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
Stop The Bleeding - Holiday Woes: Part ll
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Steve Sherwood kicks off the New Year’s Day conclusion of the holiday two-parter with a no-fluff reminder: if you’re not doing chemical dosing calculations, what are you even doing out there? This episode is a practical, field-first toolbox talk—equal parts profitability and liability prevention.
Steve breaks down why measuring accurately (liquid and dry) isn’t “extra,” it’s literally the difference between making money and quietly donating it to every pool you touch. He walks through the core measurement tools every tech should carry, then pivots into operational safety: SDS sheets, chemical transport, bonding/grounding awareness at equipment pads, and how to avoid expensive (and reputation-killing) accidents like flooding a yard or dropping a $4,000 heater on the highway.
He closes with a promise: next week he’ll get into a full wish list of gear you should be buying for your techs (and yourself) to make the job easier in 2026—plus he offers to share his calculation sheets if you email the show.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Accurate dosing isn’t nerd stuff—it’s profit protection
Steve calls out the casual “just eyeball it” culture and explains how small overpours multiply fast across a route. A little extra per stop becomes real money by the end of the week and month.
The reality of app-based dosing
Using an app is fine—if you actually set it up correctly. Steve points out the common failure: techs use apps without confirming product strengths (cal-hypo % varies, liquid chlorine strength varies), which makes the output garbage.
Field measurement tools every tech should carry
Steve emphasizes having simple, cheap tools that prevent waste:
- A fluid-ounce measuring cup (so “half a gallon” isn’t a guess)
- A dedicated dry-chemical scoop system (like “smart scoops”) for more consistent dosing—unless you’re willing to go full-pro and carry a scale
Route management: track chemical usage like you mean it
He talks about using modern apps and reporting to review chemical spend by account—so you can see who’s profitable and who’s quietly eating your margins.
Safety and Liability: The Stuff That Can Ruin Your Year
SDS sheets in the truck, always
Steve stresses having a physical SDS binder/folder for everything you carry—because in an accident, nobody else is going to “handle your chemical problem.” If there’s a spill or cleanup, it’s coming back to you.
Bonding and grounding checks at the equipment pad
Steve urges techs to stop ignoring the pad. Take a minute and look. Missing or improper bonding/grounding isn’t just “code talk”—it’s a safety risk that can become a negligence nightmare if something goes wrong.
Carry extra bonding wire
He recommends keeping a roll of the correct gauge bonding wire on the truck because he runs into missing or incorrect bonding more often than he should.
Secure loads in your truck
He highlights straps (rocket straps / heavy-duty straps) because the worst-case scenario is catastrophic: equipment or chemicals falling out at highway speed, causing injury or damage—and liability lands on you.
“Stop Flooding People’s Yards” Tools
Water timers save your ass
Flow meters for smarter fills and commer
Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:
Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com
