Rule Your Pool

Education & Explainer

About

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 going on with your swimming pool chemistry, this might be the podcast for you. Each week, we'll cover a new topic related to swimming pools, water chemistry, or indoor air quality. With our help, you'll be able to rule your pool without over-treating it with chemicals and wasting money.

Episodes

  • Is the LSI actually an "Index"?

    This Rule Your Pool episode examines the LSI formula, including an update by Wójtowicz and Dr. Langelier's original index formula. It explores the differences between what water wants and what air wants.

  • Service 2211: Essential Water Chemistry is now available on Watershape.org

    Rule Your Pool presents Service 2211, focusing on essential water chemistry as Unit A, part 2. The episode provides connections for Watershape University and Orenda for questions and comments.

  • Water Chemistry vs. Natural Stone

    This episode of Rule Your Pool explains what natural stone is, with a focus on calcite, a form of calcium carbonate. It details how aggressive water interacts with natural stones containing calcium.

  • Reverse Osmosis (RO) Filtration (w/ Matt Mueller)

    This episode of Rule Your Pool features Matt Mueller discussing Reverse Osmosis (RO) filtration. Topics include the background of RO, the filtration process, customer perspectives, and associated costs. The discussion also touches on osmos…

  • 186. NEW COURSE! C4633: Advanced Inflatable Watershape Installation Workshop

    This episode announces and details the 'C4633: Advanced Inflatable Watershape Installation Workshop,' covering installation, selection, maintenance, and warranty crafting for inflatable watershapes. It concludes with an April Fools' Day an…

  • Allergic to Chlorine? A Microbiology Lesson (w/ Roy Vore, Ph.D.)

    [00:00] - Intro [01:10] - Degrees of Chlorine Exposure [03:51] - Our Bodies Produce Chlorine [08:16] - Drinking Water is Chlorinated [10:27] - Combined Chlorine and other Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) [16:07] - Prolonged Exposure to Chlor…

  • Personalized Pool Chemistry (w/ Keegan Rivera)

    [00:00] - Intro [01:12] - Keegan's Background [03:45] - Using Engineering to Simplify Pool Care Advice [05:43] - The Reality of Algaecides [07:07] - Access to Information has Increased [08:55] - Personalized Calculations for YOUR Pool [10:…

  • AI: My Unsolicited Opinions

    [00:00] - Intro [00:55] - I remember when AI came out [03:03] - An uncertain future [04:23] - AI recognizes AI [06:24] - Truth and reality are blurred now [07:26] - The Trades are the future [09:07] - Humanity must prevail [10:46] - Mass d…

  • Understanding Adjusted Alkalinity

    00:00] - Intro [00:36] - Adjusted Alkalinity on a Pool Store Printout [01:34] - Adjusted Alkalinity = Carbonate Alkalinity [03:10] - Cyanurate and Borate also contribute to Total Alkalinity [04:42] - Increasing CYA increases TA. About 1/3…

  • Swim School Chemistry (w/ Olympian Davis Tarwater)

    00:00] - Intro [02:20] - Davis Tarwater's background [08:24] - Water quality challenges [18:20] - Swimmer irritation [24:31] - Embrace the pH rise and plan for it [26:56] - Closing ______________________________ Connect with us!   Rea…

  • Dad Mode: Unlocked

    [00:00] - Intro [01:43] - New Baby and 2026 Goals [05:44] - Service 2211 has been recorded, and will soon be online [07:48] - 2026: A Building Year for Watershape U [09:01] - Watershape U = Education + Reinforcement and Networking [12:10]…

  • Winterizing Pools Against Crystals (w/ Rob Romano and Bill Drakeley)

    [00:00] - Intro [00:33] - Pool industry lifers [07:25] - How pools are winterized in the Northeast [11:51] - How cold is too cold to plaster? [16:50] - Calcium chloride in the plaster mix [22:06] - Freeze damage protection [27:40] - Diluti…

  • Protecting Pool Plaster (w/ Jeff Smith)

    ______________________________ Connect with us!   Realize your full potential. Watershape University® Water chemistry questions? Orenda® Questions? Comments? Or apply to sponsor the show: ruleyourpool@gmail.com   Facebook: @ruley…

  • Reinforced PVC Membranes (w/ Tony Jordan and Jeremy Heersink)

    [00:00] - Preface - Education Vacation Recap [03:10] - Actual Introduction [09:13] - New WU Class - C3291: Reinforced PVC Membrane Workshop [14:35] - PVC membranes in cold climates [16:33] - Installation and costs [30:46] - Closing _______…

  • Essential Pool Equipment Taught by the Masters (w/ Rocco Russo)

    [00:00] - Intro [01:12] - Introducing Rocco Russo [06:15] - AI Displacement vs. Tribal Knowledge [08:49] - 2025 Trainer of the Year [20:50] - What to expect from S1311: Essential Pool Equipment - The Core Four [33:44] - Closing ___________…

  • Tile Mastery (w/ Jimmy Reed)

    [00:00] - Introducing Jimmy Reed [07:58] - Weeks of precise prep work before tile goes in [12:12] - The challenge is the point. [13:46] - The Art and Science of Tile Work [15:23] - C2611: Essential Tile Workshop [18:58] - Closing _________…

  • Hands-on Plastering Education (w/ Jon Temple)

    [00:00] - Intro [01:32] - Introducing Tempool [04:33] - Common denominator lately: Residue [06:21] - Easily distorted mix ratios [23:22] - Rock-to-Rock Pebble Finish Exposure [24:54] - Standardizing Systems [26:50] - Exposure problems and…

  • Shotcrete Science (w/ Charles Hanskat, P.E.)

    [00:00] - Introducing Charles Hanskat, P.E. [01:26] - Shotcrete History [06:39] - Shotcrete depends on velocity for compaction [09:44] - Wet mix vs. Dry mix. What's right for you? [11:38] - Water, Cement, and Time [15:39] - Slump [17:58] -…

  • Social Kick (w/ Bryan Lundquist)

    [00:00] - Introducing Bryan Lundquist [02:15] - Swimming Talk [15:48] - Cloudy water, from a swimmer's perspective [20:53] - Changing expectations of water quality [27:09] - ChloramineConsulting.com [29:33] - Showering before swimming, and…

  • My statement of purpose.

    [00:00] - Intro [00:58] - To pool professionals. [05:41] - To you, the individual listener. [08:47] - To the industry in general. [11:28] - To homeowners. [18:30] - To me. [21:20] - Upcoming education events. ______________________________…

  • Rebirth.

    You asked for more podcasts and great information. But instead, we brought Eric back. The new email address is ruleyourpool@gmail.com. Show notes optional. ______________________________ Connect with us!   Realize your full potential.…

  • Thank you.

    Thank you to all of you who have listened to this podcast over the years. You are greatly appreciated, and I hope you found value in what you learned here. It has been an honor. -- Eric ______________________________ Connect with us! &nbsp…

  • What are chlorides?

    00:00 - Introduction 01:21 - Halogens on the Periodic Table of Elements 02:48 - Valence states 06:17 - Chlorides and stainless steel 09:44 - Closing ______________________________ Connect with us!   Realize your full potential. Waters…

  • Los Angeles Wildfire Relief

    00:00 - Introduction 01:07 - Close to home 05:37 - Worse smoke and ash than forest fires 11:37 - our condolences 14:00 - How we are going to help 21:39 - Closing _________________________ Natural disasters like the wildfires in Los Angeles…

  • Water's Story (w/ Jim Lauria and Terry Arko)

    00:00 - Introduction 01:52 - Jim Lauria and Mazzei 07:53 - Leonardo da Vinci and water 11:46 - Podcast: Water We Talking About? 15:14 - The Blue Mind - Wallace J. Nichols 20:13 - Water must be coaxed. 23:10 - Closing ______________________…

  • Can a pool heater have both corrosion AND scale?

    00:00 - Introduction 01:18 - Non-LSI causes of corrosion 03:34 - Scenario 1: Chasing pH and range chemistry 09:05 - Acid abuse vs. containing pH 10:15 - Pouring undiluted acid can scale heaters? 13:06 - Scenario 2: Stray current / electroc…

  • Understanding Metal Corrosion

    00:00 - Reminder: Watershape University Service 1211: Essential Water Chemistry class (8-hour certification) 04:50 - What is corrosion? 09:23 - Moisture, Condensation, and Corrosion 14:39- Metallurgist's explanation of corrosion 16:43 - Wh…

  • The Three Constants

    00:00 - Introduction 00:12 - New Watershape University Class: Service 1211 - Essential Water Chemistry 05:42 - One big question each year 08:59 - Constant 1: Water will always return to its natural state 09:44 - Constant 2: Henry's Law 10:…

  • Scale and Scum Lines on Pool Furniture (w/ Mike Collins, TenJam)

    SUPPORT HURRICANE HELENE VICTIMS: https://www.wryker.com/collections/helene-disaster-relief . Check out with promo code HELENE. What you buy will be matched buy Wryker Supply. Enter your shipping address, but the promo code will ensure the…

  • Integration with PaythePoolman (w/ Teresa Berry)

    SUPPORT HURRICANE HELENE VICTIMS: https://www.wryker.com/collections/helene-disaster-relief . Check out with promo code HELENE. What you buy will be matched buy Wryker Supply. Enter your shipping address, but the promo code will ensure the…

  • The Undeniable Power of Water

    SUPPORT HURRICANE HELENE VICTIMS: https://www.wryker.com/collections/helene-disaster-relief . Check out with promo code HELENE. What you buy will be matched buy Wryker Supply. Enter your shipping address, but the promo code will ensure the…

  • Cyanuric Acid Testing and its Limitations (w/ Joe Sweazy)

    00:00 - Introduction 02:27 - Testing frequency 05:11 - Melamine reagent for CYA testing 08:32 - Diluting the sample 13:32 - More testing precision at low CYA levels 17:51 - The future of CYA testing 21:17 - Closing ________________________…

  • Calcium Phosphate Scale

    00:00 - Introduction 02:15 - Credit to whom it is owed 03:14 - What is calcium phosphate? 08:42 - Formula for calcium phosphate precipitation 14:34 - Lab results (thanks Que Hales!) 16:05 - How to identify and prevent calcium phosphate sca…

  • Measuring Chemicals: Volume vs. Weight

    00:00 - Introduction 02:29 - Three most profitable tools for pools 06:16 - Dry scoop vs. Liquid measuring cup 09:56 - Product percentages 12:59 - Closing ______________________________ Connect with us!   Realize your full potential. W…

  • Closing time, one last call for calcium

    00:00 - Introduction 05:09 - Previous winterization podcast episodes 06:22 - WHY do we winterize the Orenda way? 07:44 - Three winterization fundamentals 08:16 - Mechanical and physical closing processes 11:18 - Water quality over winter 1…

  • Understanding non-chlorine shock (w/ Terry Arko)

    00:00 - Introduction 01:08 - Non-chlorine alternatives 03:06 - Disinfection and sanitization (5 and 3-log reductions) 05:16 - Affinity 07:49 - Oxidation 09:21 - What is non-chlorine shock? 12:06 - Non-chlorine shock vs. combined chlorine?…

  • Foam and Defoamers (w/ Terry Arko)

    00:00 - Introduction 01:18 - Soap 06:02 - Water temperature, soft water, and foam 12:11 - Defoamer products 17:16 - Proactive foam management: enzymes and chitosan 24:14 - When to drain and refill a spa 27:24 - Closing ____________________…

  • AirBNB, VRBO, and other vacation rental pools and spas

    00:00 - Introduction 01:27 - Unpredictable bather load? Get back to basics. 03:05 - Back to the Four Pillars 04:12 - Four Pillars Action Steps 08:31 - We don't know what happens in these pools 10:17 - Rapidly changing water temperature 14:…

  • Automatic pool covers and water chemistry

    00:00 - Introduction 01:29 - Why pool covers change pool chemistry 03:09 - Rain and snow dilution 03:48 - Auto-covers and plaster issues 05:00 - Salt chlorine generators and covered pools 09:11 - Breathable pool covers? 10:08 - Trichlor fe…

  • Saharan dust blowing across the Atlantic Ocean

    00:00 - Introduction 00:58 - Saharan dust research 02:07 - What is Saharan dust? 03:15 - Why Saharan dust is important to our global ecosystem 07:20 - How Saharan dust impacts swimming pools 08:23 - Saharan dust is similar to wildfires and…

  • Mid-summer update 2024

    00:00 - Introduction 03:29 - LaMotte integration with 601 discs 04:41 - App login vs. Orenda Academy login 06:28 - Watershape University course 06:55 - Closing ______________________________ Connect with us!   Realize your full potent…

  • A Pulmonologist's Perspective on Indoor Air Quality, and Blood/Water Chemistry (w/ Mike Fields, MD)

    00:00 - Introduction 01:01 - Why Dr. Fields contacted us 04:58 - Indoor pools and HVAC design 09:59 - What are weezing and asthma? 14:25 - Medications for breathing issues 20:22 - What is a pulmonologist? 22:37 - Explaining chloramines and…

  • Sunlight, UV, clouds, and chlorine destruction

    00:00 - Introduction 01:30 - Using chlorine vs. Losing chlorine 06:42 - UV degradation (photolysis) of chlorine 08:11 - Electromagnetic radiation and light from the Sun 11:10 - Low and medium pressure UV disinfection systems 14:32 - Fluenc…

  • The voice of Olympic Swimming (w/ Rowdy Gaines)

    00:00 - Introduction 02:06 - Rowdy Gaines, from swimming to broadcasting 04:56 - The evolution of competitive swimming 16:18 - 2024 Olympic Trials 22:37 - Water and air quality in pools 28:43 - Step Into Swim foundation 35:41 - Game: Unqua…

  • Orenda App version 5.0, LaMotte SpinTouch integration and our new Chemical Calculator

    00:00 - Introduction 01:23 - What's new in the Orenda App version 5.0? 05:43 - LaMotte SpinTouch integration 13:43 - The new Chemical Calculator 17:08 - Login is required for these new features 22:07 - Demonstrating the new Chemical Calcul…

  • Preventing Shoulder and Back Injuries (w/ Paul Cagle, MD)

    00:00 - Introduction 02:10 - Dr. Paul Cagle, shoulder surgeon 06:02 - Scenario: lifting heavy buckets in and out of a pickup truck bed 11:32 - Protecting your back muscles 17:27 - Preventative strengthening exercises 21:06 - Most common sh…

  • Full Transparency - Changes are Coming

    00:00 - Introduction 02:20 - Updating bicarbonate's pKa from 6.14 to 6.27 08:24 - Orenda app integration with a test kit 08:51 - The new calculator 15:02 - Account login 16:37 - Closing ______________________________ Connect with us! &nbsp…

  • Understanding Cyanurate Alkalinity

    00:00 - Introduction 05:50 - Does the Orenda Calculator™ adjust alkalinity for CYA? 09:44 - pH buffering system: acids and conjugate bases 12:49 - Hydrogens move around, but don't go away 16:01 - pKa values 19:05 - Cyanuric acid and Cyanur…

  • Understanding pH buffering systems and pKa values

    00:00 - Introduction 03:16 - pH buffering 04:43 - Bicarbonate, cyanurate and borate 06:41 - pH is based on H2O and hydrolysis 09:56 - Carbonate alkalinity means dissolved CO2 determines pH 11:51 - Bicarbonate converts into carbonate at 8.3…

  • Cicadas (and other small dead animals) in Swimming Pools

    00:00 - Introduction 02:25 - Cicada broods every 13 or 17 years 05:44 - What do cicadas do? 07:03 - Cicadas and swimming pools 08:56 - What do cicadas introduce into swimming pool water? 10:44 - How to get cicadas out of the pool 11:29 - O…