Keeping your pool sparkling

Apr. 21—So, what do you do when you've been installing pools for homeowners for more than 20 years? You launch a customized service that helps those pool owners continue to enjoy that amenity for years to come.

That's exactly what David Pools & Spa is doing with the March 22 grand opening of its new pool supplies retail store that offers more than just the chemicals to keep a pool clean. They make it easy, too.

Located at 2635 Faudree Road Suite B, the business will offer a state-of-the-art testing service that will not only analyze pool water samples but also provide the right chemicals — and exactly how to use them — to maintain a healthy pool.

Simply put, David Pool & Spa are taking the guess work — and sometimes the living nightmare — out of properly maintaining a pool.

Here's how it works. A pool owner brings in a sample of their pool water, and the folks at David Pool & Spa run it through a computer device using state-of-the art "Alex" software. The result is an easy-to-read report that shows in detail the water's condition and exactly which products need to be added to the pool to bring the water quality up to par. The report even details exactly how much of a given chemical to add to the pool and how to apply it. It's virtually fool-proof, and David Pool & Spa, an authorized BioGuard platinum dealer, carries all the products needed to get the job done.

Then, it's merely a matter of the pool owner bringing in another water sample for periodic testing to keep everything on track.

"This is a concierge program because we will deliver to our customers, as well," company Founder Bob David explained, noting this will be the only program of its type in the Permian Basin. The store will also offer a subscription service whereby participating customers can have chemicals delivered to their door on a regular basis, at which time water samples can be picked up for testing.

"It's easy," General Manager Mitchell Thornton said. "We want to make it as easy as possible so people can enjoy their pool."

But it's more than just enabling a homeowner to spend more time splashing in their pool rather than pulling out their hair over its poor condition. David said it's also about protecting a significant investment.

Since 2012, the company has been operating in the Permian Basin installing fiberglass pools, which David said are sturdy, less expensive and quicker to install than gunite pools, and less costly to maintain.

"But there's nothing that's maintenance-free," he said, adding that neglecting a pool can have very costly outcomes. "You're buying an $80,000 pool and you compare that with any other large investment in your home — you want to take care of that. We're doing this so people can take care of their investment."

David's son Lance, who serves as company president, said the new retail store and service offers an effective alternative for pool owners who buy their chemicals online, or from a big box store or another supplier and are then left to figure out everything on their own, armed with a home test kit.

He points out that merely following the directions on the back of a package of chemicals is oftentimes not specific enough to properly treat the pool water. An inaccurate diagnosis of the water quality and/or using the wrong chemicals or the wrong amount can oftentimes turn the problem into an even more costly one to solve, he said, adding:

"It (water chemistry) is more than a guess; it's a science. And we want you to enjoy your pool; not have to try and remember what the pool guy told you at the shop."

The father-son team, as well as Thornton are bullish on the notion that they will be providing a service a lot of Permian Basin pool owners will take advantage of, because they say customers have been asking them to do so for years.

They believe now the time is right to branch out from the installation business into retail because they have been able to build a trusted brand and have in place the right team, which includes Amber Repasy, director of sales and designs, as well as five subcontractors.

And they have honed their skills in managing inventory to meet demand, thanks in large part to the winter storm that put Texas in a deep freeze several years ago, as well as the COVID pandemic, which prompted a spike in pool demand while also squeezing supply chains.

"COVID really prepared us to take care of our clients," Thornton said. "We have what they need when they need it. No matter what, our aim is to take care of our customers."