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 all the way through my last stop. I’ve even started keeping a few wet towels, ice packs, and extra supplies in the cooler to keep them from baking in the truck.
By the time I get home, that means I still have enough energy left to spend time with my kids — which is probably the biggest benefit of all.
Running a pool service business this time of year is demanding: every day’s route, customer expectations, filter cleanings, chemical application — it can feel endless. But having tools like Skimmer makes it possible to keep the quality of service high and consistent. Instead of trying to remember every detail in my head, I can rely on the app to track what’s due, what’s been done, and what’s coming next. That takes a huge mental load off, so I can focus on actually doing the work, not just keeping track of it.
It sounds simple, but in this industry, the difference between burning out mid-summer and staying steady through the season often comes down to small things: better hydration, better organization, and better tools. I know what I’ll be including in my ‘welcome package’ when I bring on my first employee Pool Technician.
So thank you, Skimmer and The Pool Deck community, not just for the Yeti, but for great perspectives from leaders in this industry and a key piece of software that keeps my business running smoothly — and keeps me coming home each day with enough left in the tank to enjoy time with my family.
About me: My name is Derek Franchino and I own and operate Alotta Pool Service in Southwest Florida (Bonita Springs, Estero). I’m passionate about delivering consistent, high-quality service to my customers, while also building a business that supports my family and gives me time with them. My goal is to build a local business that is well-known for its’ commitment to quality, providing employment opportunity to great local talent, and one that gives back to its’ community.
