Podcasts by Rule Your Pool

The LSI | Calcium Hardness from 2022-02-22T07:44:05.756394

In the swimming pool and spa industry, calcium is treated like it's a four-letter word. But if managed correctly, calcium hardness can be your best friend. So, what is calcium hardness anyway? Acco...

The Orenda Startup Procedure from 2022-02-22T07:44:05.696672

There are a ton of scenarios that can come into play when you're starting up a pool. The chemistry can be radically different even between pools across the street from one another. In this episode,...

Pillar 1: LSI Balance | Orenda's Four Pillars from 2022-02-22T07:44:05.689280

Introducing Orenda's Four Pillars of proactive pool care. This episode is the first of a four-part series, in which we discuss the importance of the Langelier Saturation Index (LSI). It is the unbi...

Why is My Pool Green? from 2022-02-22T07:44:05.685710

Swimming pools can turn green for several reasons. There are three main ones: copper oxidation, an imbalance of alkalinity and calcium, and of course the biggest culprit, algae.

How to Fix 3 Types of Green Pools from 2022-02-22T07:44:05.684945

Pools can turn green for three main reasons (and some extra rare circumstances too). Water could be green from an imbalance of alkalinity and calcium hardness (too much alk relative to calcium), co...

How to Use Less Acid: Stop Chasing pH from 2022-02-22T07:44:05.682290

In a solo episode, Eric discusses the impending acid shortage, and how we can use less acid. Acid is overused in the pool business for several reasons discussed in this episode. Eric also dives int...

Combined Chlorine 101: What are chloramines? from 2022-02-22T07:44:05.679803

Does your pool have combined chlorine? Combined chlorine only happens when the water has nitrogen compounds in it. Chlorine combines with them in the oxidation process. This episode explains more a...

Evaporation and Accumulation from 2022-02-22T07:44:05.676398

Swimming pools evaporate roughly their entire volume of water in a year. Let's discuss how that impacts water chemistry. Eric covers dilution, accumulation of TDS, and other factors you should keep...

Pool Party Chemistry from 2022-02-22T07:44:05.675623

Eric and Jarred talk about the challenges of hosting a pool party. The chlorine demand surges, and is often overwhelmed. So being proactive and also cleaning up after-the-fact are important strateg...

Wildfires and Swimming Pools from 2022-02-22T07:44:05.674503

In this brief episode, Eric talks about how wildfires affect pool chemistry. It's pretty simple: if you can smell the smoke, carbon, nitrogen and phosphates are getting into your pools. Be proactiv...

Pool Covers and Winterization from 2022-02-22T07:44:05.672872

Eric and Jarred talk about different types of pool covers. When it comes to winter safety covers, each type needs different chemistry considerations like dilution and CO2 off-gassing.

Water Chemistry Testing: 101 from 2022-02-22T07:44:05.669398

Joe leads this episode on water chemistry testing, drawing from his 20+ years of water testing experience.

Draining and Diluting a Pool from 2022-02-22T07:44:05.666867

When and why should a pool be drained, or partially drained and diluted? Is dilution always a solution to a chemistry problem? Eric shares his thoughts on dilution and when it's appropriate.

What is Scale? | Calcium Issues, pt. 1 from 2022-02-22T07:44:05.666046

This episode is the first of a 5-part series on calcium issues in swimming pools. What is SCALE? And perhaps more importantly, what is not scale? Eric defines scale and describes different types of...

Uneven Carbonation & other Plaster Discoloration | Calcium Issues, pt. 5 from 2022-02-22T07:44:05.662600

When calcium hydroxide is drawn to the surface, it carbonates and turns white. We call this uneven carbonation, because it virtually never happens evenly across the entire pool. Eric discusses the ...

Ways to Reduce Employee Turnover from 2022-02-22T07:44:05.660598

It's becoming harder and harder to find–and keep–good employees. Not just in the pool industry either. In this episode, Eric shares some ideas on how to build and strengthen a team/family atmospher...

Organic Staining and Tannins from 2022-01-19T14:00

Water can become discolored and stains can occur even if metals are not involved. In this episode, Eric talks about organic staining and discoloration, thanks to Tannins. They're relatively easy to...

Calcite Crystals | Calcium Issues, pt. 4 from 2021-12-29T14:00

Eric and Jarred talk about a common pool surface issue faced in colder climates: calcium crystals. Often mistaken for 'scale', crystals actually grow out of the cement as a consequence of cold, sta...

Calcium Nodules | Calcium Issues, pt. 3 from 2021-12-22T14:00

Eric covers the basics of calcium nodules, and shares the two leading opinions on the issue, from both the National Plasterer's Council (NPC) and onBalance. In short, water chemistry itself is not ...

Carbonate Clouding and Dust | Calcium Issues, pt. 2 from 2021-12-15T14:00

Eric and Ryan explore various forms of calcium dust and clouding. They don't all happen for the same reasons, and the LSI tells the story.

Ways to suppress pH from naturally rising from 2021-11-17T14:00

Because dissolved CO2 must leave the pool and equalize with the CO2 in the air, pH naturally rises until equilibrium is reached. We at Orenda call this point the "pH ceiling." But there are a few w...

Water Chemistry Testing: 201 from 2021-11-10T14:00

Joe and Eric expand upon the last episode about water chemistry testing, and talk about problems, mistakes and interferences.

Introducing the Orenda Help Desk in Pool Service Software (PSS) from 2021-10-27T13:00

Eric is joined by the founder of Pool Service Software, Gus Velez. They discuss the new Orenda Help Desk feature within Pool Service Software, the SaaS program that helps pool companies have cloud-...

PPM and PPB from 2021-10-20T13:00

Eric explains what parts-per-million (PPM) and parts-per-billion (PPB) mean. They are standard units of measurement for water chemistry, telling the density of a dissolved substance in water. And t...

Concrete Pool Shell Problems | Weepers, Efflorescence, and Calcium Nodules from 2021-10-13T13:00

Eric explores three common consequences of water penetrating through a weak concrete pool shell. No, concrete is not waterproof. Weepers, efflorescence and calcium nodules can occur when water migr...

Closing your pool the Orenda way from 2021-09-29T13:00

Eric discusses closing pools for the off-season. As water temperature drops, the need for calcium hardness rises. LSI balance during the coldest water temperatures is the name of the game. After al...

Calcium Hardness from 2021-08-28T05:24:52.217330

In the swimming pool and spa industry, calcium is treated like it's a four-letter word. But if managed correctly, calcium hardness can be your best friend. So, what is calcium hardness anyway? Acco...

Combined Chlorine 101 from 2021-08-28T05:24:52.195766

Does your pool have combined chlorine? Combined chlorine only happens when the water has nitrogen compounds in it. Chlorine combines with them in the oxidation process. This episode explains more a...

Containing pH vs. Controlling pH from 2021-08-25T13:00

This episode expands on Episode 29. It's a paradigm shift to think of pH as predictable, but it is, thanks to Henry's Law of physics. Eric drives home the points that pH does not need to be reduce...

Calcium Flakes in Saltwater Pools from 2021-08-18T13:00

If you have a saltwater pool, you have probably seen calcium flakes or other calcium deposits in your pool. Eric and Jarred explain why this happens, and how to prevent it.

Combined Chlorine 201: How to reduce combined chlorine from 2021-08-11T13:00

Eric and Joe expand on combined chlorine in this episode, and talk about the ways to reduce it in your water. Removing combined chlorine means destroying nitrogen compounds either chemically or wit...

Muriatic acid alternatives: Sulfuric Acid, Sodium Bisulfate and CO2 from 2021-07-28T13:00

The 2021 chlorine shortage has (not surprisingly) led to a muriatic acid shortage too. So what are the alternatives to muriatic acid? Eric and Joe introduce sulfuric acid, sodium bisulfate, and inj...

Ways to optimize chlorine efficiency from 2021-07-21T13:00

Shortly after Eric and Joe attempted (only somewhat successfully) to get headphones and microphones to stay connected, this episode discussed several ways to extend chlorine and optimize its effici...

Minimalist Pool Care, with Harold Evans from 2021-06-23T13:00

Harold Evans is a man of vast experience in the swimming pool business, and a penchant for blunt honesty. In this episode, we dissect his philosophy of minimalism in pool chemistry. We talk about w...

The Golden Rule, with Harold Evans from 2021-06-16T13:00

Treating others the way you want to be treated is the essence of The Golden Rule. In the pool business, that means treating customers with honesty and respect, but more than that, assertiveness. Re...

Pillar 4: Minimal Cyanuric Acid (CYA) | Orenda's Four Pillars from 2021-05-26T13:00

Our fourth pillar is about minimizing Cyanuric Acid (CYA). CYA, also known as chlorine stabilizer, protects chlorine from sunlight degradation. Some is good, but too much is bad. The action step is...

Pillar 3: Phosphate Removal | Orenda's Four Pillars from 2021-05-19T13:00

Let's talk about phosphates, and why you should remove them from your water. Phosphates cannot be oxidized by chlorine, and they accumulate over time. Phosphates get into our pools via the tap wate...

Pillar 2: Non-living Organics | Orenda's Four Pillars from 2021-05-12T19:10:25

Especially relevant amidst the current chlorine shortage, Orenda's second pillar is about supplementing chlorine. The bulk of contaminants in swimming pools are non-living organics. Chlorine is a p...

4 Types of Chlorine | Trichlor and Dichlor from 2021-04-15T21:22:48

In our fourth (and final) episode about different chlorine types, Eric covers the two stabilized chlorine types: Trichlor and Dichlor. Neither was originally meant to be primary chlorine types, but...

4 Types of Chlorine | Liquid Chlorine/Sodium Hypochlorite from 2021-02-24T10:00

Liquid chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) is a mainstay of the pool business, and what most people think of when saying the word “Chlorine." In this episode of Rule Your Pool, Eric and Jarred discuss t...

4 Types of Chlorine | "Salt Water Pools" from 2021-02-10T06:00

This episode and the next three are an overview of chemistry considerations and Orenda recommendations for how to manage pool chemistry based on its primary chlorine.

Today, Eric and Jarr...

4 Types of Chlorine | Saltwater Pools from 2021-02-10T06:00

This episode and the next three are an overview of chemistry considerations and Orenda recommendations for how to manage pool chemistry based on its primary chlorine.

Today, Eric and Jarr...

4 Types of Chlorine | Intro from 2021-01-27T10:00

It's a short episode this week as we dive into a new topic: different kinds of chlorine. The next few episodes will focus on liquid chlorine, calcium hypochlorite, trichlor, and salt generated chlo...

Hindsight is 2020 from 2021-01-13T10:00

Eric and Jarred wax nostalgiac about the dumpster fire of a year that was 2020, and give a few reasons why this year might be better.

Why Prices Are Going Up in 2021 from 2020-12-23T10:00

COVID-19 is the main topic of this week's episode. Since the virus hit earlier this year, pool costs have been increasing, and they're set to really go up in 2021. Eric and Jarred talk about the fa...

Cement Cures Ugly | Orenda Startup Philosophy from 2020-11-25T10:00

Why is Orenda doing something so radically different than it has been done for so long? And why is it working? Eric and Jarred talk about the philosophy of the Orenda Startup in the first of a two...

6 Bad Habits | Part 2 from 2020-11-12T17:35:01

Rule Your Pool is a podcast by Orenda Technologies. This show was created for pool owners, operators, and service pros who want the best water quality possible. If you want to know what's really go...

6 Bad Habits | Part 1 from 2020-10-14T09:00

Rule Your Pool is a podcast by Orenda Technologies. This show was created for pool owners, operators, and service pros who want the best water quality possible. If you want to know what's really go...

The LSI | Cyanuric Acid (CYA) from 2020-09-30T10:00:11

Keeping CYA regulated is Orenda's fourth pillar of proactive pool care. CYA can wreak havoc on your pool chemistry if it isn't regulated - and that's especially true for the LSI.

In this e...

The LSI | Total Dissolved Solids from 2020-09-16T09:00:08

"Man, let's just get real. That's a pretty sexy way of saying I have metals. Agree?"

The boys are back in town and spilling the Tea on TDS (total dissolved solids). No feelings are spared...

The LSI | Water Temperature: The Most Ignored (Neglected) Factor from 2020-08-19T08:00:02

How can a pool with textbook chemistry on closing be filled with crystals or dust when it opens back up? An analogy is to think of that swimming pool as a grizzly bear. You better feed it because i...

The LSI | Water Temperature from 2020-08-19T08:00:02

How can a pool with textbook chemistry on closing be filled with crystals or dust when it opens back up? An analogy is to think of that swimming pool as a grizzly bear. You better feed it because i...

Introduction to the Langelier Saturation Index from 2020-08-12T20:50:38

If you divide up pool chemistry, there's really two subcategories of it. There is sanitization (which is water, clarity, cleanliness, and safety) and there is balance. Is your pool scaling, etching...

The Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) from 2020-08-12T20:50:38

If you divide up pool chemistry, there's really two subcategories of it. There is sanitization (which is water, clarity, cleanliness, and safety) and there is balance. Is your pool scaling, etching...

Introduction to the Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) from 2020-08-12T20:50:38

If you divide up pool chemistry, there's really two subcategories of it. There is sanitization (which is water, clarity, cleanliness, and safety) and there is balance. Is your pool scaling, etching...

Understanding pH from 2020-08-12T19:24:09

If you get the folks at Orenda talking about pH, they could go for hours. Fortunately, this 40ish-minute-episode boils pH and how it affects pool chemistry down into three main points: The role tha...

Understanding Alkalinity in Swimming Pools from 2020-08-11T19:55

Most people in the swimming pool and spa industry know how to measure alkalinity, but they don't actually understand what it does. This episode explains what alkalinity is and how it's measured, wh...

Understanding Alkalinity from 2020-08-11T19:55

Most people in the swimming pool and spa industry know how to measure alkalinity, but they don't actually understand what it does. This episode explains what alkalinity is and how it's measured, wh...

pH vs. Total Alkalinity, and Their Roles in Pool Chemistry from 2020-06-29T00:27:27

pH and total alkalinity are important water chemistry factors that are often confused and misunderstood. This episode explains in detail what each of them are, what they do, and how they interact w...

Introduction to Rule Your Pool Podcast by Orenda Technologies from 2020-06-16T17:14:04

Rule Your Pool is a podcast by Orenda Technologies. This show was created for pool owners, operators, and service pros who want the best water quality possible. If you want to know what's really go...

Introduction to Rule Your Pool Podcast by Orenda Technologies from 2020-06-16T17:14:04

About Orenda Technologies  

Water is a precious resource, and we strive to make it clean and beautiful. Orenda has a philosophy of minimalism, and proactive pool care. Why...

Introduction to Rule Your Pool Podcast by Orenda Technologies from 2020-06-16T17:14:04

About Orenda Technologies  

Water is a precious resource, and we strive to make it clean and beautiful. Orenda has a philosophy of minimalism, and proactive pool care. Why...