Mobile water testing
Apparently, this idea started to emerge even prior to the pandemic. Dan Lenz of All Seasons Pools and Spas in Orland Park, Ill., also saw a business opportunity for his service department by creating a mobile water testing service.
“We also use mobile spin test equipment, and we realized there would be a real opportunity to get into the backyard to test the pool water and examine the entire pool,” says Lenz. “There are hundreds of folks who come into our store every year with their water for testing, and they usually just test their water; buy their chemicals, a vac, or a brush; and leave the store. We know nothing else about their pool.
By being at the pool to test the water, our techs look at the entire pool and the pool equipment—for opportunities to upgrade pumps, heaters, and filters, and more importantly, to help a pool owner determine why they might be experiencing a chronic water problem or staining which has more to do with the physical equipment of the pool and can’t be fixed with chemicals.”
As their mobile testing service became a new way to develop leads, Lenz and his team created a detailed checklist for technicians to get a complete profile, including photos of the pool, the pump room, and the backyard surroundings. This profile is then used to sell additional services and products to the customer.
“It’s a bit of an investment to purchase the mobile devices, but the potential revenue from these sales leads will quickly cover the initial cost,” says Lenz. “Not to mention, we also charge a fee for the mobile water testing service.”
Lenz had already started to pioneer this program prior to the pandemic, but quickly found renewed reasons to make it a priority during lockdown situations.
Underwater Pool Masters is also taking advantage of being in the backyard and being able to thoroughly examine each pool.
“While on the scene, CPOs can conduct a safety check of the pool and advise the customer of any concerns,” explains White. “We’ve also discovered customers like to pick the brain of the CPO, to gain valuable advice related to pool chemistry and maintenance.”
For any larger concerns, Underwater Pool Masters can assess required repairs and arrange a service trip to address the issue.
“In fact, our techs diagnosed multiple leaks which were fixed, replacements of old equipment were initiated, automatic chlorinators were installed, and a handful of other issues and upgrades were addressed,” says White.
