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Yearly Archives: 2022

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Read more about the article Plaster, Fiberglass, & Vinyl  Pool Surface Fails

Plaster, Fiberglass, & Vinyl Pool Surface Fails

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:April 10, 2022
  • Post category:Plaster/Staining

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to present at a conference. This one the National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) had contracted with me to teach a Certified Pool…

Continue ReadingPlaster, Fiberglass, & Vinyl Pool Surface Fails
Read more about the article Pipeline Cartridge Filter – Product Review

Pipeline Cartridge Filter – Product Review

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:April 4, 2022
  • Post category:Pool News/Product Review

Earlier this year, I installed something I think is pretty cool. I got a new filter, and when I say new, it's not just new to me; it's new to…

Continue ReadingPipeline Cartridge Filter – Product Review
Read more about the article Biolab Factory Reopening Delayed

Biolab Factory Reopening Delayed

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:April 2, 2022
  • Post category:Pool News

  I have some BREAKING NEWS from a highly reliable inside source. The Biolab Factory Reopening will be a little further out than initially anticipated. The factory that had burned…

Continue ReadingBiolab Factory Reopening Delayed
Read more about the article Building your brand image

Building your brand image

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:March 21, 2022
  • Post category:Marketing

What do people in your community think of when they hear your name, or see your logo? Whatever it is, that is your brand image. Is McDonald's brand the golden…

Continue ReadingBuilding your brand image
Read more about the article Courteney Cox sold swimming pools for a living before becoming an actress

Courteney Cox sold swimming pools for a living before becoming an actress

  • Post author:Contributor
  • Post published:March 14, 2022
  • Post category:Pool News

Courteney Cox worked at a swimming pool store before becoming an actress. The 57-year-old actress insisted she was "one hell of a salesman" before she found fame and her dad…

Continue ReadingCourteney Cox sold swimming pools for a living before becoming an actress
Read more about the article Pool Opening Checklist ☑️

Pool Opening Checklist ☑️

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:March 7, 2022
  • Post category:Pool Service Tips

  I know what you're thinking. A Pool Opening Checklist ?!  Rudy lives in Florida; what is he doing talking about opening and closing swimming pools. Well, Rudy is a…

Continue ReadingPool Opening Checklist ☑️
Read more about the article The perceived value of your service

The perceived value of your service

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:February 26, 2022
  • Post category:Pool Service Tips

A perceived value refers to the perspective or opinion of a customer towards a product or service, according to thebusinessprofessor.com. The truth is that your potential customer decides how much…

Continue ReadingThe perceived value of your service
Read more about the article Aquatics Vision Program Receives CMAHC Certification

Aquatics Vision Program Receives CMAHC Certification

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:February 23, 2022
  • Post category:Pool News

PHOENIX – American Pool Service’s Aquatics Vision program has achieved CMAHC Certification (Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code Certification) for compliance with standards in the latest edition of the…

Continue ReadingAquatics Vision Program Receives CMAHC Certification
Read more about the article Are you ready to hire your first employee?

Are you ready to hire your first employee?

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:February 15, 2022
  • Post category:Employees

We could make this really simple and say you need to hire someone if you have a pile of crap on your desk that you don’t ever have time to…

Continue ReadingAre you ready to hire your first employee?
Read more about the article Running a small business is hard

Running a small business is hard

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:February 7, 2022
  • Post category:Pool News

There's been something bouncing around social media a little bit, and I saw it, and it makes it seems to hit hard with some folks. It's a quasi-viral 'share and…

Continue ReadingRunning a small business is hard
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Read Rudy's Column in AQUA Magazine
Talking Pools Podcast
Talking Pools Podcast

Forget chasing chlorine headaches and battling algae wars alone. The Talking Pools Podcast is your weekly escape from pool purgatory, where 250+ years of combined pro wisdom explodes into actionable hacks, mind-blowing tips, and secrets so ancient they make Poseidon jealous.

Think of it as your weekly poolside braintrust, fueled by eight seasoned pros, each a rockstar in their own aquatic lane. Got a filtration fiasco? Chemical conundrum? Equipment enigma? No problem. We’ve got a host for that:

  • The Tech Titan: Unravels the mysteries of pumps, filters, and gizmos that make pools tick (without the electrical shocks).
  • The Chem Crusader: Your personal alchemist, whipping up potion-perfect water balance with a dash of science and a sprinkle of magic.
  • The Maintenance Maverick: From tile tricks to algae assassins, he’s got the lowdown on keeping your pool looking like a liquid emerald palace.
  • The Customer Calmer: Smooths ruffled feathers faster than a pool noodle bouquet, turning hangry homeowners into poolside pals.

But Talking Pools isn’t just about technical wizardry. It’s about camaraderie, the shared language of pool pros who’ve seen it all, from exploding filters to synchronized swimming squirrels (no, really, we had an episode!).

Every week, you’ll:

  • Steal game-changing secrets: Learn pro-grade hacks to make you the “Pool Whisperer” in your market
  • Laugh until you spit out your piña colada: These guys are as witty as they are wise, turning pool problems into poolside punchlines.
  • Get ahead of the curve: Stay on top of industry trends and tech before your competitors even smell the chlorine.
  • Feel the love (and the sunshine): Remember why you got into this business in the first place – the joy of creating backyard oases where memories are made.

So, ditch the Drano, grab your headphones, and dive into the Talking Pools Podcast. It’s your weekly dose of poolside wisdom, laughter, and community. We’ll see you on the flip side!

P.S. Subscribe now and you might just win a case of pool party essentials (floaties not included, sorry squirrels).

P.P.S. Tell your pool-loving friends – sharing knowledge is like sharing sunscreen, it protects everyone!

What the Skimmer Report Is Really Telling You 🫵
byRudy Stankowitz

Pool Pros text questions here

No arrests. No indictments. No viral footage of someone in a polo getting walked past a plaster truck in handcuffs.

And yet—this was not a quiet week.

In this Friday episode of the Talking Pools Podcast, Rudy Stankowitz breaks down what actually moved the needle in the pool industry this week: quiet signals, structural shifts, and the 2026 Skimmer State of the Pool Service Report—misread by many, misunderstood by most, and weaponized incorrectly on social media.

This is not a recap episode.
 This is not a highlight reel.
 And it sure as hell isn’t a kumbaya moment.

Rudy dissects what the report claims, what it measures, and—more importantly—what it doesn’t. From survey bias and geographic concentration to overhead pressure, chemical risk transfer, pricing restraint, labor constraints, AI realities, and the slow death of handshake-based operations, this episode pulls the curtain back on what “professionalization” really means.

Spoiler: it’s not growth—it’s survival with a spreadsheet.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear:

• Why the 2026 “State of the Pool Industry” is not actually the state of the entire industry
• How survey bias, telemetry bias, and geography skew conclusions
• Why optimism in the report is coming from restraint, not expansion
• The real meaning behind rising overhead percentages and sticky fixed costs
• What declining “maintenance expense” actually signals (hint: accounting, not cheaper chemicals)
• Monthly billing: why recurring revenue magnifies bad unit economics
• The quiet but powerful shift in chemical risk allocation
• Why deposits are becoming standard—and what that says about market power
• Labor as the true binding constraint (and why AI isn’t fixing it)
• How national brands aren’t stealing customers—they’re stealing employees
• Why efficiency-first strategies signal margin indication, not abundance
• What the report avoids measuring—and why those omissions matter
• How disciplined operators will look calm while undisciplined ones experience chaos
• The difference between what looks good on paper and what blows up Tuesday at 7:30 AM

Key Takeaway:

This report isn’t comfort food.
 It’s a diagnostic.

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Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com

What the Skimmer Report Is Really Telling You 🫵
What the Skimmer Report Is Really Telling You 🫵
February 6, 2026
Rudy Stankowitz
Trade Show Attendance
February 5, 2026
Rudy Stankowitz
ICF Pools with Manny Sanchez
February 4, 2026
Rudy Stankowitz
SWG’s Get a Bad Rap!
February 2, 2026
Rudy Stankowitz
Transforming Pool Problems into Solutions
January 31, 2026
Rudy Stankowitz
Jeff Hampe Talks Tile Pools
January 30, 2026
Rudy Stankowitz
No Douche Thursdays: A New Approach to Pool Service
January 29, 2026
Rudy Stankowitz
Don’t Get Mad – Get Maddy!
January 28, 2026
Rudy Stankowitz
The Risks of Employee Behavior
January 26, 2026
Rudy Stankowitz
Algae & Chemical Truths: Hard Lessons from the Western Show to BioLab
January 23, 2026
Rudy Stankowitz
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  • CPO Class Schedule
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    • U.S. Public Swimming Pool Codes👮
      • Alaska’s CPO Certification Requirement
      • Arkansas CPO Requirement for Public Pool Operators
      • Baldwin County CPO Certification Requirement
      • Colorado CPO Certification Requirement
      • Connecticut CPO Certification Requirement
      • District of Columbia CPO Certification Requirement
      • Florida’s CPO Certification Requirement for Public Pool Service Technicians
      • Georgia CPO Certification requirement
      • Hawaii CPO Certification Requirement
      • Illinois CPO Certification
      • Indiana CPO Requirement
      • Iowa CPO Certification Requirement
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