, giving enough then texting or emailing the full explanation with both sides (if there are both sides) and then having the customer decide. What's your experience or take? 

Since it’s getting to be that season again I was curious how yall processed your green 2 cleans. Some green 2 cleans turn over quicker than others and some can be really stubborn. When I first started in this business I used to lose money on just about every green 2 clean I would get. Then I started charging so much for them that I would make money on them but I’d be so expensive I’d rarely ever get them. They are a nice gateway to get new service clients. Most of the time we can get the water turned over and get the dead algae pump vaced within a week. So I have thought about providing my quote so that it covers the chemicals and labor for up to 5 days. If the water is still not clear after that then it will be additional costs. Pump vac is always billed separately as a labor component. This only applies to the heavy green pools that you cannot see the bottom of the shallow end or even the steps. Looking for your guys input on how you structure your pricing for these level 3 type g

Does this look like black algae to you? We have been servicing this client for about 8 months now and initially did a green 2 clean on their pool when we first took the account over. Their pool has been great since but now this just showed up. I have not seen this in person yet. These are pictures that my tech sent to me. I had him rub a tablet on the surface of the step where some of this is and it didn’t do anything like it normally would do. Any idea what this stuff might be?  

Our area is starting to have more lavish pool designs and I was wondering what are some tips and best practices to keep them clean - especially when you cannot reach all sides. The picture below is of a pool we were recently asked to quote for cleaning services.Is it normal to get in the pool to clean it - walk on the lounge shelf? Main Pool 7’ Deep EndOverflow 15 people Spa Equipment 

With winter approaching, we know some areas, like Florida, do not face the freezing tempuratures like others.What’s your winter pool game plan? ⛄Are you keeping it operational, lowering the water level, or covering it up? If you’re winterizing, what tips or tricks work best for you in our warmer climate? Do you advise customers to run the pumps during the “freeze” nights?Drop your thoughts or plans. Let’s share ideas and help everyone get ready for the season ahead!Oh, and how many of you had tire pressure alerts this morning? HAHA