Andrea & Paulette's Flocculating New Years Eve Chlorination!!

New Year, New Pool Problems: Crime, Chemistry, and Diplomatic Disasters

What better way to ring in the New Year than with tales of pool industry mishaps, criminal contractors, and diplomatic disasters? Andrea and Paulette from the Talking Pools Podcast delivered exactly that in their New Year's Eve episode, proving that even during the holidays, the pool world never sleeps when it comes to drama and dysfunction.

From hot tub repairmen turned burglars to Legionella outbreaks shutting down government buildings, this episode reminded us why trust and proper maintenance are cornerstone values in the pool industry. Let's dive into the wild stories that made this holiday episode both entertaining and educational.

When Trust Goes Wrong: The $20,000 Hot Tub Heist

Sometimes extending hospitality can backfire spectacularly, as a group of friends learned during their ski trip to Steamboat Springs, Colorado. What started as a simple hot tub repair ended with one of the most brazen contractor crimes in recent memory.

During a ski trip to Georgia, a group of friends encountered an unfortunate incident involving a hot tub repairman. After completing the job, the friends invited the repairman in for a beer. However, the following day, he allegedly broke into their apartment and made off with a personal items valued at nearly $20,000.

— Andrea, Talking Pools Podcast

Christopher Swenson, who had been employed by the rental company for just five days, allegedly returned to the property after quitting his job and made off with an impressive haul of luxury items. The stolen goods included an $18,000 Rolex watch, Bose headphones worth $329, a Dell laptop, Adidas sneakers, and $1,200 in cash.

What makes this case particularly damning is the digital trail Swenson allegedly left behind. The stolen American Express credit card was used at multiple locations around Steamboat Springs starting just 10 minutes after the renters returned to find their door unlocked. Police were able to track him down using vehicle registration data and video footage from stores where the card was used.

This incident serves as a stark reminder that while most pool and spa professionals are trustworthy, property owners and managers need to maintain proper vetting procedures and security protocols, especially for vacation rentals where valuable items might be present.

Legionella Lurks: Baltimore's Municipal Building Nightmare

Government buildings in Baltimore experienced a serious scare when elevated levels of Legionella bacteria were discovered in multiple municipal facilities, including City Hall. The situation escalated quickly from routine testing to full building closures over a weekend.

Today, the city of Baltimore announced that downtown city municipal buildings, including Baltimore City Hall at 100 Holiday Street, the Abel-Wallman Municipal Building at 200 Holiday Street, and the Benton Building at 401 East Fayette Street, have been reopened for full service as of Monday, December 30th, 2024.

— Andrea, Talking Pools Podcast

The city's response included comprehensive mitigation efforts involving flushing and chlorination treatments across all affected buildings. While officials claimed the Friday closure was due to "the intrusive nature of the mitigation efforts, not due to any public health or safety concern," the hosts weren't buying the official spin.

As Paulette noted with skepticism about the official explanation:

Sounds like Officer Barrie Brady. Nothing to say here. Nothing. Nothing. Move along, please. Nope. We were just... It's just going to be a lot. The testing's just a lot. Like, it's okay, though. We're like, we're fine. It's like, don't worry about it. It's not toxic.

— Paulette, Talking Pools Podcast

This incident highlights the critical importance of regular water system maintenance and testing in all types of facilities, not just pools and spas. Legionella can thrive in any water system where temperatures and conditions are right, making proactive testing and treatment essential for public safety.

A Diplomatic Pool Disaster: When Embassy Projects Go Wrong

Perhaps the most entertaining story involved a swimming pool renovation at the Irish Vatican embassy that turned into what officials described as "a debacle." The project at the 17th century Villa Spada showcased how even the most prestigious locations aren't immune to contractor problems and engineering mishaps.

The pool renovation, which began in January 1993 and was supposed to be completed by April, encountered multiple setbacks. First, corroded pipes connected to decorative fountains featuring bronze snakes on seashells caused delays. Then came the real problem: an undersized automatic filtration system that couldn't handle the pool's water volume.

While the transcript cuts off before revealing the full extent of the diplomatic disaster, the setup alone demonstrates how proper system sizing and engineering are crucial for any pool project, regardless of the client's status or location prestige.

Commercial Pool Management: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

The episode also touched on the realities of commercial pool management, with both hosts sharing contrasting experiences. Andrea described her favorite commercial account - a property where residents are friendly enough to invite her snorkeling, the facilities include convenient amenities like bathrooms, and maintenance issues like scum lines are minimal due to reasonable usage levels.

In stark contrast, Paulette recently fired multiple commercial accounts due to frustrating property management companies that demanded estimates for work they never intended to award. This common industry problem highlights the importance of establishing clear expectations and fair working relationships from the start.

You're not going to give me any work. You only want me to clean your pool. I don't get any other work, but you want me to give you estimates on everything, even though I already know you're not going to use me. So why? I'm not doing it.

— Paulette, Talking Pools Podcast

These contrasting experiences demonstrate how relationship management and clear communication can make or break commercial pool service contracts.

Industry Recognition and Moving Forward

On a positive note, the hosts shared feedback from a listener who praised their podcast's educational value, even claiming it had surpassed Joe Rogan as his favorite podcast. This recognition underscores the value of industry-specific content and peer-to-peer learning in the pool and spa business.

As the pool industry continues to evolve, stories like these serve as valuable learning opportunities. Whether it's implementing better contractor vetting procedures, maintaining proper water testing protocols, or ensuring adequate system sizing for renovations, each incident offers lessons that can help prevent similar problems in the future.

The New Year brings new opportunities for improvement across all aspects of pool and spa service. By learning from others' mistakes and celebrating successes, industry professionals can continue raising standards and building trust with their clients and communities.

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 New Year's Eve Introduction
• 05:00 Commercial Pool Experiences
• 10:00 Hot Tub Repairman Burglary Story
• 20:00 Baltimore Legionella Update
• 25:00 Listener Feedback
• 28:00 Irish Embassy Pool Debacle