Foam Party Fiasco and Headlines Pool News

When it comes to pool maintenance, even the most experienced professionals can find themselves in unexpected situations that test their expertise and patience. In this week's episode of the Talking Pools Podcast, hosts Andrea and Paulette dive into real-world pool scenarios that remind us why this industry is never boring – from foam-filled spas on party day to swimming pools becoming lifesaving resources during natural disasters.

The Enzyme Disaster: When Good Intentions Go Wrong

Andrea's week took an unexpected turn when what should have been a routine pool service call turned into an all-day ordeal. The culprit? Enzymes – typically a pool professional's best friend for breaking down oils and organic contaminants.

I added enzymes to a spa, and they were having a party at 4 o'clock, and you got there at fucking 10 a.m., and you put enzymes in the spa, and it foamed up like an Instagram party. And then the people see it foaming up, and they freak out, and they call the housekeeper, and then the housekeeper calls your boss, and then the homeowner calls your boss, and then the housekeeper's husband calls your boss, and then the property manager calls your boss.

— Andrea, Talking Pools Podcast

The situation escalated quickly when what should have been a simple enzyme treatment in a 700-gallon spa created foam bubbles reaching two feet high. Despite Andrea's experience and expertise, the only solution was partial water replacement – not once, but twice.

This incident highlights a crucial lesson about timing and chemistry. The spa had been used recently, the water was hot, there was no chlorine present, and the pH was elevated – all factors that may have contributed to the excessive foaming reaction. The combination of these conditions with enzyme treatment created the perfect storm for what Andrea describes as looking "like you just added some fucking bubble bath into it."

Swimming Pools as Emergency Resources: California Wildfire Heroes

While Andrea dealt with unwanted foam, pool owners in California were discovering life-saving applications for their backyard investments. The recent wildfires brought out innovative thinking from homeowners who transformed their pools into firefighting systems.

One Los Angeles family in the Palisades Highlands shared their success story of using their swimming pool, combined with a generator, sprinkler pump, and fire hose, to save their home from destruction. Their system proved so effective that they were able to help neighboring properties as well.

There is no doubt in my mind that this generator pump, pool, sprinkler and fire hose contributed to saving our family home. My dad was so adamant about all the neighbors having one. He was correct as he has been so many times in his career.

— California homeowner via news report

The family drained two swimming pools – their own and their neighbor's – running their equipment for 10 hours over two days. They soaked vegetation and roofs continuously, returning the next day to find minimal damage despite the hillside around them being severely burned.

This story resonates particularly well with pool professionals who understand the value of having thousands of gallons of water readily available. As Paulette noted from her own experience with hurricanes, pools can serve multiple emergency purposes, from firefighting to basic hygiene when utilities are compromised.

When Pool Chemicals Make Headlines: The Grand Canyon Chlorine Leak

Pool professionals work with chlorine daily, but it's rare to see it make national headlines as a "poison gas." This week, however, chlorine gas used for water treatment at the Grand Canyon caused trail closures and reminded the public of the powerful nature of the chemicals we handle routinely.

The National Park Service had to close several major trails, including Bright Angel, South Kaibab, and North Kaibab trails, due to a chlorine gas leak from their water treatment system. The park uses chlorine to eliminate harmful bacteria and viruses from water sourced from Roaring Springs, located in a cave aquifer on the canyon's north rim.

While the incident was contained without reported injuries, it highlights the importance of proper handling, storage, and transportation of chlorine gas cylinders. The leak occurred as part of the park's regular water treatment operations, which rely on transporting chlorine cylinders to remote treatment sites.

I probably wouldn't have noticed it. I would have been like, hmm. I wonder if there's a pool nearby. My regular odor.

— Andrea, Talking Pools Podcast

The humorous response from the hosts underscores how familiar pool professionals become with chlorine odors, though they also recognize the serious safety implications when concentrations become dangerous in enclosed or poorly ventilated areas.

The Swimming Pool Boom Continues Despite Economic Challenges

Despite ongoing economic concerns and cost-of-living pressures, the swimming pool industry continues to show remarkable resilience. Recent Commonwealth Bank research reveals that spending on swimming pool sales and services rose 13% over the year to December, outpacing both total spending growth and household services spending.

This growth pattern suggests that homeowners continue to view swimming pools as valuable investments in their property and quality of life. Some are adapting to budget constraints by choosing more compact pool options, while others are still investing in full-scale installations.

The trend reflects a broader shift in how people view their homes – not just as shelter, but as comprehensive lifestyle spaces that need to accommodate work, recreation, and relaxation. Swimming pools have become central to this home-as-oasis concept, providing both practical value and emotional satisfaction.

Professional Lessons and Industry Insights

This episode reinforces several important aspects of professional pool service that extend beyond technical knowledge. The enzyme incident demonstrates how external factors – timing, customer expectations, and communication chains – can amplify what should be minor technical issues.

The key lesson about enzyme timing is particularly valuable for service professionals. While enzymes are generally beneficial for pool and spa maintenance, introducing them on the day of scheduled pool use, especially in hot water conditions with unbalanced chemistry, creates unnecessary risk.

So from now on, don't add enzymes to anything on the day of a party. Do it the day before. So if you need to, you can drain it without everybody watching you.

— Andrea, Talking Pools Podcast

The wildfire stories also remind us that pools serve purposes beyond recreation. As climate change brings more extreme weather events, pools may increasingly serve as emergency resources for fire protection, emergency water supplies, and temporary shelter from extreme heat.

For pool professionals, this expanded role of pools in emergency preparedness could create new service opportunities and responsibilities. Understanding how to quickly convert pool systems for emergency use, or how to restore pools after emergency use, may become valuable skills.

Conclusion: Embracing the Unexpected in Pool Professional Life

The pool industry continues to evolve in unexpected ways, from serving as literal lifesavers during natural disasters to creating Instagram-worthy foam disasters that test professional patience. These stories remind us that pool maintenance involves much more than balancing chemicals and skimming leaves.

Professional success requires technical expertise, certainly, but also adaptability, communication skills, and the wisdom that comes from experience – including learning from mistakes. Andrea's enzyme incident, while frustrating in the moment, provides valuable insights for the broader professional community.

As the industry continues its growth trajectory despite economic headwinds, pool professionals can expect to encounter new challenges, opportunities, and applications for their expertise. Whether it's preventing foam disasters, supporting emergency preparedness, or simply maintaining the backyard oases that homeowners increasingly depend on, the role of pool professionals remains both challenging and essential.

The key is approaching each situation with professionalism, learning from setbacks, and sharing knowledge within the community – exactly what makes podcasts like this one so valuable for industry professionals at every experience level.

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Weekend Updates
• 05:30 The Enzyme Foam Disaster
• 15:45 California Wildfire Pool Heroes
• 22:10 Grand Canyon Chlorine Gas Leak
• 28:30 Swimming Pool Industry Growth News