Should I change pool companies?

[meestahmarc]

For 5 years I've maintained my pool myself. Decent success, typical setbacks here and there, but generally ok.

This year used a pool guy, mainly bc I was away taking care of my sick mom. I also didn't want to leave the pool shut, so got a pool company who my friend uses.

So here's the question. I'm back now at the pool. Pool guy shows up for my weekly visit. I see him test my pool with a dip strip. No joke. I was laughing and said whats this. Is this how you do it. Then he told me that every other week he takes a sample back to the office. I call BS on that. Take a sample and then come back a week later. Yeah right.

Should I dump these folks? On the plus, they use my chemicals and don't use a ton. I've learned a few good tips and pointers from them. On the negative, I don't think they used DE in my filter, pool had mustard algea twice, first time they definitely didn't use enough of my shock to resolve the situation, my pool has basically no CYA, burned through 12lbs of shock in 2 days.

I think I know the answer. Only reason I'm on the fence is bc they don't rip me off on charges, but for the basically weekly charge, maybe they aren't really doing a good job.

 

[Mdragger88]

Sounds like they need to go…
We got you - & we’re free lol
What test kit do you have? it’s not in your signature
Can you share some test results?
We don’t really recommend powdered “shock”.
If you have algae you need to do the
SLAM Process with liquid chlorine.

 

[JamesW]

Should I change pool companies?

If you have to ask, you already have your answer.

The problem is that most service people are the same and your chance of getting someone really good is probably less than 10% (In my opinion).

 

[Newdude]

+1.

Most companies would give your pool the daily care it needs, and with the method you choose to have them follow, if you paid them accordingly. But nobody wants to pay them accordingly. Weekly service just won't cut it more often than not and that's primarily the pool owners fault, not the service company.


Then service companies have bad apples at times and it compounds even worse.

 

[meestahmarc]

I have the TFP kit, but will admit have not used it. Until last year was using ColorQ 7, but that thing is so flaky and annoying.

Got the pool company this year bc I was away with my sick mom. Not at the pool for weeks on end. So the pool guy at least kept it good enough, but not like I have it now after being home a week.

My issue is I might not be there that much next year or year after (also have a house at beach), so either rely on the pool guys or keep it shut. One nice thing I learned from the pool guy is to use a better cover, one that blocks all light into pool. Then I won't get algea, which is why I opened the pool this year early.

Thanks for your replies. I kind of agree, they will kind of keep it good enough, but not amazing.

 

[poolmagazine]

For 5 years I've maintained my pool myself. Decent success, typical setbacks here and there, but generally ok.

This year used a pool guy, mainly bc I was away taking care of my sick mom. I also didn't want to leave the pool shut, so got a pool company who my friend uses.

So here's the question. I'm back now at the pool. Pool guy shows up for my weekly visit. I see him test my pool with a dip strip. No joke. I was laughing and said whats this. Is this how you do it. Then he told me that every other week he takes a sample back to the office. I call BS on that. Take a sample and then come back a week later. Yeah right.

Should I dump these folks? On the plus, they use my chemicals and don't use a ton. I've learned a few good tips and pointers from them. On the negative, I don't think they used DE in my filter, pool had mustard algea twice, first time they definitely didn't use enough of my shock to resolve the situation, my pool has basically no CYA, burned through 12lbs of shock in 2 days.

I think I know the answer. Only reason I'm on the fence is bc they don't rip me off on charges, but for the basically weekly charge, maybe they aren't really doing a good job.

I'd tell you to shop around, but unfortunately, there is not an overabundance of top-quality pool service companies in Paramus, NJ. You're really talking about a handful of companies that know what they're doing and do a great job, but as with anything you'll get what you pay for. If the guy isn't ripping you off and does an adequate job, I'd keep him but tell him what your concerns are and see if he takes the issue to heart.

 

[Bperry]

I have the TFP kit, but will admit have not used it. Until last year was using ColorQ 7, but that thing is so flaky and annoying.

Got the pool company this year bc I was away with my sick mom. Not at the pool for weeks on end. So the pool guy at least kept it good enough, but not like I have it now after being home a week.

My issue is I might not be there that much next year or year after (also have a house at beach), so either rely on the pool guys or keep it shut. One nice thing I learned from the pool guy is to use a better cover, one that blocks all light into pool. Then I won't get algea, which is why I opened the pool this year early.

Thanks for your replies. I kind of agree, they will kind of keep it good enough, but not amazing.

You can get algae under a cover that blocks all light. Happens all the times inside pipes and behind light niches. You just need to have him maintain the chlorine level appropriately which means he’ll have to test the CYA periodically and keep chlorine balanced with it.

 

[Mdragger88]

Get a salt water chlorine generator to dose your pool whether you’re there or not then if you must use a service that part will be covered & they can mostly deal with adding a little acid and cleaning the pool. If you’re away I would insist on a service that does drop testing & sends you the results. (They have apps for that)
List what you want your levels to be and what they are & aren’t supposed to do/add.

 

[JamesW]

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[SoDel]

If you’re short on available time, I would be inclined to keep them if they are willing to follow your direction on the water chemistry. In my (very limited — two companies that were equally lax) experience, pool service staff are in a rush and don’t need to worry about a pool finish overhaul needed years down the road caused by years of what they’re doing. If you keep them, they can skim, vacuum & brush once a week, add chemicals as you direct, maintain the filter as needed. You test the water chemistry before they arrive every week so you can tell or text them how much acid to add or what it needs — 5 minutes or so tops of your time. If you don’t have SWG, you need to add chlorine every day but with a once a week pool service, you’d need to do that anyway.

In short, have them do the routine stuff on their own and you supervise, not do, just supervise, the important stuff to get the best result but the least amount of your time.