14
Florida Pool Pro
sm
• October 2014
THE SCOOP ON SERVICE
Pool leaks: Smart profit
By Robert Miller, Palm City Pool & Spa Inc /
It seems like it is getting harder and
harder to turn a profit in the pool service
industry. I remember back less than 15
years ago, a licensed pool service or
pool supply retailer could do very well
taking care of customers doing normal
service and repair on a weekly basis.
Well times have sure changed. Number
one, there is much more competition in
the pool service and pool supply industry.
It seems like it is getting much too easy
to obtain a pool service or pool contractor
license. Number two, in many cases consumers are buying products online,
not with their local, licensed pool professional.
I believe almost all swimming pool and spas will develop a leak problem
at one time or another. Locating and repairing leaks properly is a highly
specialized and profitable part of the swimming pool business. It requires
knowledge in all workings of the swimming pool or spa. An initial investment
in leak finding equipment can be inexpensive, though to be fully equipped to
handle any type of leak that may arise, equipment can become costly.
If you are in the pool service business, it is smart to have leak repair as
part of your services. If you are paying for the chemicals going in the pool,
you are potentially losing money until the leak, or leaks, have been fixed. I
present it to my pool service customer as a lose-lose proposition for both of
us until the problem is fixed. Most customers do not want to keep paying for
extra water in their pool on a regular basis.
If it has been determined that evaporation is not the problem causing the
unexpected water loss, then I would take the following steps in this order.
1.If there is a spa connected to the pool, isolate the spa from pool.
