teo_dk's thread: Books by Robert Lowry - worthwhile or not?

[teo_dk]

I tried to search before posting this question but was not successful in finding anything - could mean I am not a good searcher so please direct me if there is an existing thread.

My question is: after reading alot on the PoolSolutions website it appears that much of the 'conventional' wisdow is at least partially flawed, with that in mind, are the books by Robert Lowry worth getting? I am referring to the manuals that are available at NSPF detailing water chemistry, testing and equipment troubleshooting.

Thank you

[PoolDoc]

Took me awhile to find my copies, at least of what I have. I don't think I've ever seen anything by him on equipment troubleshooting.

Regarding the equipment book, my guess is the info is somewhat out of date. He's older than I am (57) and has been retired for a number of years. Last I heard (10 years ago) he was living about 70 miles ESE of me, in the mountains of NE. Georgia. But, I've never seen that book.

Regarding anything published by the NSPF . . . they are STILL a chem manufacturer funded organization, I believe. And it would literally -- not figuratively, but actually -- bankrupt the chemical companies if most pool owners knew and used the info published here. That used to scare me, because BioLab could have sued me, even if it was a bogus lawsuit, and shut me down because I couldn't have paid to fight back. Now, they are losing anyhow, because of SWCG's. But they are still going to put it off as long as possible.

Anyhow, the books I have were published by Service Industry News. My guess is what you have may be updates.

pH, Alkalinity, Water Testing, & Water Balance (1988)
- bogus pH restriction levels
- bogus pH effect info (bleach causes pH to rise)
- bogus 'how-to-lower-alkalinity' (just add acid)
- bogus guideline: "pH determines sanitizer effectiveness" (No, on outdoor pools, it's CYA -- see best guess page)
- bogus discussion of hardness: "if (soft) water is denied a diet of pool plaster it will eat the (iron, aluminum, copper) instead"

+ reasonably good description of how to collect a good sample
+ decent discussion of testing reagents and methods.



Guide to Chlorine - 1989
+ useful outline of chlorine sources

- bogus discussion of chlorine gas (if what he claims was true, PoolChlor, which has been servicing 10,000's of pools for 40+ years, would be out of business.)
- bogus discussion of HOCl / -OCl ratios (these, common to almost all pool books) are actually valid only for pools with no stabilizer.
- bogus discussion of chlorine 'breakpoint' chemistry.

Wow. I haven't looked at those in years. Talk about memory lane.

For the time (1990's), Lowry's data was much better than other published material. Jock Hamilton with United Chemical knew that much of it was bogus, but he had his own axe to grind, and no interest in changing a business that created -- with its chemical nonsense -- the very problems his products "solved".

I don't know if you are a homeowner or a service guy.

If you are a service guy, and can sift the good from the bad, I'd buy his books, and use PF, PoolSolutions and TroubleFreePools to guide your sifting. The problem is my sites and TFP are oriented to pool owners, not service guys. That probably won't change, because there's no market for a "PoolSolutions Guide to Chemistry for Pool Service Guys".

Chem_Geek may write a 700 page "Analytical Guide to Swimming Pool Chemicals and Their Application". If he does, I'll pony up the likely $250 per copy cost, and consider it worth it. But I don't think it will be much help to most pool owners or service guys.

If you are a home owner with a pool, I'd leave Lowry and the NSPF alone.

Does that help?

Ben

[CarlD]

Chem_Geek's writing a pool book? Let's spread THAT rumor around! Make Poor Richard's haif fall out!

[chem geek]

Bob Lowry's books aren't sold at NSPF. They are sold at IPSSA and at his website. It is the CPO Manual that is sold at NSPF.

I've reviewed the NSPF manual and wrote up extensive comments on it in this post including a link to a detailed comments document I sent to Tom Lachocki the CEO of NSPF (whom I've met in person at an NEHA conference). The CPO manual is actually not that bad. On the other hand, Bob Lowry's books have more incorrect information, especially regarding the chlorine/CYA relationship, and I've written about that in this post and in this thread. I'm in contact with Bob Lowry these days so we may figure out a way to get his books updated in some way, but no I'm not planning on writing any such books myself.

[teo_dk]

@ chem geek: I stand corrected, it was at IPSSA that I saw the books. Thank you for the links to your reviews of both Roberts books and the CPO manual, I will read through both topics.

@ PoolDoc: Thank you for the comments on the two books you mention and the general background info on the available material in the industry. It is all very helpful as is everything else I have read on this site. I am currently a pool owner only, but I am considering becoming a service professional since I have found that the general knowledge of many 'professionals' are quite lacking in my area (one of the reasons I took over the care of my pool myself) and I think there is a pretty good business opportunity where I live.