9 Jul 2026 10:00
Testing Water the Right Way, Hurricane Prep & Insurance Reality
How should you dispose of pool water after you've tested it?
It sounds like a simple question...until it isn't.
Wayne Ivusich and Steve Sherwood kick off this week's episode with a discussion sparked by a question from Que Hales regarding whether test samples should ever be poured back into the pool. The conversation quickly expands into proper testing technique, customer perception, reagent safety, expired chemicals, electronic testing, and why following the manufacturer's instructions matters more than most people realize.
Wayne shares stories from his years at Taylor Technologies, including why silver nitrate turns your skin black, how heat destroys reagents, and what really happens when test chemicals aren't stored correctly.
Later in the episode, Steve welcomes insurance expert Pat Grignon for another Insurance Interlude. Together they discuss hurricanes, floods, wildfires, mudslides, and what pool professionals should know before attempting to "secure" equipment ahead of an approaching storm. They also explain how insurance coverage changes depending on the type of natural disaster and why documentation matters.
Whether you're testing a backyard pool or preparing commercial facilities for hurricane season, this episode is packed with practical advice every pool professional can use.
In this episode
- Should you dump tested water back into the pool?
- Why customer perception matters during water testing
- Understanding reagent toxicity and proper disposal
- The truth about silver nitrate stains
- How heat and improper storage ruin test reagents
- Why expiration dates matter
- Electronic testing vs. traditional drop testing
- Testing Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
- Phosphates, fill water, and hidden water chemistry issues
- Hurricane preparation for pool equipment
- Insurance considerations before and after natural disasters
- Flood, fire, mudslide, earthquake, and wind coverage explained
- Why documentation protects both homeowners and service companies
Featured Guests
- Wayne Ivusich
- Steve Sherwood
- Pat Grignon
Sponsors
- LaMotte Company
- WaterLink Spin Touch
- Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC)
- Talking Pools Podcast Mentor Award Sponsors
Mentioned During the Show
- Certified Pool Operators (CPO) Facebook Group
- Proper storage and handling of testing reagents
- Taylor Technologies testing procedures
- TDS testing
- Electronic water testing
- Hurricane preparedness for swimming pools
- Insurance considerations for pool professionals
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