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Pool Scouts Aims at Changing the Way Homeowners View Pool Maintenance

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How Pool Scouts Is Changing the Way Homeowners View Pool Maintenance

When it comes to pool ownership, the difference between a pristine backyard oasis and a costly maintenance nightmare often comes down to consistency and knowledge. Even well-meaning homeowners can make mistakes that slowly eat away at their pool’s surface, equipment, or water quality. To better understand which maintenance issues really cause long-term pool damage—and how homeowners can avoid it—Pool Magazine spoke with Chad Chicoine, Franchise Technical Coach for Pool Scouts, a national pool service brand. Through standardized training and reliable service systems, Pool Scouts is changing how homeowners think about maintaining their pools.

The Top Mistakes That Cause Long-Term Pool Damage

“The first one is water chemistry, hands down,” said Chicoine. “I’ve seen pools that look perfect but are quietly eating away at heaters or plaster because the low pH or low LSI has been out of whack for weeks, if not months.”

The second biggest mistake, according to Chicoine, is neglecting routine care. “Not keeping up with brushing, emptying baskets, or staying on top of filter cleanings—skip that stuff for too long, and you’re going to have circulation issues and probably algae.”

And the third? Procrastinating on small repairs. “I’ve had customers ignore a squeaky pump or a salt cell warning, and next thing you know, they’re shelling out for a full replacement when it could have been avoided.”

These mistakes persist because, at first glance, everything looks fine. “Clear water gives people a false sense of security,” he explained. “But unless you’ve been trained, you’re not going to notice that your stabilizer’s too high or your LSI is out of balance. It sneaks up on folks.”

Even small habits can quietly cause damage over time. “Things like overusing chlorine pucks, not diluting acid before adding it, or leaving the autofill on 24/7 don’t raise red flags right away,” said Chicoine. “But they slowly throw off water balance or wear down equipment. That’s where consistent service makes a real difference. A trained tech can spot these issues early, before they become expensive problems.”

Pool Scouts on The Problem with Inconsistent or DIY Pool Care

The Problem with Inconsistent or DIY Pool Care

In the age of YouTube tutorials and online pool forums, the do-it-yourself approach has become common—but it’s often misleading. “I totally get the DIY mindset,” said Chicoine. “I’m the kind of person who scours the internet for answers to everything. But test strips don’t tell the whole story, and internet advice doesn’t always apply to your region or your specific equipment. You might fix the symptom, sure, but miss the actual problem. And that’s usually when we get called in to clean up the mess.”

Even with hired help, inconsistency can cause harm. “When the same tech sees the same pool week after week, they start to notice patterns—small things that might slip past someone else,” he said. “If you’re always having to add calcium or salt, that could be a sign of a leak in a pool with an autofill system that’s quietly going unchecked.”

Chicoine noted that not all “professionals” provide consistent care. “I’ve seen pools get worse even with someone on the job because there were no systems in place—just someone reacting week to week, or worse, month to month. That kind of inconsistency adds up fast.”

And as for the flood of online “quick fixes”? Chicoine doesn’t mince words. “I browse forums or Reddit sometimes, and honestly, you have to dig through a lot of bad advice to find the gems,” he said. “You’ll see stuff like ‘shock fixes everything’ or ‘throw a copper pipe in your skimmer.’ If I still had hair, I’d be pulling it out reading that. These kinds of tips give people false confidence, and most of the time, they just make the problem worse.”

How Pool Scouts Ensures Consistency Nationwide

How Pool Scouts Ensures Consistency Nationwide

At Pool Scouts, consistency is built into every visit. “We’ve developed a standardized process that every tech follows, regardless of where they’re working,” said Chicoine. “It’s not left up to guesswork. From water testing to how we document service, our tools and systems keep things consistent nationwide.”

That consistency starts with rigorous training. “Our techs go through a mix of online training, hands-on fieldwork, and manufacturer-supported sessions to make sure they’re fully equipped,” he explained. “We also have ongoing coaching and regular check-ins to keep them sharp.”

Chicoine and the technical team personally support franchisees and technicians in the field. “Every franchisee and tech has our direct numbers. We’re former techs ourselves, so we get it. We’re fielding calls from sunup to sundown—whatever it takes to support them.”

Using Technology to Build Trust and Transparency

Technology plays a major role in maintaining quality control and customer confidence. “Every visit is tracked in real time using mobile software,” Chicoine said. “We log chemical readings, service notes, and photos, and customers get a report after every visit. It helps techs stay accountable and keeps customers informed.”

That digital transparency builds trust. “It takes the guesswork out of the equation,” he added. “When customers get a report showing their chemical levels, notes from the tech, and even photos of their pool, they know the job got done. There’s no ‘Did someone actually show up?’ It’s right there in black and white.”

Chicoine said that explaining what’s being done and why is just as important. “We don’t just check boxes and move on—we talk to the customer. If we’re adding something extra or noticing a pattern, we explain it. Once homeowners understand the ‘why,’ it clicks. They realize we’re not just cleaning their pool—we’re protecting their investment.”

Pool Scouts - The Evolution of Modern Pool Service

The Evolution of Modern Pool Service

Customer expectations have evolved rapidly in recent years, driven by both technology and lifestyle changes. “A clean pool is just the baseline now,” Chicoine said. “Customers want clear, consistent communication right at their fingertips. They want to know who was in their yard, what got done, and why it was done. It’s not just about water clarity anymore—it’s about trust.”

That shift has raised the bar for professionalism across the industry. “There’s always going to be the guy in flip-flops, a chemical-stained shirt, and a beat-up truck,” he said with a laugh. “But more and more, customers expect a clean, branded vehicle and a tech in uniform who looks the part.”

With today’s pools becoming more sophisticated—featuring automation, variable-speed pumps, AOP systems, and salt technology—the need for advanced training has never been greater. “We see it every day,” said Chicoine. “The systems are more complex, and so are the expectations. That’s why we’re working with manufacturers and our own teams to put out better information—not just for our technicians, but for customers too.”

As the pool industry continues to evolve, one thing remains clear: consistency, professionalism, and communication are key to keeping homeowners’ trust—and their pools crystal clear.

Photo Credits: Pool Scouts

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Pool News coverage brought to you by Pool Magazine's own Marcus Packer. Marcus Packer is a 20 year pool industry veteran pool builder and pool service technician. In addition to being a swimming pool professional, Marcus has been a writer and long time contributor for Newsweek Magazine's home improvement section and more recently for Florida Travel + Life. Have a story idea or tip you'd like to share with Pool Magazine? Email [email protected] your story idea.

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SPS PoolCare Celebrates Five Years, 50,000 Recurring Customers

Nation’s largest pool services company enters the Atlanta market with Good Boy Pool Services acquisition

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SPS PoolCare, the largest swimming pool services company in the United States, celebrated its fifth anniversary by completing its acquisition of Good Boy Pool Services and reaching the milestone of 50,000 recurring maintenance customers.  The acquisition expands SPS PoolCare’s service area to the Atlanta market and marks more than 220 acquisitions since its founding.

Backed by Storr Group, SPS PoolCare operates across Texas, Florida, Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia, serving more than 50,000 weekly recurring residential and commercial customers and performing over 2.5 million pool services annually. SPS PoolCare leverages technology to streamline operations, enhance service delivery, and elevate the customer experience across every market it serves.

“This anniversary marks five years of building something the pool industry has never seen before, and our Atlanta market expansion with Good Boy Pool Services is proof that we are not slowing down,” said Lance Martin, CEO of SPS PoolCare. “Our exceptional team and technology-forward approach gives us the tools to grow quickly while never losing sight of what matters most: delivering exceptional service to every customer, every time.”

SPS PoolCare’s growth trajectory includes recent landmark acquisitions of Pool Troopers and the majority of the pool service operations of Amenity Pool Services, two of the largest pool service companies in the United States.  Those acquisitions significantly expanded SPS PoolCare’s geographic presence across the Sunbelt, added thousands of new customers, and established the foundation for the company’s continued expansion into new markets, including Atlanta.

“Five years ago, we set out with a simple goal: build the most trusted pool services company in the country,” said Fraser Ramseyer, Founder of SPS PoolCare and Founder and CEO of Storr Group. “More than 220 acquisitions later, that mission remains unchanged. Every business that joins SPS strengthens our ability to invest in our people, technology, and local operations while preserving the customer relationships that made those businesses successful.”

SPS PoolCare continues to pursue acquisitions in existing and new markets as it works toward becoming the most comprehensive pool services platform in the nation.

About SPS PoolCare:

As the #1 swimming-pool services company in the United States, SPS PoolCare is on track to perform over 2,500,000 weekly recurring pool services in 2026 and employs more than 1,300 staff across five states. Backed by Storr Group, the company is focused on growing its family of brands across the Sun Belt as it continues to make owning a pool a joy. SPS PoolCare is committed to creating a world-class service experience for its customers and being an employer-of-choice for its team members. Read more at spspoolcare.com

About Storr Group:

Storr Group is an operationally focused lower-middle-market private equity firm that backs, builds, and scales industry-leading platforms. With a rich background in business building, Storr combines world-class operators with strategic M&A, deep integration, and sophisticated technology to drive sustainable growth and long-term value. Storr Group has offices in West Palm Beach, New York City, and Austin. To partner today, visit storrgroup.com

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Poolwerx Eyes San Antonio for Continued Texas Expansion

Global Pool Service Brand Grows Presence in Texas Amid Continued Population Growth and Franchise Momentum

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Poolwerx Eyes San Antonio for Continued Texas Expansion

Poolwerx, the largest global franchise pool service brand, is targeting San Antonio, Texas for franchise growth as the brand continues expanding in high-growth markets across the U.S.

The move comes as Texas continues to stand out as a leading market for franchise development. According to the International Franchise Association’s 2026 Franchising Economic Outlook, Texas ranks as the top state for franchise growth and is home to more than 86,000 franchise locations employing more than 910,000 people.

“With Poolwerx USA headquartered in Farmers Branch, Texas has always been an important market for our brand, and the growing demand makes San Antonio the perfect place to continue our U.S. expansion,” said Darlene Viering, Senior Vice President of Franchise Development at Poolwerx. “It combines strong regional growth with the characteristics that make for a compelling pool service market, and we see real opportunity to partner with entrepreneurs who want to build a scalable local business with the support of an established brand.”

San Antonio offers an attractive combination of steady population growth and long-term residential development. U.S. Census reporting shows the city added nearly 24,000 residents between 2023 and 2024, highlighting its momentum as one of the country’s fastest-growing large cities.

For Poolwerx, San Antonio aligns with the brand’s broader focus on markets where residential growth, pool maintenance needs and strong consumer demand support long-term opportunity for professional pool care. The company has previously identified Texas as a key expansion priority in its U.S. growth strategy.

“As more entrepreneurs look for business opportunities backed by recurring revenue and strong consumer demand, we believe San Antonio offers a compelling environment for franchise development,” said Marla Mock, COO of Poolwerx USA. “Our model is designed to give franchise owners the training, operational support and brand foundation they need to build a business that can scale with their market.”

Poolwerx continues to expand its national footprint while helping homeowners maintain healthier pools through dependable, professional pool care backed by a globally recognized brand. Poolwerx is actively seeking franchise candidates across the U.S. who are entrepreneurial, community-minded, and growth-focused.

About Poolwerx
Poolwerx is the world’s largest pool and spa maintenance franchise brand, dedicated to helping people create poolside memories. Established in Australia in 1992, Poolwerx has grown to more than 186 retail stores, over 720 service vehicles, and 450+ exclusive territories worldwide. The brand delivers a comprehensive range of products and services designed to keep pools and spas healthy and safe, including professional water testing and balancing, pool cleaning, scheduled and ad hoc maintenance, chemical and equipment sales, system upgrades, installations, repairs, and expert advice. Serving both residential and commercial clients, Poolwerx combines local expertise with industry-leading systems, marketing strength, and operational support. Discover more about the franchise opportunity at: https://poolwerxfranchising.com.

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Pool360 PoolService Is Evolving To Help Pool Companies Scale Faster and Operate Smarter

Learn how the Pool360 ecosystem is evolving to help today’s tech savy pool professionals scale faster and operate more efficiently.

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Pool360 PoolService Helps Pool Companies Scale Faster and Operate Smarter

For years, many pool professionals viewed Pool360 primarily as an online ordering platform.

That perception is changing fast.

Today, the Pool360 ecosystem has evolved into something much larger — a connected digital platform designed to help pool service companies, retailers, and builders manage nearly every aspect of their business. From route optimization and customer communication to water testing, inventory visibility, quoting, and construction management integrations, PoolCorp is positioning Pool360 PoolService as a comprehensive operational backbone for modern pool companies.

According to Wally Glowicki, Senior Director of SaaS for PoolCorp, the mission goes far beyond software for software’s sake.

“The Pool360 ecosystem is really designed to help create efficiency and value inside of our customers,” said Glowicki. “We feel that the pool industry especially has a great opportunity to become more digitally enabled, and ultimately provide growth to the entire industry by leveraging these digital products.”

That digital-first philosophy now sits at the center of PoolCorp’s broader strategy.

Pool360 PoolService

More Than Online Ordering

Pool360 may have started as a way for customers to place orders online, but the platform has steadily expanded into a much broader business management ecosystem.

Glowicki explained that PoolCorp’s software development efforts are now focused on creating specialized digital tools that support nearly every stage of a customer’s business lifecycle.

“The Pool360 business solution team really focuses on developing specialized digital solutions that empower our customers with that high-performing software for not just ordering products, but managing their business,” said Glowicki. “Whether that’s service, repair, construction, as well as water testing.”

That includes onboarding, demonstrations, training, ongoing support, and tools designed to improve both revenue and profitability for dealers.

Unlike many standalone software providers, PoolCorp’s advantage comes from its integration with an enormous national distribution network.

“PoolCorp is a distributor, and we strive to utilize our digital ecosystem to really elevate that dealer experience and create a tangible value for them,” Glowicki explained. “The differentiator that PoolCorp brings really comes from that connection that we have with our distribution network.”

That approach is helping Pool360 evolve into a one-stop operational platform that connects purchasing, inventory, service operations, marketing, customer management, and construction workflows into a single ecosystem.

Connecting the entire custom journey with Pool360 PoolService

Connecting the Entire Customer Journey

One of the major differentiators behind Pool360 PoolService is that it goes well beyond simple scheduling and invoicing.

Glowicki described the platform as a full business management solution designed around the entire customer journey.

“As we expand our focus in development of Pool360, this really means offering solutions from a customer’s lead management upfront to contract management, servicing and routing, one-time service scheduling, quoting, ordering materials, and all the way to finalizing and invoicing a customer,” he said.

That level of operational integration is becoming increasingly important as pool companies look for ways to improve efficiency while scaling their businesses.

According to Glowicki, route optimization alone is creating substantial gains for service companies.

“We’ve seen an increase of 15% of capacities in users of our platform,” he said. “This reclaimed drive time, as well as time spent on the job, allows the technician to add another four to six stops a week.”

At an average service rate of roughly $150 per pool, those additional stops can translate into approximately $7,000 in annual revenue per technician.

The platform’s routing intelligence also helps companies reduce wasted fuel and unnecessary windshield time.

“When we’ve done digging in on this, we see a 20% decrease in drive time from your typical manual routing or using of other tools,” Glowicki explained. “That savings can really add up, especially in today’s high cost fuel environment.”

Pool360 PoolService Built to Scale With Growing Companies

Built To Scale With Growing Companies

For smaller pool companies looking to grow from a handful of routes into larger operations, Glowicki believes technology infrastructure is now foundational.

“My opinion is, it’s really the foundation for growth for a company is their technology stack,” he said.

Pool360 PoolService was designed to scale alongside those businesses as they add technicians, routes, and customers.

Features like drag-and-drop route optimization allow managers to quickly rebalance workloads when schedules change unexpectedly.

“If Jim calls in sick for the day, you can see who the best technician is available to take over those routes,” Glowicki explained. “Drag and drop in the software, and then click a reoptimize button, and it’ll make sure that route is efficient as possible.”

Beyond operations, the software also gives smaller companies tools that help them project a more polished and professional image to customers.

“The marketing and business image component of the platform allows the smaller companies the ability to look and act just like the bigger companies,” said Glowicki. “With professional templates and estimates, emails, and simple SMS messaging notifying the customer that they’re on the way or that their service has been completed.”

That elevated customer communication experience is often what helps smaller companies generate referrals and build long-term loyalty.

Pool360 PoolService Water Testing

Why Water Testing Matters

Another major component of the Pool360 ecosystem is water testing.

While many retailers still view water testing as a simple in-store service, PoolCorp sees it as a critical customer engagement tool.

“The activity of simply testing the water chemistry is a critical component to the enjoyment of a person’s pool,” Glowicki said. “Making sure that water is balanced not only provides for a great pool experience visually or physically on a warm day, but it also is critical to the pool’s equipment longevity.”

One of the key goals behind Pool360’s water testing platform was flexibility.

The software supports multiple testing systems, including Taylor Express Flex, LaMotte WaterLink SpinTouch, and liquid titration methods.

“We want to meet the customer where they are,” Glowicki explained. “Our platform provides exactly what they need regardless of how they decide to perform their water test.”

But the bigger opportunity lies in the customer data generated during those interactions.

“In today’s digital-first environment, data is gold,” Glowicki said. “We track the test history so we can see what chemicals have been added to that pool over time.”

That data allows retailers to create highly targeted follow-up communication and marketing campaigns.

“A simple email to Miss Jones that last time you had algae present in your water, it’s been two weeks, you really should have your water checked again — that builds that future trust,” he explained.

Glowicki also sees water testing as a major competitive advantage for brick-and-mortar retailers facing pressure from online sellers.

“It definitely is a key differentiator,” he said. “It allows to build that trust that we talked about.”

POOLCORP & JobTread Integration

Expanding Into Construction

PoolCorp is also expanding deeper into construction workflows through integrations with other industry software platforms.

One of the biggest recent announcements involved Pool360’s integration with JobTread, a popular construction management platform.

According to Glowicki, the partnership aligned naturally with PoolCorp’s broader vision.

“JobTread was really perfect alignment to our strategy,” he said. “We both squarely put the customer at the center with our platforms.”

The integration allows builders to browse live PoolCorp catalog items, pull current pricing directly into estimates, and place orders without leaving JobTread.

That may sound simple on the surface, but it addresses one of the biggest hidden pain points in pool construction: outdated pricing and repetitive manual entry.

“Builders using live price syncing are 20% less likely to underquote a project by seeing the market costs in real time,” Glowicki explained.

He added that a typical pool build may involve between 50 and 100 line items, with manual entry often taking up to an hour per project.

“With this integration, it takes under three minutes,” he said. “95% reduction in data entry time.”

For builders juggling multiple projects simultaneously, those kinds of efficiencies can quickly add up.

Pool Professional using Pool360 PoolService

The Bigger Picture

As Pool360 continues to expand, Glowicki says PoolCorp remains focused on building an ecosystem that creates mutual value across the entire industry.

“We’re consistently looking at ways to create value in our platforms,” he said. “Whether that be new features, enhancements or integrations with other software technologies.”

That includes evaluating future partnerships, internal development opportunities, and additional integrations that further connect the fragmented operational systems many pool companies still rely on today.

“Our passion is to enable a digital experience that empowers efficiency, business transparency, and supports growth,” Glowicki said. “That is the ecosystem that provides a mutual benefit to everybody in the pool industry.”

For PoolCorp, the goal is no longer simply helping customers order products online.

The larger ambition appears to be building the digital operating system that powers the future of the pool industry.

Ready to take a deeper dive?

Listen to our entire conversation with Wally Glowicki on the Pool Magazine podcast.

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