CPO Practice Test

Post author:Rudy
Post published:September 1, 2020
Post category:Pool News

CPO (Certified Pool Operator) Practice Test

What is the ideal range for pH?

7.2 to 7.8

7.0 to 8.0

6.8 to 8.2

7.4 to 7.6

Correct! Wrong!

How often should you clean or backwash your filter?

1x per week

When the pressure gauge reads 8 to 10 psi above the clean starting pressure

When the pressure gauge reads 10 to 20 psi above the clean starting pressure

1x every thirty days

Correct! Wrong!

What should the pump lid o-ring should be lubricated with?

A silicone or teflon based lubricant

Petroleum jelly

High viscosity motor oil

Acrylic sealant

Correct! Wrong!

What is the best method of algae prevention?

Using a cover to keep algae spores from getting in

Alternating sanitizer between chlorine tablets and liquid chlorine

Maintaining a pH higher than 7.5

Brushing the pool walls and floor on a regular basis

Correct! Wrong!

Which chemical is used to raise the total alkalinity?

Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)

Soda Ash (Sodium Carbonate)

Baking Powder

Sodium Bisulfate (Dry Acid)

Correct! Wrong!

Which is an important step in preparation for a major storm?

Throw all of your patio furniture into the pool

Drain the pool to prevent overflowing during the storm

Raise your chlorine level and make sure your chemistry is in balance

Raise your pH super high to counter balance the acid rain

Correct! Wrong!

Water dripping from where the motor attaches to the pump is an indication of what?

Pump seal failure

Pressure side leak

Freeze plug damage

Blown capacitor

Correct! Wrong!

If you did not winterize your pool, what is the best method of preventing equipment damage during the threat of a hard freeze?

Run your pool pump during the hours of the hard freeze

Wrap the pump with blankets to keep in the heat

Close all of the valves to keep the freeze from spreading

Add swimming pool antifreeze directly into the pool

Correct! Wrong!

What is the correct level for the water in the pool?

Fill pool up to coping

Only high enough that you can hear the skimmer make slurping sounds

Just below the return jets

Fill pool to mid-point of the skimmer

Correct! Wrong!

What is the effect of aiming the return jets towards the surface?

This will not effect anything

Washes clinging debris from the tile line

Aeration will increase the dissolved oxygen level leading to an increase in Total Alkalinity

Turbulence will increase pH

Correct! Wrong!

How is a saltwater pool sanitized?

The high level of salt sanitizes due to TDS toxicity

It produces chlorine through a process called electrolysis

Bacteria and algae can not grow in salt water

Through a chemical process called salt curing

Correct! Wrong!

What does it mean when a pool has "that chlorine smell"?

The pool probably needs more chlorine - might be time to shock

The chlorine level is probably too high

All is good - a pool is supposed to smell like chlorine

All of the above

Correct! Wrong!

What day is National Swimming Pool day?

The last Saturday in April

June 16th

The Saturday of Memorial Day weekend

July 11th

Correct! Wrong!

What does muriatic acid disassociate into when added to water?

H & Cl- (Hydrogen & Chloride)

Ru & Dy (Ruthenium & Dysprosium)

P & H (Phosphorus & Hydrogen)

O & Mg (Oxygen & Magnesium)

Correct! Wrong!

Which of the following is something you should NEVER do?

Pee in the pool

Swallow the pool water

Swim when you have Diarrhea

All of the Above

Correct! Wrong!

Establishing a Borate level in a swimming pool will

photo: Flikr user Don O'Brien

Lower Total Alkalinity

Cause the Aqueous Carbon Dioxide to Outgas

Buffer Against an Upward Drift in pH

Replace the Need to Bathe

Correct! Wrong!

Bromine is

Erin Thibodeau

A Better Oxidizer Than Chlorine

A Better Algaecide Than Chlorine when Cyanuric Acid is in use

Less Effective at A Higher pH Than Chlorine

Protected From UV Rays by Cyanuric Acid (Stabilizer)

Correct! Wrong!

What is the Best lubricant for the viton chlorinator lid O-ring?

Vaseline

Silicone or Teflon Based Lubricant

Ivory Bar Soap

SAE 30

Correct! Wrong!

What is wrong with the pool in the picture?

The pH is too high

Diarrheal fecal incident

High iron level

Chlorine lock

Correct! Wrong!

Cloudy Water Can Contribute to

The risk of drowning

Longer filter runs

A pressure-side leak

The aesthetic value of the water

Correct! Wrong!

What should you do before adding sand to a sand filter?

Pour sand into the stand pipe to weight it down to hold in place

Remove the lateral hub assembly to avoid damaging the laterals when adding the sand

Fill the tank halfway with water to deaden the impact of the sand on the laterals

Add a layer of diatomaceous earth to allow the filter to remove finer particles

Correct! Wrong!

What is wrong with the pool in the picture?

High copper level

Algae problem

Palms are infested with rugose spiraling whitefly

High calcium level

Correct! Wrong!

What type of Candy Bar did Bill Murray's character Carl Spackler pull from the swimming pool in the movie Caddyshack?

Twix

Milky way

Mounds

Baby Ruth

Correct! Wrong!

Which of the following statements about black algae is true?

Black algae has roots

Black algae is one of the most tenacious forms of algae

Black algae is really cyanobacteria

Black algae is easily brushed off of the pool walls with a nylon bristle brush

Correct! Wrong!

What is wrong with the pool in the picture?

Keith Jig Courvelle, Legacy Pools

Low level of total dissolved solids

High level of magnesium hydroxide

Copper-cyanurate due to high level of cyanuric acid

High level of manganese

Correct! Wrong!

CPO Practice Test

Certified Pool Ninja!

Certified Pool Ninja: You are an unbeatable force of backyard Water Wisdom. You have mastered the art of H₂O!

The Water Warrior!

Water Warrior: You are a true Water Warrior. pH crawls back into balance at the mere mention of your name.

The Algae Buster

Algae Buster: Green in your pool? I don't think so!

The Pool Apprentice

The Pool Apprentice: You know many things, but there is still much to learn

Step Away From The Pool!

Step Away From The Pool! You've been Busted!!! The water police are en route to your location.

Check out our training videos, Practice Math Test (includes answer key), and our CPO Class Flashcards at CPO Class Prep

Need a CPO Class?

Do you maintain swimming pools professionally? Join our Facebook group where talking shop means Talking Pools

Earning your Certified Pool Operator® (CPO) Certification doesn’t have to be Boring!!!

At Aquatic Facility Training & Consultants, we believe that learning about swimming pools doesn’t have to be boring. We teach the CPO® (Certified Pool Operator) certification courses in a manner that engages the student, integrates Hands-on exercises, uses “Real World” pool scenarios that students can easily relate to, and incorporates a format that provides a unique and FUN learning experience.

“Thank you so much!!! I have learned so much from you and I will always remember the things you taught me. Rudy, you made the CPO Course a lot of fun and also made it very interesting. Just love your teaching style and I will definitely keep in touch. I am so excited!!!”
– G.P. Harris, Holiday Inn & Suites, Pensacola FL

“You are a great teacher! This is the third time I have received my Certified Pool Operator Certification and the most I have ever got out of any of the classes. This is the first time all of the information has made sense.”
– M. Shiver, New Horizons Village, Lecanto FL

“Thank you, Rudy. I was told that CPO Courses were boring and far from interesting. Not with you, I really enjoyed it and learned a lot. Thanks again.”
– Orlando J. Acosta, Aloft Hotel, Jacksonville FL

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Rudy

Rudy Stankowitz is a 30-year veteran of the swimming pool industry and President/CEO of Aquatic Facility Training & Consultants

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.

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The Maintenance Maverick: From tile tricks to algae assassins, he’s got the lowdown on keeping your pool looking like a liquid emerald palace.

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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!).

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Steal game-changing secrets: Learn pro-grade hacks to make you the “Pool Whisperer” in your market

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Text Rudy Now!

In this episode of the Wayne and Steve Podcast from the Talking Pools Podcast, the duo explores strategies for increasing revenue streams within the pool service industry. With Steve fresh off two weeks of fieldwork, he reflects on the physical demands of the job, offering a heartfelt shout-out to pool technicians who endure the grind daily.

The episode shifts focus to expanding income beyond basic pool maintenance. Steve highlights the importance of offering high-end services like automation installations, salt cell systems, and robotic pool cleaners to enhance customer satisfaction and increase profits. Both hosts emphasize the significance of clear contracts to delineate service boundaries and ensure profitability, with Steve stressing the value of upselling premium maintenance plans tailored to unique customer needs, such as pools with new plaster or persistent issues like algae.

The hosts also delve into the benefits of diversifying service offerings, including repairs, leak detection, and equipment installation. They advocate building partnerships with specialists in areas like plastering and leak detection, allowing pool companies to subcontract complex tasks and generate revenue passively. Steve underscores the importance of networking with distributors and repair professionals to establish mutually beneficial relationships.

Throughout the episode, Steve and Wayne discuss practical challenges like pricing transparency, managing customer expectations, and addressing the impact of online retail on parts sales. They applaud companies like Fluidra for protecting pricing integrity, which helps service providers maintain profitability.

The conversation ends on an optimistic note, with the hosts encouraging listeners to embrace entrepreneurship and recognize the pool industry’s potential for unlimited financial growth. They promise a follow-up episode to dive deeper into creative revenue opportunities, inviting listeners to share their own strategies via email for a chance to be featured.

Key Takeaways:

Diversify Services: Offer premium plans, repairs, and specialty services to increase revenue.
Build Strategic Partnerships: Collaborate with specialists to expand capabilities and profitability.
Leverage Technology: Sell and install automation systems, salt cells, and robotic cleaners.
Protect Pricing: Use strategies to counteract the challenges posed by online retail.
Think Long-Term: Scale businesses to create sustainable income without over-reliance on physical labor.

Wayne and Steve leave listeners with a call to action: explore additional revenue streams and share ideas for future discussions.

LaMotte Company
LaMotte Company is a leading manufacturer of water quality testing products & pool test kits

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