In Episode 299 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar, John “JJ Flawless,” and Zac “The Pool Boy” break down one of the most important conversations every pool pro needs to hear — the signals your business is sending you every single day.

From pricing mistakes and route inefficiencies to hiring too late and chasing the wrong growth, this episode dives deep into the real challenges pool service companies face — and how to fix them.

But that’s not all…

🚨 BIG NEWS: The Pool Pro Challenge just leveled up — now officially a $20,000+ competition (and pushing toward $25K) thanks to industry partners like BioLab and ProGuard.

If you’re serious about scaling your pool business, increasing profitability, and building something sustainable — this episode is a must-listen.

• Why more pools doesn’t always mean more profit
• The hidden cost of poor route density and wasted drive time
• How growth exposes every weak system in your business
• When to hire (and why waiting can cost you thousands)
• How to build additional revenue streams right in your customers’ backyards
• Why branding builds trust — not just recognition
• The real reason most pool businesses plateau
• How top pool pros are scaling to hundreds (even thousands) of pools

• The Pool Pro Challenge Prize Pool jumps to $20K+ (on the way to $25K)
• Upcoming Heritage Pro Service Academy hands-on training event
• Launch of Pool Nation certifications
• New Pool Nation Spotlights featuring real pool pros scaling their businesses

00:00 – Welcome to the Pool Nation Podcast 01:00 – What your business is really telling you 02:30 – AI, technology, and adapting in today’s world 05:00 – Real talk: health, burnout, and the grind 12:30 – Heritage Pro Service Academy announcement 15:00 – Creating new revenue streams (cool deck, services, upsells) 19:00 – 🚨 Pool Pro Challenge hits $20K+ 23:00 – Why this prize money is a game changer 31:00 – Pool Nation Spotlights: real growth stories 45:00 – Top 10 lessons from successful pool pros 54:00 – Route density and profitability breakdown 57:00 – Hiring mistakes and the cost of bad employees 01:00:00 – Scaling vs staying small: choosing your path 01:05:00 – Final thoughts and key takeaways 01:17:00 – Outro

A huge thank you to our incredible partners who make this podcast possible:

• SPPA
• BlueRay XL
• AquaStar Pool Products
• Natural Chemistry
• Raypak
• Heritage Pool Supply
• ONCore
• Hayward Pool Products
• Poolside Tech
• Pool Brain
• Neodeck
• Encore Filtration

👉 Want to grow your business faster? Visit PoolNation.com and get plugged into training, events, and the community that’s changing the industry.

In Episode 298 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar and Zac are joined by industry experts Robbie Walker and Michael Viegas from Solenis to break down one of the most misunderstood areas in the pool industry — spa, hot tub, and cold plunge water chemistry.

If you’ve ever treated a spa like a pool… this episode will change everything.

We dive deep into:

• Why hot water chemistry behaves completely differently
• The truth about biofilm, bacteria, and “human juice” in spas
• The real differences between chlorine, bromine, and biguanide systems
• How aeration, temperature, and bather load destroy your chemistry
• Why your sanitizer disappears overnight
• The rise of cold plunges and wellness systems
• And how pool pros can turn spas into a profitable service category

This is a must-listen for pool service pros, repair techs, and anyone looking to level up their understanding of water chemistry — especially in smaller bodies of water like spas and hot tubs.

👉 Bottom line: If you're not treating spas differently, you're doing it wrong.

00:00 – Intro: Welcome to Pool Nation Podcast 02:30 – Meet the Guests: Robbie Walker & Michael Viegas (Solenis) 06:45 – Why Spa Chemistry is NOT Pool Chemistry 10:20 – History of Spas: From Romans to Modern Hot Tubs 15:30 – The Rise of Cold Plunges & Wellness Trends 20:10 – The 3 Biggest Differences in Spa Water Chemistry 25:40 – Bather Load: The Truth About “Human Juice” 30:15 – Chlorine vs Bromine vs Biguanide (What Actually Works Best) 38:20 – Why Your Sanitizer Disappears in Hot Water 42:10 – Aeration, Jets & pH Drift Explained 47:30 – Shocking & Oxidation: What You SHOULD Be Doing 52:45 – Biofilm: The Hidden Problem in Every Spa 58:10 – Drain, Purge & Refill: The Right Maintenance Schedule 1:03:20 – Enzymes, Borates & Supplements (What’s Worth It?) 1:08:15 – Ozone, UV & Mineral Systems (Do They Replace Chlorine?) 1:12:30 – Final Thoughts: The Future of Spa & Wellness Industry

A huge thank you to our Visionary Partners for supporting the Pool Nation Podcast:

• The SPPA
• Blu-Ray XL
• AquaStar Pool Products
• Natural Chemistry
• Raypak
• Heritage Pool Supply
• Hayward Pool Products
• Poolside Tech
• Pool Brain
• Nidec
• OnCore Filtration
• EnCore Brands

We appreciate your continued support in helping us grow the pool industry and build a nation of pool pros.

In Episode 297 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar De Jesus, John “JJFlawless,” and Zac “The Pool Boy” sit down with Jose Perez, founder of Encore Filtration also now officially known as The Duke of Dirty Filters.

This episode goes deep into one of the most overlooked yet critical components of pool service: filtration and why it directly impacts water quality, efficiency, customer trust, and profitability.

Jose shares his journey from air filtration into the pool industry, why most pool pros are losing money on filters without realizing it, and how innovation, pricing strategy, and protecting the service professional are reshaping the industry.

This isn’t just a product conversation it’s a business conversation about margins, competition from online retailers, and what it really takes to build a sustainable pool service company.

If you’re a pool pro, service company owner, or industry professional this episode will change how you think about filtration, pricing, and long-term growth.

00:00 – Welcome to the Pool Nation Podcast 01:30 – Introducing Jose Perez (Encore Filtration) 04:15 – Why filtration is overlooked in the pool industry 08:20 – Jose’s background: From air filtration to pool innovation 13:45 – Taking the leap into entrepreneurship (no customers, no guarantees) 18:30 – The biggest gaps in the pool filtration market 23:10 – The real problem: Online pricing vs. service profitability 29:40 – Why protecting pool pros matters (and why most manufacturers don’t) 36:15 – The truth about margins, pricing, and customer trust 42:00 – Innovation beyond the product: thinking differently 48:20 – The FIT Kit concept (solving real field problems) 54:10 – How to build loyalty through customer experience 59:30 – The future of filtration & industry standards 1:05:20 – Technology center & raising the bar in testing 1:10:45 – Why “good is not good enough” in business 1:15:30 – Final thoughts & lessons for pool pros 1:18:00 – The birth of “The Duke of Dirty Filters”

• Filtration isn’t just maintenance it’s a profit center
• Competing with online pricing is one of the biggest threats to pool pros
• Innovation isn’t just products it’s customer experience + business strategy
• The companies that win will be the ones that protect the trade
• If you’re not improving, you’re falling behind good is not good enough

We want to thank our amazing Pool Nation Visionary Partners for making this podcast possible:

• The SPPA
• Blu-Ray XL
• AquaStar Pool Products
• Natural Chemistry
• Raypak EnCore Brands
• Heritage Pool Supply
• Hayward Pool Products
• Poolside Tech
• Pool Brain
• Nidec
• Encore Filtration

Follow us for more content, training, and industry insights:

• Website: PoolNation.com
• Instagram: @PoolNationPodcast
• Podcast: Pool Nation Podcast