Where I came from up north, there were far fewer backyard swimming pools dotting the residential landscape than the huge number I encountered upon resettling in Southwest Florida. Up there, fewer pools meant fewer choices of pool service technicians. But thanks to our small-town grapevine, I quickly learned which technicians were best—or best avoided. Choosing one was just that easy.

In Florida, on the other hand, private pools and spas are seemingly everywhere. And so are the technicians that service them.
For the record, pool service technicians are trained professionals who treat and maintain swimming pool water. Their main duties include testing the pH balance of the water, treating it with the chemicals necessary to maintain that balance, removing debris that floats or collects on the bottom; and keeping the pool’s filtration system operating smoothly.

If you are not inclined to service your pool yourself, then finding the right person for the job may present something of a challenge if you are new to owning a pool and unfamiliar with the ABCs of pool maintenance.

Here are some of the questions you might want to ask each prospective candidate for the job.

• Are you licensed and insured?

Call me overly cautious, but swimming pool maintenance almost always involves caustic chemicals, slippery surfaces and water pumps that operate on gas or electricity. Thus, there is always the potential, however small or unlikely, for accidents that can cause bodily injury or damage to pool and property. For this reason, I typically like to align myself with venders who have obtained all the required licensure and liability coverage.

Be advised that the State of Florida does not require licensure for someone who simply cleans your pool. But if their duties crossover into doing repair work on the pool shell or filtration pump (and/or its power source), they must hold a valid Swimming Pool/Spa Servicing Contractor’s license, as mandated by the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR).

In most cases, the service technician need not be licensed or insured, so long as the pool company or contractor they work for is. Evidence of up-to-date licensure and insurance coverage is for your protection and should be happily proffered by the individual or company being interviewed.

• How long have you been servicing pools and how did you get your training?

Proper training and experience are never bad qualities for a pool technician to bring to the table. Indeed, many technicians are trained by the companies they work for, so you are well within your boundaries to inquire how the technician was trained and how often his or her training is refreshed.

Do you service other pools in the neighborhood or have local references to vouch for your experience?

Finding the right pool service technician may be as simple as asking your next-door neighbor. A good, in-demand technician will often be seen servicing multiple pools in the same neighborhood. When in doubt, ask for references. A competent technician will be happy to oblige.

• How much do you charge per visit?

It is never a bad idea to learn the going rate for pool service technicians in your area before commencing with the interviews. A friend or neighbor probably knows. Or you can consult such online sources as Angi. Indeed, my neighborhood has its own Facebook page through which we share such information.

• Is a contract for service required?

If so, read it carefully. These contracts not only state what tasks will be performed by the technician during each service call, but also what tasks you (the pool owner) are expected to perform in between each visit. For example, to avert a problem with your pool’s filtration system, the service contract may require you to maintain the pool’s water level in between service calls.

• How often is service recommended and what specific tasks will each service call consist of?

Keep a record of the services promised by each company (or independent contractor) so that you can make an accurate comparison based on the prices quoted.

• How flexible is your schedule, in case I need a last-minute cleaning or an emergency service call?

Surprise visit from your in-laws or grandkids? A last-minute pool party? Intense storm dumps tons of rain and debris into your pool?

These are all sorts of reasons why you will sometimes need to depart from your regular pool maintenance schedule. Whether the company or technician can reasonably accommodate an emergency or last-minute services call—or dispatch a back-up—is a question worth asking.