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Author: Rudy

This author has written 133 articles
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Read more about the article The Certified Pool Operator Is a Risk Manager

The Certified Pool Operator Is a Risk Manager

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:April 21, 2026
  • Post category:Pool News
  • Post comments:0 Comments

The CPO is positioned as a risk manager—responsible for operational oversight, documentation, regulatory compliance, and the protection of bathers, staff, and facility assets.

Continue ReadingThe Certified Pool Operator Is a Risk Manager
Read more about the article Understanding LSI, Range Chemistry, and Real Water Balance

Understanding LSI, Range Chemistry, and Real Water Balance

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:April 14, 2026
  • Post category:Pool News
  • Post comments:0 Comments

Certified Pool Operator Classes: Understanding LSI, Range Chemistry, and Real Water Balance If you’ve ever taken one of my Certified Pool Operator classes, you already know this:Water balance is not…

Continue ReadingUnderstanding LSI, Range Chemistry, and Real Water Balance
Read more about the article Regulations & Guidelines

Regulations & Guidelines

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:April 10, 2026
  • Post category:CPO Certification Class
  • Post comments:0 Comments

A Professional Summary for Certified Pool Operators - Regulations & Guidelines Executive Summary Aquatic facility operations are not governed by a single rulebook. They function within a layered regulatory framework…

Continue ReadingRegulations & Guidelines
Read more about the article Maintaining Safe Water Chemistry

Maintaining Safe Water Chemistry

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:March 24, 2026
  • Post category:Water Chemistry

One of the primary responsibilities of a Certified Pool Operator (CPO) is to maintain not just proper swimming pool water chemistry but also safe water chemistry. Balanced water chemistry is essential…

Continue ReadingMaintaining Safe Water Chemistry
Read more about the article What Does a Certified Pool Operator Actually Do?

What Does a Certified Pool Operator Actually Do?

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:March 17, 2026
  • Post category:CPO Certification Class

What Does a Certified Pool Operator Actually Do? (Beyond Just Testing Pool Water) When many people hear the term Certified Pool Operator (CPO), they imagine someone walking around the pool…

Continue ReadingWhat Does a Certified Pool Operator Actually Do?
Read more about the article Oxidation Is Not Sanitation: What a CPO Needs to Know

Oxidation Is Not Sanitation: What a CPO Needs to Know

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:March 3, 2026
  • Post category:Pool News

Oxidation Is Not Sanitation: What Certified Pool Operators Need to Understand About ORP The Olympic Pool, ORP Misinterpretation, Copper Expression, and Why Green Water Is a Symptom — Not a…

Continue ReadingOxidation Is Not Sanitation: What a CPO Needs to Know
Read more about the article Heavy Metals and Algae Control in Swimming Pools

Heavy Metals and Algae Control in Swimming Pools

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:February 24, 2026
  • Post category:Pool News

Advanced Pool Chemistry for Certified Pool Operator (CPO) Classes - Algae Control in Swimming Pools In many pool industry conversations, the wrong question gets asked: “Do metals kill algae?” That…

Continue ReadingHeavy Metals and Algae Control in Swimming Pools
Read more about the article The Truth About Phosphates, Algae, and Pool Chemistry

The Truth About Phosphates, Algae, and Pool Chemistry

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:February 17, 2026
  • Post category:Pool News

The Truth About Phosphates, Algae, and Pool Chemistry Let us start with the sentence that will upset half the internet: Phosphates do not reduce chlorine effectiveness.Moreover, on top of that,…

Continue ReadingThe Truth About Phosphates, Algae, and Pool Chemistry
Read more about the article Langelier vs. Carrier vs. Wojtowicz: Strengths, Shortfalls, and Accuracy in Swimming Pool Water

Langelier vs. Carrier vs. Wojtowicz: Strengths, Shortfalls, and Accuracy in Swimming Pool Water

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:December 10, 2025
  • Post category:Water Chemistry

The Langelier Saturation Index, or LSI, was developed by Wilfred Langelier in 1936 to predict the stability of calcium carbonate in water systems. His original method calculated a saturation pH…

Continue ReadingLangelier vs. Carrier vs. Wojtowicz: Strengths, Shortfalls, and Accuracy in Swimming Pool Water
Read more about the article Tech Bulletin: Metals & Pool Water Quality

Tech Bulletin: Metals & Pool Water Quality

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:November 12, 2025
  • Post category:Pool News

Metals in Swimming Pools: Pool Water Quality, Diagnostics, Decision Paths, and Alum Copper Stain Removal Diagnostics Metals in pool water—copper, iron, manganese—show up as stains, odd water colors, or persistent…

Continue ReadingTech Bulletin: Metals & Pool Water Quality
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Read Rudy's Column in AQUA Magazine
Talking Pools Podcast
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. 

Talk to your insurance agent before big projects
byRudy Stankowitz

Pool Pros text questions here

In this episode, Steve Sherwood interviews Pat Grignone from California Pool Association to explore how pool service professionals can optimize their business operations, partnerships, and insurance strategies to grow profitably and sustainably.

Keywords

pool service, business growth, partnerships, insurance, pool renovation, subcontracting, liability, pool industry

Key Topics

  • Business capacity and scaling in the pool industry
  • Partnering with subcontractors and specialists
  • Managing insurance and liability for large projects
  • Streamlining operations for profitability
  • Best practices for pool renovation and startup

Guest Name

Pat Grignone

Sound Bites

  • ”Control the entire renovation and startup process”
  • ”Talk to your insurance agent before big projects”
  • ”Check in with your insurer when business changes”

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Guest Introduction

00:15
Steve's Personal Pool Industry Story

01:09
Challenges of Scaling a Pool Service Business

02:01
Balancing Service, Repairs, and Billing

02:54
Strategies for Managing Growth and Capacity

04:02
Partnering with Subcontractors and Vendors

08:31
Pricing and Profitability in Renovations

09:23
Managing Renovation and Startup Processes

10:45
Controlling Quality and Long-term Service

11:37
Partnerships with Leak Detection and Plaster Companies

12:35
The Cost of Equipment and Building a Large Company

13:45
Controlling the Entire Pool Renovation Process

14:25
Advice for Companies Outsourcing Jobs

15:16
Financial and Insurance Considerations for Large Jobs

16:11
Tax and Insurance Implications of High-Value Jobs

18:01
Monitoring Revenue and Insurance Changes

18:55
Closing Remarks and Contact Information

Support the show

Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Tik Tok

Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com

Talk to your insurance agent before big projects
Talk to your insurance agent before big projects
April 23, 2026
Rudy Stankowitz
Debunking Water Chemistry Myths with Eric Knight
April 22, 2026
Rudy Stankowitz
AI can cost you thousands if you’re not careful – Mondays
April 22, 2026
Rudy Stankowitz
Andrea on Understanding Total Dynamic Head and Valve Management in Pools
April 21, 2026
Rudy Stankowitz
You’re Not Testing the Pool, You’re Testing a Lie – Rudy
April 17, 2026
Rudy Stankowitz
Who Touched My Valves?! (And Why I’m Paying for It) – Steve & Wayne
April 16, 2026
Rudy Stankowitz
A Shirt Is NOT Just a Shirt: The Branding Myth That’s Costing You Customers – Natalie Hood
April 15, 2026
Rudy Stankowitz
Andrea talks Cavitation: The Sound of You Ignoring Expensive Problems
April 14, 2026
Rudy Stankowitz
Floc Around and Find Out – Mondays Down Under
April 13, 2026
Rudy Stankowitz
Breakpoint Is Wrong (And Enzymes Aren’t What You Think) – Rudy
April 10, 2026
Rudy Stankowitz
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  • CPO Class Schedule
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      • Georgia CPO Certification requirement
      • Louisiana CPO Certification Requirement
    • Test Kit Store
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  • Online Pool Pro Classes
  • AFT&C news🗞️
  • Talking Pools Podcast🎧
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