Keeping Bugs at Bay

Mosquitos, wasps or horseflies — no matter where you live in the U.S., there’s usually some kind of pest to deal with when you’re trying to relax by the pool. Now there’s a simple, effective solution to keep these bugs at bay: Buzz Off Ion Shield, a chemical-free, pet-safe product from Waters Choice that makes creating a bug-free zone effortless.

“Our retail packaging comes with two red tubes, which you put into the skimmer box or the pump basket,” says Tom Vaughan, president of Waters Choice. “As water flows over them, it changes the ionic structure of the water from positive to negative. And as that water evaporates, it creates a negative air dome over the pool that bugs won’t fly into.”

Each of these tubes treats 5,000 gallons of pool water, and there’s nothing else like it in the industry, Vaughan says. His only competition is service companies that spray lawns surrounding pool areas, but Buzz Off has the chemical-free advantage.

Waters Choice has sole North American distribution rights for Buzz Off Ion Shield, a new venture for Vaughan and his wife, Debbie, who have been in the pool and spa industry for years. Their business provides all-natural, comprehensive enzyme treatments for pools, spas and swim spas, so this product was a good fit.

Although the inventor and patent holder had tested the technology for several years, Vaughan wanted to evaluate it for himself. He launched a yearlong trial, using the product in seven pools across five different markets — including his own. In every case, he observed a significant reduction in insect activity. Vaughan noticed a dramatic improvement in his backyard pool, which had previously been plagued by wasps. “I had a bad wasp problem,” he recalls. “Last year, we put the tubes in the skimmer basket, and by the end of summer, we had only three wasps in the backyard — all season. They were just gone.” He adds that even the shop next to his pool, with its metal roof that typically attracted nests, and the nearby trees where wasps built colonies, were completely clear.

Michelle Campbell, owner/operator of AquaTek Pool Care & Repair in Winter Park, Florida, also conducted an initial trial — with great results — before recommending the product to customers.

“We used it in a test pool before letting other customers know,” she says. “The pool was an open pool with some trees and mulch. Mosquitos were the major concern, and they are no longer a problem near the pool or equipment.”

While some users reported 100% effectiveness, “I won’t say 100% because I saw three wasps,” Vaughan says. But, “I got enough [positive] feedback to say that this is something I’m willing to put my name on, to stick my neck out there and say that this works.”

For pool service pros looking to sell this product, Vaughan suggests asking clients if they have a flying bug problem, such as bees during the day and mosquitos in the evening. Clients may be surprised by the question, Vaughan says, as techs are usually just seen as “pool guys who keep their pool clean,” but it gives an easy introduction to the product.

Campbell says Buzz Off has been easy to present to clients and well-received.

“We sent an email to our clients with product information and had many email back or ask about it at the next visit,” she says. “They are all very happy with the results — from screened-in pools with no more gnats floating around, to open pools where it’s keeping mosquitoes and other larger flying insects away.”

Each package of two tubes retails for $30.25; the dealer cost is $15. Shipping is inexpensive and there’s a shipping discount based on volume, Vaughan says.

Campbell says it’s not just the bug control that stands out — it’s also the ease of use.

“It’s an easy application, and with summer storms kicking up and the bugs coming out, customers are enjoying their pools without needing to keep bug spray on hand along with their sunscreen,” she says. “It’s nice for the service side as well — it helps reduce the number of bugs, dead or alive, and we’re not getting eaten alive while cleaning the pool.”