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Chemicals in the Skimmer, Insurance Gaps & the Pool Guy Who “Feels” the Water
Description
This week on Thursdays with Wayne and Steve, Wayne climbs back onto his favorite soapbox: your skimmer is not a chemical-dispensing system. The guys break down the risks of feeding acid, calcium chloride, chlorine tablets, and other products through the skimmer—and discuss the limited situations where manufacturer directions may call for it.
Steve also speaks with Pat from the California Pool Association about liability coverage for residential, commercial, and high-end aquatic facilities. They examine diving boards, slides, expensive equipment, property-damage extensions, revenue audits, and why landing a massive commercial account may require another conversation with your insurance agent.
Then, a pool inspection involving five plaster defects exposes a much larger problem: calcium hardness at 750 ppm, corrected alkalinity at 60 ppm, and a service professional who had not tested calcium in more than a year. It is a reminder that clear water, loyal customers, and weekly visits do not prove a pool is being properly managed.
Wayne and Steve also discuss:
- Why chlorine tablets should never be placed in a skimmer
- Safer ways to introduce powdered chemicals
- Using skimmer socks for cyanuric acid
- Liability exclusions involving diving boards and slides
- Coverage for property you are actively working on
- Insurance considerations when pursuing large commercial accounts
- Why a complete water analysis matters during every inspection
- The importance of periodically testing calcium hardness, CYA, and TDS
- Educating clients before assumptions become expensive problems
- Defining a clear scope of work for commercial facilities
- Why great pool service also requires communication and hospitality
The bottom line: follow proper chemical procedures, know exactly what your insurance covers, test before reaching conclusions, and never assume the person who has maintained a pool for years has maintained it correctly.
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