Aquatic Artisans Pool Lounge
The Aquatic Artisans Pool Lounge seeks to help all those in the swimming pool industry to perform great work and elevate its members’ knowledge of the work they do day in and day out. It’s a place to post work photos, insights, or to post problems to get some help.
Originally the 14psi Pool Industry Lounge created by the group’s administrator, Dustin Weaver, in July 2019, its name was changed to Aquatic Artisans in April 2021. The group has 3,900 members and growing, and it is among the more popular groups for pool and spa professionals.
In addition to providing a platform for pool pros to throw out ideas and get help with technical problems, the group distinguishes itself in several important ways.
Perhaps most importantly, the group has a mentorship program where anyone who has experience and a skill to share can offer support. Any group member can ask someone to mentor them when they see that person listed as a mentor. Group members can also offer to mentor people. Members can browse the profiles of potential partners and start a conversation with people who seem promising. Mentors include pool builders and veteran service professionals, as well as chemistry experts, leak detection specialists, and more.
The Facebook Page features a “topics” page, where discussions are organized by specific areas of interest, such as plumbing, tile, business, automation, filtration, heaters, and a lot more. That way, members interested in exploring a specific topic can easily access the feed without having to scroll through general discussions.
It also has a “files” page, where, for the most part, members can find technical bulletins on chemistry by the late industry expert Robert Lowry. It also has several useful guidance, forms, and applications that were relevant during the early stages of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Talking Pools
Talking Pools, a private Facebook group of more than 3,100 members, gets a ton of daily traffic by pool and spa professionals. It was created in September 2019 by Rudy Stankowitz, a 30-plus-year industry veteran and President/CEO of Aquatic Facility Training & Consultants, LLC.
Stankowitz says he started the group to give back to an industry that’s been very good to him. He hoped the members would use the group to share knowledge and tips of the trade as well as provide both rookies and veterans with answers to everyday problems.
Members ask each other’s opinions concerning various products, ask for help with installations and troubleshooting, or simply post pictures of their own jobs done well.
But in addition to functioning as an advice and answer platform, the members of the group have done a lot of meaningful service for the pool industry.
For example, in 2020, members had 600 masks manufactured and shipped to professionals who work on swimming pools across the United States at a time when masks could not be found.
They also kept pool service professionals working at the onset of the pandemic.
“When COVID started, it was unclear whether the pool industry was essential. We had to work together to get pool service companies to stay open,” Stankowitz said.
Working together, Talking Pools group members contacted legislators in states where poolrelated businesses were ordered closed and not considered essential. They successfully had that legislation changed.
They also contacted the CMAHC (Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code) and had the designation of Aquatics Service Professional added to their member classifications.
On May 2, 2020, this group held the first Virtual Trade Show in any of the industries — the Talking Pools Shelter-In-Place Trade Show Event.
Stankowitz estimates that there were probably several hundred who “attended” the show in real time and many more who have watched it since.
The members of this group have also been involved in collecting raw data from the field to show that aluminum sulfate (alum) is capable of removing cyanuric acid from swimming pool water when added in a specified manner.
In October 2021, the Facebook Page also started its own podcast, the Talking Pools Podcast, where you can learn about swimming pool hacks, tricks, and ancient pool pro secrets.
CPO
The Certified Pool Operator – CPO Facebook Group is a private group for Certified Pool/Spa Operator everywhere to chat, share tips, ask questions, etc. Exclusive to those who have passed the CPO course, administrators require verification with a CPO card. The group was started by Steve Sherwood in January 2010, with Wayne Ivusich as an additional administrator, and Rudy Stankowitz helps monitor the page. The group has more than 2,900 members and enjoys a fair amount of traffic at about 70 posts a month.
It is international, with members in Australia, Central and South Africa, Canada, Mexico, South America, Bulgaria, Romania, Spain, Italy, and more.
As a group, it doesn’t promote specific manufacturers.
For example, while Ivusich is the manager of education and technical services for Taylor Technologies, he says he tries to remain as neutral as possible.
“If someone asks what’s the best test kit, I’m not going to answer that question,” Ivusich said.
But if someone does endorse Taylor, Ivusich says he’s always happy to hear it.
Ivusich says the CPO Facebook Page is a great tool for service techs because there’s almost always someone available to answer questions.
“These days, social media is just the fastest way to communicate with people in the industry,” Ivusich said.
The CPO Group is also a platform to provide webinars for those who teach.
“While it can’t really replace the value of face-to-face interaction, I consider it a supplement to trade shows,” Ivusich said.
Webinars have featured all kind of industry experts, educated in water chemistry, equipment and even construction, with well-known speakers such as Rudy Stankowitz, Bob Lowry, Kim Skinner, Greg Garrett, Harold Evans, Eric Knight, and more.
14 PSI
The 14 PSI Industry Club Facebook group is made up of industry members who discuss all facets of the pool business. It was created in March 2021 by Ken Hampe, with John Poma as an additional administrator. The group has nearly 2,700 members and gets a lot of traffic at about 17 posts a day.
The name — 14 PSI — comes from the fact that atmospheric pressure, or one bar, equals 14.5 PSI. When pools are operated at sea level, with a basic pool, pump, and filter, to equalize the atmospheric pressure, a clean cannister will register 14 PSI, an oldtimer rule of thumb Hampe says that the group is “where you can go after work and talk about your day. Whether it’s about pools or not, we have similar lives, so we have similar issues.”
Members of the club talk about pools, but they talk about other things as well, and they keep it casual – not everything is PG. But they do try to keep politics out of it.
It is an outlet for pool people to ask questions, post projects they are proud of, gain information, post research, and if they want to let off a little steam about work problems, they can do so there.
Members post about equipment error codes, plaster cracks, vinyl liner maintenance, and usually get answers within about 30 minutes.
The group includes quite a few industry experts who lend their thoughts when people have manufacturer-specific or chemistry questions.
Ken Moyer from Brenntag is a member, so if there are chemicalsupplier questions he participates. Harold Evans of Orenda is a member and often adds expert chemistry advice. Wayne Ivusich from Taylor Technologies frequently contributes when people have test-kit questions.
Members say the best part about groups like this is that they can learn a lot about fields that they don’t necessarily deal with all the time, such as remodels and construction.
And frequently, members can get their problems solved faster on the group page than the amount of time it takes waiting on hold for a manufacturer’s rep.
In recent years a large number of pool forums have been created to help pool industry members get answers to questions, support one another, help solicit or apply for jobs, buy or sell pool routes, and more. These groups may be public, meaning that anyone can view content, or private, meaning that individuals must request to become members before viewing membership and posts. The following are some Facebook groups for interested swimming pool service professionals.
Advanced Swimming Pool Service Techs
According to this group’s “about” page, this group is not for the average pool tech, but rather the best of the best, and behavior and questions should reflect as such. Started in 2016, the group is administered by Steve Sherwood, CEO at Sherwood Pool Consulting Group and has more than 200 members.
All things Aquatics-supporting pools and the staff/people who love them This public group is there to have open discussions for all things pool, from home pool safety and drowning prevention activities and programs to how to maximize the value of your fitness center pool.
It exists to support those with home pools and those who work in and around the aquatic facilities. Whatever you have questions about, are proud of, or just want to vent that’s what this group was made to provide — a place to just “talk pools.”
Discussion topics range from keeping homes or local pools safer and preventing drownings to dealing with no budget as an aquatic leader, and much more. It’s a public group administered by Wesley King and has more than 800 members.
Ask the Masters
Ask the Masters is a group that exists to invite professional builders from all around the world and from all types of industries specifically related to watershape, landscaping, design, and construction. They welcome open constructive criticism and answers to questions industry professionals may have. The “Masters” have years of experience with award-winning work and have completed hours of certified training in architecture, construction, and design.
Many of the Masters teach regularly with Watershape University, and many of them also work as consultants. They are here to guide you with best practices to help everyone grow as professional builders and designers. It’s a private group with 4,500 members.
The Business of Swimming Pools
The Business of Swimming Pools is a group that was created to discuss and post content for small business owners. This group is not intended to talk about pool problems, algae, basket sizes, or to ask questions about phosphates or any other chemical, compound, or formula. This group is specifically and only related to the business of swimming. Pertinent topics include: marketing, human resources, business banking, Insurance, operations, and growth strategy. It’s a private group with nearly 800 members.
Honest Pool Chemistry
This group is for swimming pool service techs only. This group is about water chemistry and anything that is swimming-pool related. Learn tips and tricks from the knowledge people bring to this group.
It’s a public group with 1,200 members. Pool Chasers Group
This is a peer-to-peer, business owner-to-business owner, networking and support group: a community where people can connect with their business peers and jam on business and life as an entrepreneur and most importantly swimming pool and spa talk.
The group is organized by Greg Villafana and Tyler Rasmussen. They own and operate a swimming pool service and repair company called Brothers Pool Service in Scottsdale, Arizona. It’s a private group with close to 2,000 members
Pool Girl Power
This is a Facebook group for female pool pros who have different perspectives and unique issues. This group was created for female pool technicians to help and encourage each other. It’s a private group with nearly 300 members.
Pool Industry Mastermind
This is a positive energy pool industry group for all members of the pool industry to help make the world a better place, share ideas, and create and grow some really great relationships. It was founded by Allan Curtis, Ask the Pool Guy/Legendary Escapes/Michigan; David Owens, Owens Custom Pools/Oregon; Sandi Maki, Ask the Pool Girl. It’s a private group with 3,800 members.
Pool Services Sales & Marketing Tips
Pool Services Sales & Marketing Tips is a Facebook group to help build small businesses.
This group is for those in the business of pool services; business owners constantly looking to improve and scale marketing efforts; those interested in networking with other pressure washers to see what marketing works for them; those interested in building relationships with other people in your field. Building relationships is the key to successful networking, and more leads means more money. It’s a private group with 3,500 members.
Swimming Pool Group for Professionals
This is a group for swimming pool professionals only.
No advertising or spamming is allowed. They accept all people, of all races, genders, water testing, brand, and vacuum preferences.
It’s a private group with nearly 4,000 members.
Swimming Pool Industry Jobs
If you are looking to hire new employees or are looking for work, the Facebook group page “Swimming Pool Industry Jobs” may be a useful place to find leads.
This is a private group with 2,300 members who are welcome to post job descriptions or resumes.
With an average of approximately 17 posts a month, it gets a fair amount of traffic.
Job seekers post their experience and qualifications – currently, pool pros are looking for paver work, gunite prep work, vinyl liner installation, and as sales or project managers.
As would be expected, there are more “help wanted” posts than posts from those seeking work, but those looking to hire do get some response, and some workers are willing to relocate if the job looks attractive enough.
Some also use this site to buy and sell pool routes. Others use it to buy off excess inventory from other pool pros.
This nationwide Facebook Page was started in 2015.
Swimming Pool Industry: Retail World
This Facebook group is for those who want to get down to the nitty gritty of when two lucrative, but highly stressful, worlds collide. Here, the swimming pool industry meets retail. It is for store owners or employees, or anyone who deals with the retail aspect of this intense and ever-changing industry. This is a private group with more than 550 members.
Swimming Pool Industry Workers
Swimming Pool Industry Workers is a private group for swimming pool industry workers and pool professionals only. It provides a platform to share knowledge and experience, ask questions, meet or talk to manufacture reps or others in any specific region or across the globe.
Jason Broswell, the group’s administrator, believes that membership is a way to give back to the industry and raise the standard for pool professionals as a whole.
“We all started out green at one time knowing less than we do now. Never stop learning and never stop contributing to the next generation coming in,” Broswell said.
With 9,000 members, this is one of the largest Facebook pool and spa industry private groups.
Swimming Pool Repair And Services In its Facebook group page description, “Swimming Pool Repair And Services” states that it is an “online community of swimming pool contractors – pool service – pool repair companies and manufacturers – news and information.”
And while that may occasionally be the case, the vast majority of the posts are from desperate pool owners seeking pool service help.
So, if you are looking to take on additional work, this might be a good place to look.
Recent posts come from pool owners looking to hire weekly pool service, as well as general repairs such as fixing/replacing pool lights, leak detection and repair, heater troubleshooting, salt cell replacement, and more. Some are also looking for vinyl liner and fiberglass pool installation.
This public Facebook group page has only been around since February 2022 and already has 8,800 members, which is testament to a lot of pool owners looking for help.
Swimming Pool Service and Repair Techs
The Swimming Pool Service and Repair Techs is a Facebook group for anyone who is currently or has ever been involved in any aspect of the pool industry. With 3,300 members, this is a private group.
