Pool Builders, Warranties, and Chemicals

We had "pool school" today. The PB came out and was talking about their warranties. They said that we are "required" to have our water "professionally" tested, and the results archived, once a month, in case we call in the future for warranty work. For example, if we call saying we have stains in the pebbletec, they want to know if we (or whoever) kept the water balanced before they will agree to do the work. They also said that keeping receipts for pool chemicals is a good idea too.

This sounded like gestapo bullcrap to me. Are the pool builders just as misinformed as the "pool store slaves" that trudge to the store once a week and shell out $50 in chemicals? Do the builders think that the average pool maintenance company, who constantly dump pucks (and maintain associated super-high CYA levels), mineral/metal products, ozonators, and other weird chemicals into pools, are doing "the right thing"? Are they just looking for a scapegoat to blame when I call for warranty service? "Oh, your pool maintenance company forgot to add jumblyjuice, so we're not doing the work. call them!"

If I have issues in the future for warranty work, and I show up with receipts for bleach, borax, and baking soda, and pool store testing results, are they going to tell me to take a hike for using that "hippie stuff" ??

Anyone have an opinion as to whether I should talk to the pool company and tell them my plans to use B, B, & B? They are big on all the junk that they have contracts with to sell (jacks blue junk, ozonators, mineral "bac pacs", frog systems, etc).

I'm no lawyer, but I think they are trying to be sure they can weasel out of honoring their warranty. I think what I'd do is very carefully, once a week, run all the tests in Ben's kit, or the Taylor 2006, or the Leslie's equiv made my Taylor. I wouldn't use anything else. And if anything gets out of whack, fix it IMMEDIATELY. And keep your reagents up-to-date.

And I would VERY carefully record so it's VERY legible, (like on a computer) the date and time, and all the results. Be sure to include the calcium test. If you want, get the saline test and the copper test too, and run and record them. Supposing two years down the line there is a problem and they try to say you didn't maintain your water. You have the weekly logs from spring opening to fall closing with EVERY major test--and if you've done your job, they won't have a leg to stand on. Maintained records are very powerful evidence of you doing your part. They have no more right to force you to pay for a particular testing service than an auto manufacturer has the right to insist you only use their branded parts. They can't and it's been proven in court many times.

Besides, a weekly snapshot of your pool with Ben's kit is what you should be doing anyway. It's what I do, and I cannot TELL you how many problems have been avoided before they became serious. I can track my pool's water back several years now--because I have the records.

Meanwhile, simple chlorine and pH testing daily gives your further warning.

Yeah, I don't mind testing the water, I enjoy bragging when people ask who my pool service is :-) l am just worried they might say "Look here, back in 1998 your pH was over 7.8, so therefore we are not fixing the leak under your spa" or something like that. That's probably exaggerating it a little.. plus for some reason I don't think this builder will be around much longer given my experience.

I think you're right though with accurate records, even if it is me and not a "professional" doing the testing. Showing years of logs would go a long way in front of a judge.

What builder did you use???

Two things come to mind...


As Carl said...it sounds like they're trying to leave some weasel room in their warranty, should anything happen.

The second thing is that that builder/installer may have a working relationship with one (or more) pool stores in the area. It wouldn't surprise me if the pool builder has business cards at all the pool stores in the area. But it sure seems odd that he's laying these stipulations on his warranty. Especially when many of the pool store recommended chemicals come with consequences that effect another area of your pool water.

dan