B4 The SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show

Picture this: You're a pool professional with decades of experience under your belt, and a supplier walks up to you at a trade show claiming their product is 'completely chemical-free' or will 'last forever without maintenance.' If you're like the seasoned pros from the Talking Pools Podcast, you're probably rolling your eyes and preparing for a reality check. In this eye-opening episode recorded just before the SPLASH Pool & Spa Trade Show, Australian pool experts Peter, Lee, and Shane pull back the curtain on the industry's most persistent myths and questionable marketing claims.

The Great 'Chemical-Free' Pool Myth

One of the most pervasive and misleading claims in the pool industry is the promise of 'chemical-free' pools. As our hosts quickly point out, this claim is fundamentally flawed from a basic chemistry standpoint.

Water itself is a chemical. How many times have I said that? And it's an aggressive chemical at that. So that's where it goes from being a pool to a pond.

— Peter, Talking Pools Podcast

The hosts discuss how some manufacturers, particularly those selling stainless steel pools, claim their products are chemical-free because the steel itself acts as a sanitizer. However, as they note, while copper and silver do have some antimicrobial properties, stainless steel's sanitizing abilities are questionable at best.

Even more frustrating for these professionals is when companies claim to be 'chlorine-free' while simultaneously selling systems that include chlorinating cells. Shane puts it perfectly:

Don't try and be something you're not. When you do that, you just come off looking like a dick.

— Shane, Talking Pools Podcast

The Ionizer Controversy: Separating Fact from Fiction

Ionizers represent another area where marketing claims often diverge from reality. The hosts discuss how some ionizer companies make outrageous health claims, including suggestions that chlorinated pools lower sperm count – a claim Peter investigated and found no credible evidence to support.

The reality is that ionizer systems often require tighter control of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), which typically means using more water, not less as some manufacturers claim. Additionally, when ionizer pools turn green, the solution is almost always the same: add chlorine.

You ring any of these ionized pool companies when you've got a green ionized pool and they tell you to put chlorine in. So you're not chlorine free.

— Lee, Talking Pools Podcast

The hosts emphasize that they don't have anything against ionizer systems when properly marketed – their issue is with misleading claims that set unrealistic expectations for pool owners.

One-Size-Fits-All Chemical Solutions: A Dangerous Game

Perhaps one of the most concerning trends the hosts discuss is the emergence of 'miracle' chemical blends that claim to handle all pool maintenance needs without testing or proper dosing instructions. These products ignore fundamental principles of pool chemistry and water balance.

The dangers of these one-size-fits-all solutions are multifaceted:

• Risk of overdosing or underdosing chemicals
• No consideration for different pool sizes (which vary dramatically in today's market)
• Ignoring environmental factors and source water quality
• Lack of transparency about active ingredients

As Lee points out, modern pool sizes vary dramatically from the traditional standards, with many plunge pools now being only 10,000-12,000 liters compared to the historical average of 40,000-50,000 liters. This variation alone makes universal dosing impossible.

Filter Media Marketing: Promises vs. Performance

The filter media market is particularly rife with exaggerated longevity claims. Manufacturers often promise their products will last specific numbers of years without considering the countless variables that affect filter performance.

Peter explains the reality:

When a customer asks me, depending on the size of filter size, a pool runtime, there might be anywhere from very short time to a very long time. So for example, in my experience locally in our environment, you'll get anywhere from about five to eight years, roughly.

— Peter, Talking Pools Podcast

Factors that significantly impact filter media lifespan include:

• Sunscreen and body oil contamination
• Pet usage (dogs jumping in pools)
• Environmental conditions
• Pool usage patterns
• Water chemistry maintenance

The hosts particularly express skepticism about zeolite media claims, with Peter noting he's "yet to be sold on that" despite years in the industry.

The Transparency Problem: What's Really in Your Chemicals?

A significant frustration for these experienced professionals is the lack of transparency in chemical labeling. Too often, products list vague terms like 'organic acid' or 'copper complex' without specifying the actual active ingredients or concentrations.

This lack of transparency creates several problems:

• Professionals can't properly dose chemicals without knowing concentrations
• Troubleshooting becomes difficult when you don't know what you're working with
• Safety concerns arise when handling unknown chemical compositions
• Professional credibility suffers when clients ask technical questions

The hosts advocate for clear, legible chemical names with strength percentages clearly displayed on all products – information that should be readily available on packaging, not buried in Safety Data Sheets.

Practical Advice for Pool Professionals

The hosts offer several pieces of practical advice for dealing with questionable marketing claims:

Do Your Research: Don't take manufacturer claims at face value. Look for independent testing and peer-reviewed research to back up marketing promises.

Ask Hard Questions: When suppliers make bold claims, ask for specific evidence. Request case studies, testing data, and references from other professionals who have used the products successfully.

Trust Your Experience: Years of industry experience give you valuable perspective. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Educate Your Clients: Help pool owners understand that proper pool maintenance requires testing, balancing, and ongoing attention – there are no magic bullets or maintenance-free solutions.

Demand Transparency: Only work with suppliers who provide clear, honest information about their products' capabilities and limitations.

Conclusion: Knowledge is Your Best Defense

As the pool industry continues to evolve with new technologies and products, the temptation for manufacturers to make exaggerated claims shows no signs of diminishing. However, experienced professionals like Peter, Lee, and Shane serve as valuable gatekeepers, using their knowledge and experience to separate fact from fiction.

The key takeaway from this discussion is that education and experience are your best defenses against misleading marketing. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the industry, maintaining a healthy skepticism and demanding evidence-based claims will serve you well. Remember, if a supplier can't provide clear, honest information about their products, they're probably not worth your time or your clients' money.

As these hosts prepare for the SPLASH trade show, their message to suppliers is clear: come with honest products, transparent information, and realistic claims. The pool industry deserves better than snake oil salesmanship – it deserves solutions that actually work in the real world.

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Weather Check-ins
• 02:30 Pool Falling Stories and Phone Technology
• 08:45 Industry Marketing Myths and Bull Crap Claims
• 15:20 Chemical-Free Pool Debunking
• 22:10 Ionizer Claims and Health Myths
• 28:30 One-Size-Fits-All Chemical Solutions
• 35:40 Filter Media Marketing and Transparency Issues