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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
Color in pool water is a symptom, not a diagnosis
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In this conversation, Rudy Stankowitz delves into the complexities of pool chemistry, particularly focusing on the role of copper and hydrogen peroxide in water treatment. He revisits a previous episode on ORP (Oxidation-Reduction Potential) and discusses the implications of misdiagnosing pool issues based on color alone. Stankowitz emphasizes the importance of understanding the underlying chemical conditions rather than relying solely on visual symptoms. He provides insights into how copper behaves in pool water, the effects of pH changes, and the common mistakes made in diagnosing and treating copper stains. The conversation culminates in a call for better questions and a deeper understanding of pool chemistry to improve industry practices.
Takeaways
The industry improves by revisiting ideas with better questions.
Copper chemistry is complex and often misunderstood.
Color in pool water is a symptom, not a diagnosis.
Hydrogen peroxide behaves differently than chlorine in pools.
Misdiagnosing copper as algae can lead to incorrect treatments.
pH changes can significantly affect copper behavior in water.
Copper can exist in multiple forms, each with different implications.
Understanding chemical conditions is crucial for effective pool maintenance.
ORP readings can be misleading without context.
Good operators pressure test their explanations rather than protect them.
Sound bites
"A green algae pool is cloudy and opaque."
"Copper can be blue, it can be green."
"Copper doesn't show up. Copper waits."
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Acknowledgments
00:19 Revisiting the ORP Episode
01:25 Understanding Copper Chemistry
04:38 The Role of Hydrogen Peroxide
08:50 Misunderstanding Copper in Pools
14:43 Diagnosing Copper Stains
19:35 The Effects of pH on Copper
26:13 Complexities of Copper Staining
29:50 Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:
Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com
