Keith Loria

Joined April 24, 2020

Articles 10

Direct Fire

By Keith Loria
One of the challenges of running a pool or spa is the cost of heating the water, which is why more pool dealers are hearing requests from customers for energy-efficient heaters. Pentair now offers a solution: The ETi 400, a pool heater with a direct fire titanium heat exchanger that provides long-lasting, thermal and energy-efficient…

Buildup Barrier

By Keith Loria
Matt Trissel was a designer for Georgetown, Texas-based Cody Pools for eight years, and saw firsthand the issues calcium causes on pools and spas. In 2013, he left Cody, and along with friend Dusty Renfro, started an oilfield service company called Four Six Services. While there, he discovered a technology being used in the oilfield…

Seal of Approval

By Keith Loria
Aquatic activity in healthy water is increasingly on the public’s radar. Today, most health departments require commercial pool technicians to have the Certified Pool Operator Certification from the National Swimming Pool Foundation. Michelle Kavanaugh, mission development director for the NSPF, says the CPO Certification is the most widely recognized certification in the pool and spa…

Checking and Replacing Drain Covers

By Keith Loria
The Virginia Graeme Baker act demands all residential swimming pools to have a proper drain cover to prevent entrapment, but even if the right drain cover appears to be in place, poor care or improper installation can mean an entrapment risk still exists. Steve Barnes, director of science and compliance for AquaStar Pool Products in…

The Art of Estimation

By Keith Loria
Undoubtedly, in the first minutes of conversation a pool builder has with a prospect, two questions will arise: “How long will it take?” and “What will it cost?” And though most can answer these quickly, they need to be contemplated before answering. Estimating price and time accurately is vital to the success of any pool…

The Rise of Automation

By Keith Loria
Human error is largely to blame when a commercial pool experiences problems, which is why automated systems are gaining popularity year after year. An automated system eases the burden of having to be on-site several times a day to take a reading. And with growing public concern around water condition in commercial pools, these systems…

It Happens

By Keith Loria
Nothing puts a downer on a day at a public pool more than learning of a fecal incident, requiring everyone to clear out immediately. Formed fecal incidents pose a risk for spreading germs, including moderately chlorine-tolerant giardia. It’s important for pool companies to help facilities with public pools understand local and federal policies for handling…

Understanding OSHA’s New Silica Requirement

By Keith Loria
Inhalation of respirable crystalline silica is dangerous and could even be life threatening. It is estimated that approximately 2.3 million U.S. workers are exposed to respirable silica dust at work each year. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has released regulations — designed to better protect workers from respiratory illness — for a new standard…

Simplifying Records

By Keith Loria
A new app created by the National Swimming Pool Foundation and Counsilman-Hunsaker can assist commercial pool operators with staying on track with records and maintenance issues. Called Facility Manager, the app provides the aquatic industry with a digital, web-based application designed to enhance the safety and sustainability of aquatic facilities. Facility Manager is accessible via…

Liability Policies on Vehicles

By Keith Loria
Vehicles that transport workers and chemicals to and from job sites aren’t often front of mind when buying insurance for a pool service, building or retail company. Every business needs general-liability insurance, but it is more important to have the correct insurance coverage. “We find most pool-related accounts do not have proper coverage,” says Jeannette…