Why Is My Dolphin Pool Cleaner Not Working
If your Dolphin cleaner has stalled or is not cleaning, the problem is usually something stuck in the tracks, brushes or vacuum ports.
Take the robot out of the water and examine it for any obstructions.
Also, check whether the filter bag or basket is full, as that could cause the robot to stop working.
If you can find the problem, refer to the manuals troubleshooting section or call customer support. It might be a more serious problem, such as motor failure.
You Can Help Your Friends Who Own A Pool
As a pool technician, you will also be able to acquire some knowledge about how pools work and if you have friends who have pools at home and faces some issues with them, you can help out your loved ones and fix those issues.
In turn, your friends will often be quite grateful for your support and will likely also help you in case you need help from them in the future.
What A Pool Cleaning Business Involves
Pool cleaners visit client’s homes or businesses to check and adjust the water’s chemical balance, maintain the pumps and filters, check the skimmers, and clean.
Along with a regular weekly schedule during the season, they might make extra visits to open and close down a pool, or after a storm that blows debris into pools. Pool cleaners may also work on spas and hot tubs.
Pool cleaning is not a learn-as-you-go business. Cleaners should be educated in what they’re doing, either through apprenticing with a respected practitioner.
It’s important to find out if there are any legal requirements for pool cleaners in the areas where you expect to work. For example, due to health codes, some states and municipalities require certification if youll be attending to public and health club pools, hot tubs, and spas.
A knowledge of environmentally friendly products, including chlorine alternatives, can be a plus and can help you set your pool cleaning business apart from others.
Also Check: Can You Add A Pool To A New Mortgage
You Can Avoid Classical Office Work
Another benefit of working as a pool guy is that you can also avoid working in a classical office environment.
While some people like office work, the majority of people dont like it at all.
In fact, working in those office environments often feels quite artificial and it can indeed be considered unnatural since we as humans just havent evolved like that for thousands of years.
Instead, we had been working with our hands in nature and by working as a pool guy, you can get back to the roots to a certain extent.
Consequently, a career as a pool guy can also make sense for you in case you just dont want to work in a classical office job but rather want to work with your hands instead.
Recommended Reading: Endless Pool Maintenance
Annual Pool Maintenance Cost
Your average annual pool maintenance cost runs from $960 to $1,800, with most homeowners spending around $1,400 along with the cost of any necessary repairs. A considerable variance in pricing depends on the type of pool.
According to Nerdwallet, there are two more costs that many homeowners dont think about in regards to yearly pool maintenance costs when researching the cost to build a pool.
- Liability insurance can bump your monthly pool cost by $17 to $25. A pool increases the chance of injury on your property and will increase the price of your homeowners insurance, and insurance companies recommend liability insurance of half a million with an umbrella policy to bring it up to one million.
- Inground pools typically increase your homeâs property value by 7% when it goes up, property taxes tend to follow increase as well.
Also Check: Can Vdara Use Aria Pool
You May Like: Is The Pool Open At Winstar
How Much Cleaning Do You Want
Depending on how much you use your pool or your budget, you may opt for a pool cleaner that only vacuums the pool floor. These may or may not come with brushes, and are often the simplest and cheapest. You could invest a little more in a premium pool cleaner that will be more efficient and cover more area.
Higher-end pool cleaning robots can clean the floor, cove, and part of the wall. They have rotating brushes and features that help them climb, so theyll be more expensive.
Then you have the top-notch ones that can clean the floor, cove, the entire wall, and the waterline. These are the most advanced and often have smart features that can be controlled via mobile apps.
Step : Get Business Insurance
Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your companys financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.
There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If youre unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so its a great place to start for your business.
Learn more about General Liability Insurance.
Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, its a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.
Recommended: Learn what business insurance for your Pool Cleaning Business will cost.
Recommended Reading: Does Costco Sell Pool Chlorine
How Can I Get Started As A Teenage Pool Cleaner
Hiring A Pool Cleaning Service
When looking to hire a pool service company, be sure to get at least three detailed bids. Compare online reviews, contracts, services, features, and add-ons before making your final decision. Things to look for are:
- A/A+ rated members with the Better Business Bureau.
- Have been in business for longer than five years.
- Are an insured and bonded professional pool company.
- Rated highly on HomeGuide and Google.
- Has a CMS certification.
Get free home improvement estimates on HomeGuide from trusted pool cleaning companies:
Recommended Reading: What Is The Cheapest Inground Pool
Starting A Pool Cleaning Business
For the aspiring freelancer who wants to be his or her own boss, a pool cleaning business is the perfect way to earn some extra income or a full-time livelihood. The barrier to entry in this field isnt nearly as high as youd think and a pool cleaning business can be started for roughly $2,000 or less. With a solid game plan in place, anyone can become a pool cleaner and make a decent living at it regardless of experience or location.
Planning, Market Research & EducationLicensing and InsuranceEquipment & SuppliesBuilding & Running Your BusinessLong-Term Viability
How Much Do Pool Cleanings Cost
Pool cleanings are the most frequent step homeowners have to take in properly maintaining pools. Certain steps that should be completed daily include skimming the pool and testing the chemical balance using a simple test strip. You can supplement your efforts by hiring a professional pool cleaning service to perform more cleanings on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. If there are no additional repairs or maintenance required, the cost for pool cleanings may be as little as $50 per month.
Don’t Miss: How Much Does An Endless Pool Cost
Increase Word Of Mouth
Make providing great customer service a priority, since people will share their experience with friends and family. Remind your customers your business relies on reviews. Use reputation management to your advantage. Always be friendly and cooperative with your customers neighbors. Hand out flyers or business cards. Connect with pool builders and ask them to recommend your company to their customers. Most importantly, pay attention to customer feedback and use it to adjust your operations accordingly.
Apply To Jobs At Pool Maintenance Companies
Pool maintenance companies are constantly searching for reliable, hard-working pool cleaners. You have the know-how, now you just need to find a pool maintenance company thats willing to hire you.
These companies are usually looking for people who can do a variety of different jobs wellsuch as the following:
- Installing filter systems
- Vacuuming, cleaning, repairing equipment, and replacing hoses
- Moving hoses and hoses reels
- Hosing down decks and patios
- Evicting unwanted guests from pools
- Leveling pool walls
If you know how to do some of these perfectly, you may be the perfect employee for one of the top pool maintenance companies in your area. You can browse through the online job databases for pool cleaning jobs in your area.
Also Check: Vdara Rooftop Pool
Other Pool Cleaning Services And Costs
- A one-time cleaning of a particularly dirty pool might cost $75 to $100 per hour. Assuming a typical 2-3 hour job, that’s a total estimated cost of $150 to $300.
- Extremely dirty pools might require a drain and clean service that runs $500 to $600 or more.
- Pool acid washing, required for the most stubborn pool stains, costs $200 to $300 in addition to the cost of a drain and clean.
- Filter cleanings, if not included in a regular maintenance plan, might cost $75 to $100 per cleaning .
- Opening and closing a pool costs $150 to $300 per service.
Cost To Build A Shipping Container Pool
The cost of a shipping container pool starts at around $17,000. This does not include the water or deck you may want to include. Shipping containers can come in many sizes and have a modern sleek style, which many find attractive. They can be sunk into the ground or used as an above-ground pool with proper ladders. Depending on the shipping containers age and type, you may need to line the container to safely hold water long term. Things like chlorine or saltwater may harm the container if not lined.
You May Like: How Do I Keep Raccoons From Pooping In My Pool
What To Consider Before Purchasing A Robotic Pool Cleaner
Here are a few factors that you should consider before you invest in a robotic pool cleaner.
- Size of pool. Its important to compare the capacity of your pool with the size of your robotic pool cleaner. For example, if you have an above-ground swimming pool, its advisable to buy a robotic cleaner with a capacity of 5500 gallons or less. On the other hand, if you have an inground swimming pool, choosing one with a capacity of 7500 gallons or more is ideal for optimal performance.
- Type of pool. Some cleaners operate in in-ground and above-ground pools, while others can work only for one. Also, some are better than others in reaching corners, so the size of your pool is important.
- Pool steps, stairs, waterlines, and walls. Almost any pool cleaning robot can clean the pool floor with ease. However, some cannot clean pool stairs, steps, or climb walls. Some cannot clean sharp edges. And others dont have the feature to clean up the waterline. The more features a cleaner has, the more costly it becomes.
- The amount of debris thats often present in your pool. If you have debris in your pool, then a robotic cleaner can be best for you. Youll have no issues with cleaning up an area that seems hard to reach.
- The price. The cost of a robotic pool cleaner depends on several factors, such as the type of water filtration system you have, the size of your pool, and how many features you wish to buy in the unit.
Find Your Value Proposition
Theres a lot of competition in the pool service industry, so you need to offer something thats missing from the current market or that nobody else can provide.
It could be that you offer the best service in town, or you might have an algae-free guarantee. Think about how you can create valueand promote it in your marketing materials!
You want to be a professional The last thing you want is your customer looking at you like youre the kid with the lawnmower, walking down the street, wanting five bucks to mow their lawn.
Randy Mahler, Oceanview Pools LLC
Read Also: How To Lower Calcium Hardness In Pool
Step : Define Your Brand
Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.
If you aren’t feeling confident about designing your small business logo, then check out our Design Guides for Beginners, we’ll give you helpful tips and advice for creating the best unique logo for your business.
Recommended: Get a logo using Truic’s free logo Generator no email or sign up required, or use a Premium Logo Maker.
How to promote & market a pool cleaning business
A pool service business marketing efforts should be specifically focused on pool owners within the business service area. Businesses may reach these potential customers online via targeted ads or through direct mailing.
Business owners who dont have much money for marketing may even be able to get their first few customers by going door to door and cold calling. While this takes a lot of work at first, any customers gained will be in the same general area — which will reduce how much time is lost driving between customers locations.
How to keep customers coming back
Still unsure about what kind of business you want to start? Check out the latest Small Business Trends to help inspire you.
How To Start A Pool Service Business
Vijay Khandekar
Starting a pool cleaning service business isnt easy. A pool service professional is expected to travel to customers properties -homes, apartment buildings, hotels, and motels to provide the services. On top of that, the pool cleaning process takes a lot of time and technique.
So, if you are thinking about starting a pool cleaning business and looking for a one-stop resource to get answers to all your questions, you are in the right place.
You May Like: Bleach In Small Pool Calculator
What Is The Best Way To Clean Your Pool
The best way to clean your pool is to hire a professional for regular service. Oftentimes, signing up for regular, ongoing services will drop the per-visit cost significantly.
Basic pool cleaning services will include skimming off debris, leaves and other materials that have made it into the pool. It will also likely include cleaning the pools walls, vacuuming debris from the bottom and making sure the pump and filter are in good shape. A pool cleaner can also test the water and add chemicals as needed.
Understanding How An Automatic Pool Cleaner Works
An automatic pool cleaner is a self-cleaning device working on electricity. Depending on the model, it can wash not only the flooring of your pool but its walls as well.
They come in the following types:
- Suction-side cleaner. This model is affordable and can pull in medium to large debris.
- Pressure-side vacuum. It utilizes pressure from the water flow to move around your pool. Its also great at sucking up medium to big debris.
- Robot pool cleaner. The innovative cleaner is powered by electricity and can handle silt and small debris.
The latest generation of robotic pool cleaners are more efficient and reliable. Likewise, they provide a cleaning similar to what you can receive out of manual pool vacuums. The biggest difference here is that these devices eliminate most of the physical and manual jobs.
Read Also: Wasp Spray In Pool Water
Start Using Pool Service Software
Finding pool service software might not feel like your biggest problem when youre starting a pool cleaning business.
And youre rightits actually a solution thatll prevent problems and keep your business on the right track for success. Here are a few admin issues that pool maintenance software can solve:
- Sending invoices and getting paid
- Sending quotes and estimates
- Scheduling jobs and planning service routes
- Tracking client details and chemical use
- Staying in touch with your clients
It also keeps your team on the same page, helps you keep track of important details, and tells you how much work you have on the go.
With pool cleaning software like Jobber, you can manage all the day-to-day tasks that keep your business runningall in one place.
Sort out your software before your first job that way, youre starting off on the right foot and you wont have to make expensive or time-consuming changes further down the line.
Create your first pool service estimates and invoices for free. Job Toolkit makes it easy to look professional, impress customers, and get paid.
Jobber was part of the reason why we were able to grow from three to 35 employees in less than five years. Without it, our growth wouldnt have been entirely possible, or as easy as it has been.
Hal Denbar, Patriot Pools
