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A truck, a pole, and a Facebook opinion: is that enough to call yourself a pool professional?
This Thursday on Talking Pools, Steve Sherwood and Wayne Ivusich tackle a question guaranteed to get somebody typing in all caps: Does the pool industry need more regulation? Steve makes the case for continuing education, stronger professional standards, and a system that makes more sense than a patchwork of requirements and inconsistent enforcement.
Then they turn to the professionals who answer legitimate questions with “hire a professional.” Congratulations, buddy. You found a room full of people trying to learn and contributed absolutely nothing.
The conversation also gets into the business problems that hit closer to home: customers who wait weeks to report cloudy water, return visits that eat your profits, and the uncomfortable question of what to charge when a specialist does the work but cannot find the problem.
In this week’s Insurance Interlude, Pat Grignon of California Pool Association joins Steve to discuss flood coverage, coastal storm damage, and the questions worth asking before water comes through your front door.
In this episode:
- Regulation versus red tape: Steve and Wayne discuss licensing, enforcement, and whether ongoing education should be part of being a pool professional.CPO classes and real-world obstacles: Math anxiety, distracted students, an internet outage, and Wayne’s medical emergency midway through a two-day class.Your technician isn’t psychic: Why customers need to report problems between service visits—and how to explain that without starting a fight.The return-visit money trap: Steve explains his preference for charging per visit and setting expectations for additional work.Facebook’s professional hecklers: Asking for help should lead to useful answers. Apparently, some people missed that meeting.Stay in your lane—and build partnerships: Steve makes the case for working with leak detection specialists rather than adding every possible service to your business.The expensive mystery leak: A complicated infinity pool, a customer reporting a $6,000 monthly water expense, and testing that fails to identify a leak.Getting paid without screwing the customer: Paying specialists fairly, documenting their work, and protecting your reputation when the outcome is inconclusive.Flood insurance questions: Pat and Steve discuss separate coverage, risk-based pricing, and what an emergency declaration means for coverage.
Episode chapters
00:00 — Is the pool industry overregulated?
03:29 — Continuing education, licensing, and enforcement
09:41 — An internet outage derails an online class
12:38 — Insurance Interlude: flood coverage with Pat Grignon
26:11 — Wayne’s medical emergency during a CPO course
28:57 — Math anxiety and keeping students engaged
31:00 — Customer communication and return visits
37:50 — Pool closing advice and regional differences
39:07 — Facebook groups and professional courtesy
43:00 — Specialist partnerships and the mystery leak
47:29 — What do you charge when no leak is found?
52:13 — Listener questions and closing storm discussion
Have a question, an opinion, or a situation we should tackle? Email talkingpools@gmail.com.
Explicit language. Strong opinions. Bring something more useful than “hire a professional.”
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