Just Venting / Example of why you should use TFP and not trust your maintenance company 🙄

[JenWass]

Just here to say that I am so thankful for TFP and all I have learned from its members and forums. My pool company opened my pool 3 weeks ago, they come once a week to brush, vacuum and “test” chemicals… This week, the Friday before Memorial Day, I go to check the levels using my trusty Taylor kit, and I see zero chlorine. I call the company and ask if the worker noted adding salt bc I have no chlorine.. The lady on the phone tells me no he didn’t indicate anything (eventhough I specifically asked the worker to add salt being it was his second visit and they flocc’d and cleaned the pool on their first) She proceeds to question me on the need for more salt and tell me that well as long as the pool is clear it is an indication that’s it’s safe to swim in. I couldn’t believe my ears. People actually believe this! She said testing won’t pick up on chlorine from a SWCG bc it’s not chemical chlorine. She said they would add a bag a week until the low salt indicator turned off. Wow this was all just flat out wrong and mind boggling. I tested the salt level using my kit and it was 1200. I’ve since had to add six bags of salt on my own meanwhile I paid them for opening and maintaining the pool. Pool “professionals” and they don’t even know how to measure and add the right amount of salt to get the pool to generate chlorine. Such a joke. Again, thankful for all I’ve learned here - thanks for listening!

 

[kimkats]

OH WOW! That is just SO wrong! I am so glad you have your own test kit. Now please, oh please tell me you have fired them!

 

[Texas Splash]

 

[VinnyinNJ]

I stopped trusting pool "professionals" years ago. I went into a local pool store, my CYA was at 100 and asked if there was any way to get it down and they said 'it's fine, that's where we like to see it'... I knew better.

Personally, I think places may hire people that really don't have any idea. I lived in a condo with a pool and I'm sure the lifeguards they hired had no clue about water chemistry. I do understand that a community pool is different than a private pool but even in a private pool people need to know something.

 

[JenWass]

OH WOW! That is just SO wrong! I am so glad you have your own test kit. Now please, oh please tell me you have fired them!

I will be except I already paid for half the season… now how to get my money back…

 

[JenWass]

I stopped trusting pool "professionals" years ago. I went into a local pool store, my CYA was at 100 and asked if there was any way to get it down and they said 'it's fine, that's where we like to see it'... I knew better.

Personally, I think places may hire people that really don't have any idea. I lived in a condo with a pool and I'm sure the lifeguards they hired had no clue about water chemistry. I do understand that a community pool is different than a private pool but even in a private pool people need to know something.

Indeed- it’s so sad people can’t be taught basic skills for a job

 

[jgofnj]

This is terrible. I feel bad for the people that don't know better and will end up paying more for them to fix the problems they caused.

 

[VinnyinNJ]

Indeed- it’s so sad people can’t be taught basic skills for a job

Is it they can't be or aren't taught. I'm a believer of "watered down information theory". That is someone knows the info well, tells it to someone who understands it but doesn't give all the info to someone else, who then gives incomplete info that info and so on.

Ultimately, it comes down to hiring cheap labor and the company making a profit. I've been on quite a few training classes in my life and the best always comes from the OEM with a person/staff dedicated to the training. Unfortunately that doesn't happen in most situations.

I feel fortunate to have found this site for my pool information, we all should feel fortunate!

 

[JenWass]

Is it they can't be or aren't taught. I'm a believer of "watered down information theory". That is someone knows the info well, tells it to someone who understands it but doesn't give all the info to someone else, who then gives incomplete info that info and so on.

Ultimately, it comes down to hiring cheap labor and the company making a profit. I've been on quite a few training classes in my life and the best always comes from the OEM with a person/staff dedicated to the training. Unfortunately that doesn't happen in most situations.

I feel fortunate to have found this site for my pool information, we all should feel fortunate!

Totally agree, but I feel it comes down to that line, “you had one job!” The fact that nobody can competently train the staff they have in the field is just sad.