I came up with the idea for Sutro based on my experience working in my dad’s pool business. It was obvious to me, since I worked at it daily, that testing pool and spa water was a major pain. We would have countless customers come into our shop asking us to test their water. It…
Pool Maintenance Articles
Insights into Crowdsourced Pool and Spa Measurements and Chemicals
Pictured above: Charlie enjoying a day in her pool with pool masters (and beta testers) Randy and Tabitha Savage We realized early that it would be important to us to gather as much data about how people test and maintain their pool or spa water. Since we’re in Silicon Valley and data geeks at heart,…
How Retail 3.0 will Transform the Pool & Spa Business
Retail trends are being transformed by a customer-focused mixture of online, on-demand, and on-premise that many traditional retailers have yet to embrace and the pool and spa business is no different. The only way to survive, and indeed thrive in the new world of Retail 3.0 is to embrace the store as a destination, a…
Getting Rid of Algae in Your Swimming Pool or Spa
As you know, having your own private swimming pool is a luxury that many people covet. The benefits of having a pool are numerous — increased health, decreased stress, and added value to your home to name but a few. However, one of the biggest bugbears for pool owners is uninvited guests, and I’m not…
The Basics of Monitoring Pool and Spa Chemicals
Having a backyard pool or hot tub is awesome, but all of the chemical monitoring can seem really complex and time consuming. What’s the deal with pool chemical monitoring– why is it so necessary, and why are there so many components? Read on for some quick answers to these questions, and learn why monitoring the…
The 3 “Icks” of Pool Chemical Imbalance: How to Have Amazing Pool or Spa Water
1. Not Enough: Gross Things Without correct chemical levels, pools are great places for bacteria and fungus to grow – organisms can start creating their own little ecosystems that can quickly overtake the pool. Everybody agrees that algae in a pool is disgusting (and you should get rid of it fast) but worse: exposure to even small…
What is Chlorine and why is it in Pools and Spas?
If you have ever seasoned your food with salt, drunk tap water, or swum in a pool, you have been exposed to chlorine. What is chlorine and why is it added to swimming pools and spas? Chlorine is a chemical element that has a variety of uses and it is the most effective chemical used…
Do I Need to Monitor My Pool Over the Winter?
Unless you are lucky enough to live in a part of the US that stays warm enough to use your outdoor pool year round, you’ll probably need to take some steps to keep it clean and functional during the off season. Preventing freezing in your pump and filtration system is of paramount importance—if water freezes…
How to Heat a Hot Tub Quickly and Efficiently
Besides how to monitor temperature and chemicals, one of the questions we hear quite a lot about hot tubs is how long it will take to heat the water so it is ready to be used. That’s pretty understandable when you think about it. After all, when you get the urge to have a soak…
How Long Should You Soak in a Hot Tub
Soaking In A Hot Tub Is Hands Down One Of The Best Ways To Relax, And There Are Many Health Benefits With Regular Hot Tub Soaking Sessions. But How Long Should You Soak In A Hot Tub? Have you ever wondered if it is possible to stay in a hot tub too long? If you…