A ten-minute phone call tells you more about a pool company than its website will. These are the questions worth asking, in roughly the order they matter.
About the business
- Are you insured, and can you send me a certificate of insurance?
- Does my state or county require a license or registration for pool service, and do you hold it?
- Do your technicians hold a Certified Pool Operator (CPO) certification or similar training?
- Will the same technician service my pool each week?
- Do you run background checks on the people who come onto my property?
About the weekly visit
- What exactly happens on a routine visit, and roughly how long does it take?
- Which water readings do you test every visit, and will I see the results?
- Are chemicals included in the price, or billed separately?
- How often do you service the filter, and is that included?
- What happens if a visit is skipped for weather or a holiday?
About repairs and equipment
- Do you repair pumps, filters, heaters, and automation yourselves, or refer that work out?
- Will I get a written quote and give approval before any repair or part replacement?
- Do you handle seasonal openings and closings, if that applies where I live?
- Do you offer leak detection, or can you recommend someone who does?
About what happens if something goes wrong
- If my water turns green or cloudy between visits, is a return visit included?
- Who do I contact if the pump stops or something looks wrong, and how quickly do you respond?
- Is there a contract term, and what's your cancellation policy?
A quick way to compare answers across companies
If you're calling more than one company, ask the same questions in the same order and jot down the answers right after each call — they blend together faster than you'd expect. The company with the most specific answers, not necessarily the lowest monthly price, is usually the one worth hiring.
None of these questions are meant to catch anyone out. A company that's set up to do this professionally will have quick, specific answers. Vague answers, or irritation at being asked, tell you something too.