Talking Pools Podcast
If you’ve ever stared at a test kit like it personally insulted your family… welcome home.
Talking Pools Podcast is the pool industry’s “pull up a chair” show—part shop talk, part field manual, part therapy session—built for people who actually live on pool decks: commercial operators, service techs, builders, facility managers, and anyone responsible for water that can’t afford to go sideways. The network was created to level up the pool industry with real-world conversations on water chemistry, filtration, troubleshooting, construction, safety, and the business side of keeping pools open and budgets intact.
Here’s the hook: it’s not theory-first. It’s experience-first—a roster of seasoned pros (with 250+ years of combined “been there, fixed that” wisdom) turning complicated problems into practical moves you can use the same day. And it’s not one voice, one vibe, one corner of the industry: it’s a network of shows designed to reflect how diverse this work really is—different regions, different specialties, different personalities.
Also worth saying out loud: women aren’t “special guests” here—they’re on the mic as hosts, from the beginning, with an intentionally balanced roster. That matters, because the best ideas in this industry don’t come from one lane—they come from the whole road.
If you want a podcast that can make you laugh and make you better at what you do—without pretending the job is easier than it is—Talking Pools is the one you queue up before the first stop, and keep on when the day starts getting weird.
Talking Pools Podcast
Boost Your Pool Service IQ: Master ORP and Chlorine Effectiveness!
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In this conversation, Andrea and Rudy discuss various topics related to pools, including Andrea's absence last week, the misconception about stingrays biting, and the concept of oxidation reduction potential (ORP) in pool water. They also share funny anecdotes and stories, such as the incident at the 2016 Olympics when the dive pool turned green. Overall, the conversation covers pool maintenance, chlorine levels, and the importance of understanding ORP. The conversation discusses the factors that affect ORP (oxidation reduction potential) in pool water. The hosts cover topics such as pH, temperature, cyanuric acid (CYA) level, bacterial growth, and algae. They also touch on the importance of ORP in measuring the effectiveness of chlorine in the water. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the challenges of testing and measuring cyanuric acid levels.
Keywords
pools, stingrays, ORP, oxidation reduction potential, chlorine levels, pool maintenance, ORP, oxidation reduction potential, pool water, pH, temperature, cyanuric acid, CYA, bacterial growth, algae, chlorine effectiveness, testing, measuring
Takeaways
- Stingrays do not bite, they sting.
- ORP measures the oxidizing capacity of water, not the chlorine level.
- Hydrogen peroxide affects the oxidizing capacity of water and can interfere with ORP readings.
- Understanding ORP is important for maintaining proper pool sanitation.
- The incident at the 2016 Olympics highlights the importance of balancing chlorine levels and ORP in pool water. ORP measures the oxidizing capacity of pool water and indicates the effectiveness of chlorine.
- Factors such as pH, temperature, and cyanuric acid level can affect ORP.
- Cyanuric acid reduces the effectiveness of chlorine, and high levels of cyanuric acid can lower ORP.
- Bacterial growth and algae can also impact ORP.
- Testing and measuring cyanuric acid levels can be challenging.
Titles
- The Misconception About Stingrays Biting
- Understanding ORP: Oxidation Reduction Potential The Influence of Bacterial Growth and Algae on ORP
- Understanding ORP and Its Significance in Pool Water
Sound Bites
- "Stingrays don't bite. They sting you. They stab you."
- "ORP measures the oxidizing capacity of the water."
- "If I'm going to maintain my pool based off of millivolts, that means I'm going to see the part per million of free chlorine fluctuate over time."
- "ORP measures how effective the chlorine is in the water. Not how much chlorine is in the water, but how effective it is."
- "Cyanuric acid reduces the effectiveness of chlorine period. The end it just does."
- "ORP measures the oxidizing capacity of the water."
Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Andrea's Absence
02:12
The Misconception About Stingrays Biting
05:02
Understanding ORP: Oxidation Reduction Potential
09:28
Fluctuating Chlorine Levels and ORP
12:56
Hydrogen Peroxide and ORP
15:47
The Incident at the 2016 Olympics: Balancing Chlorine Levels and ORP
16:33
Understanding ORP and Its Significance
18:38
The Impact of pH, Temperature, and Cyanuric Acid
22:06
Th
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Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com
