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A swimming pool service technician is a person who maintains swimming pools, including keeping the water clean and safe by fixing pool equipment such as pumps, motors and water filters.
Pool and spa service technicians provide services in the swimming pool and spa industry. There are various national trade associations in the United States that offer memberships in these services, including the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, [1] the Independent Pool And Spa Service Association, Inc. [2] and the United Pool Association. [3] Certification can be obtained through various organizations, including the National Swimming Pool Foundation.
There are approximately 15 million residential pools and spas in the United States, and about 400,000 commercial and public swimming pools. [4] [5] The two service industry trade organizations boast of having about 15,000 members. These workers generally clean either residential or commercial swimming pools. Not all pool service professionals are members of these organizations, and many residential pool owners clean their own pools. [6]
According to the National Swimming Pool Foundation, [7] which has certified hundreds of thousands of pool service operators with its Certified Pool Operators course, [8] only 26 states require that operators of public or commercial pools be properly trained and certified. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published guidance to "help ensure healthy and safe experiences in public pools" in reports called the Model Aquatic Health Code. [9] [10]
An automated pool cleaner can also be used to clean some pools.
The swimming pool service technician industry has various jobs that extend beyond cleaning and sanitizing. Swimming pool service technicians are required to have an understanding of basic water chemistry readings, such as chlorine, pH, alkalinity, stabilizer, and salt levels. [11] Additionally, they must have knowledge in maintaining and repairing pool and spa equipment, including filters, pumps, chlorinators, heaters, pool lights, and automation systems and are also responsible for maintaining safety by ensuring that diving boards, water slides, and other pool accessories are in safe working condition.
Another aspect of repairing or installing pool equipment is setting up automation systems. This includes running high and low voltage wires from a main breaker box to a separate automation panel where that electricity is then sent to the various pool equipment. Communication wire is also sent to the equipment to switch them on and off via the automation motherboard.
The average swimming pool technician hourly pay rate in the United States is $17.30. [12] [13] This figure may vary depending on many factors, including the employer, location and worker's expertise.
A swimming pool service technician is the title character of the Seinfeld episode "The Pool Guy". [14]
There has also been an episode of Saturday Night Live called "Pool Boy", depicting a swimming pool service technician, played by comedian Pete Davidson.
In Legally Blonde, a pool boy named Enrique Salvatore (played by Greg Serano) is a key witness in the trial at the center of the movie. [15]
A lifeguard is a rescuer who supervises the safety and rescue of swimmers, surfers, and other water sports participants such as in a swimming pool, water park, beach, spa, river and lake. Lifeguards are trained in swimming and CPR/AED first aid, certified in water rescue using a variety of aids and equipment depending on requirements of their particular venue. In some areas, lifeguards are part of the emergency services system to incidents and in some communities, lifeguards may function as the primary EMS provider.
Bather load refers to the capacity of a municipal swimming pool, a water fountain, or similar facility. Often bather load is dictated by the capacity of water treatment equipment. Facilities intended only for decoration must maintain a certain minimum standard of water quality, since children often play in, or drink from them.
A spa is a location where mineral-rich spring water is used to give medicinal baths. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer various health treatments, which are also known as balneotherapy. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are especially widespread in Europe and Japan. Day spas and medspas are also quite popular, and offer various personal care treatments.
A hot tub is a large tub full of water used for hydrotherapy, relaxation or pleasure. Some have powerful jets for massage purposes. Hot tubs are sometimes also known as "spas" or by the trade name Jacuzzi. Hot tubs may be located outdoors or indoors.
A swimming machine, also known as a resistance swimming apparatus, is a self-contained device powered by a pump, designed to facilitate stationary swimming for athletes or recreational users. This can be achieved by either propelling water past the swimmer or providing support for the swimmer, either within a water environment or on dry land.
Salt water chlorination is a process that uses dissolved salt for the chlorination of swimming pools and hot tubs. The chlorine generator uses electrolysis in the presence of dissolved salt to produce chlorine gas or its dissolved forms, hypochlorous acid and sodium hypochlorite, which are already commonly used as sanitizing agents in pools. Hydrogen is produced as byproduct too.
See Stock tank oil for oil industry stock tank definition.
An automated pool cleaner is a vacuum cleaner that is designed to collect debris and sediment from swimming pools with minimal human intervention.
Building officials of developed countries are generally the jurisdictional administrator of building and construction codes, engineering calculation supervision, permits, facilities management, and accepted construction procedures.
Pool cleaner may refer to:
Window cleaning, or window washing, is the exterior cleaning of architectural glass used for structural, lighting, or decorative purposes. It can be done manually, using a variety of tools for cleaning and access. Technology is also employed and increasingly, automation.
A swimming pool fence is a type of fence placed around swimming pools, to create a passive barrier to restrict the access of small children to the swimming pool. Swimming pool fences must have a self-closing and self-latching gate/s to be compliant to most countries' laws and codes.
A cleaner or a cleaning operative is a type of industrial or domestic worker who does the cleaning.
Swimming pool sanitation is the process of ensuring healthy conditions in swimming pools. Proper sanitation is needed to maintain the visual clarity of water and to prevent the transmission of infectious waterborne diseases.
Designated as an American National Standard, the Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code (USPSHTC) is a model code developed by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) to govern the installation and inspection of plumbing systems associated with swimming pools, spas and hot tubs as a means of promoting the public's health, safety and welfare.
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, paddling pool, or simply pool, is a structure designed to hold water to enable swimming or other leisure activities. Pools can be built into the ground or built above ground, and may be found as a feature aboard ocean-liners and cruise ships. In-ground pools are most commonly constructed from materials such as concrete, natural stone, metal, plastic, composite or fiberglass, and can be of a custom size and shape or built to a standardized size, the largest of which is the Olympic-size swimming pool.
The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGBA) is a United States law named after Virginia Graeme Baker, who died after sustaining a pool suction-drain injury in June 2002, when the suction from a spa drain entrapped her under the water. It is incorporated as Title 14 of the U.S. Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. This act became enforceable law on December 19, 2008.
Spa filters work continuously to keep debris and sediments from the water in a spa pool.
The Lukács Thermal Bath is a historic indoor/outdoor thermal bath spa in Budapest, Hungary, heated by natural hot springs. All pools and four saunas can be used by all guests except for the optional area of the sauna world, which contains five more saunas, ice cooling pool, igloo and heated roman bench.
The National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) was a United States 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, most known for selling the Certified Pool Operator certification, amongst many other less known products. The Certified Pool Operator certification is a credential that could be considered a quasi license to professionally care for and maintain swimming pools in recreational water environments. In 2019, the NSPF completed a merger with the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP), founding the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA).