What the Skimmer Report Is Really Telling You đŤľ
Fri Feb 06 2026
Pool Pros text questions here
No arrests. No indictments. No viral footage of someone in a polo getting walked past a plaster truck in handcuffs.
And yetâthis was not a quiet week.
In this Friday episode of the Talking Pools Podcast, Rudy Stankowitz breaks down what actually moved the needle in the pool industry this week: quiet signals, structural shifts, and the 2026 Skimmer State of the Pool Service Reportâmisread by many, misunderstood by most, and weaponized incorrectly on social media.
This is not a recap episode.
 This is not a highlight reel.
 And it sure as hell isnât a kumbaya moment.
Rudy dissects what the report claims, what it measures, andâmore importantlyâwhat it doesnât. From survey bias and geographic concentration to overhead pressure, chemical risk transfer, pricing restraint, labor constraints, AI realities, and the slow death of handshake-based operations, this episode pulls the curtain back on what âprofessionalizationâ really means.
Spoiler: itâs not growthâitâs survival with a spreadsheet.
In This Episode, Youâll Hear:
⢠Why the 2026 âState of the Pool Industryâ is not actually the state of the entire industry
⢠How survey bias, telemetry bias, and geography skew conclusions
⢠Why optimism in the report is coming from restraint, not expansion
⢠The real meaning behind rising overhead percentages and sticky fixed costs
⢠What declining âmaintenance expenseâ actually signals (hint: accounting, not cheaper chemicals)
⢠Monthly billing: why recurring revenue magnifies bad unit economics
⢠The quiet but powerful shift in chemical risk allocation
⢠Why deposits are becoming standardâand what that says about market power
⢠Labor as the true binding constraint (and why AI isnât fixing it)
⢠How national brands arenât stealing customersâtheyâre stealing employees
⢠Why efficiency-first strategies signal margin indication, not abundance
⢠What the report avoids measuringâand why those omissions matter
⢠How disciplined operators will look calm while undisciplined ones experience chaos
⢠The difference between what looks good on paper and what blows up Tuesday at 7:30 AM
Key Takeaway:
This report isnât comfort food.
 Itâs a diagnostic.
AquaStar Pool ProductsThe Global Leader in
Safety, Dependability, & Innovation
in Pool Technology.POOL MAGAZINE
Pool Magazine is leading up to the minute news source for Swimming Pool News and Pool Features. OuBLUERAY XLThe real mineral purifier!
Reduce your pool maintenance costs & efforts by 50%Jack's MagicIf you know Jack's you'd have no stains!Service Industry NewsOnline Pool ClassesThe difference between you and your competition is what you know!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:
Facebook Instagram Tik Tok Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com
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Pool Pros text questions here No arrests. No indictments. No viral footage of someone in a polo getting walked past a plaster truck in handcuffs. And yetâthis was not a quiet week. In this Friday episode of the Talking Pools Podcast, Rudy Stankowitz breaks down what actually moved the needle in the pool industry this week: quiet signals, structural shifts, and the 2026 Skimmer State of the Pool Service Reportâmisread by many, misunderstood by most, and weaponized incorrectly on social media. This is not a recap episode.  This is not a highlight reel.  And it sure as hell isnât a kumbaya moment. Rudy dissects what the report claims, what it measures, andâmore importantlyâwhat it doesnât. From survey bias and geographic concentration to overhead pressure, chemical risk transfer, pricing restraint, labor constraints, AI realities, and the slow death of handshake-based operations, this episode pulls the curtain back on what âprofessionalizationâ really means. Spoiler: itâs not growthâitâs survival with a spreadsheet. In This Episode, Youâll Hear: ⢠Why the 2026 âState of the Pool Industryâ is not actually the state of the entire industry ⢠How survey bias, telemetry bias, and geography skew conclusions ⢠Why optimism in the report is coming from restraint, not expansion ⢠The real meaning behind rising overhead percentages and sticky fixed costs ⢠What declining âmaintenance expenseâ actually signals (hint: accounting, not cheaper chemicals) ⢠Monthly billing: why recurring revenue magnifies bad unit economics ⢠The quiet but powerful shift in chemical risk allocation ⢠Why deposits are becoming standardâand what that says about market power ⢠Labor as the true binding constraint (and why AI isnât fixing it) ⢠How national brands arenât stealing customersâtheyâre stealing employees ⢠Why efficiency-first strategies signal margin indication, not abundance ⢠What the report avoids measuringâand why those omissions matter ⢠How disciplined operators will look calm while undisciplined ones experience chaos ⢠The difference between what looks good on paper and what blows up Tuesday at 7:30 AM Key Takeaway: This report isnât comfort food.  Itâs a diagnostic. AquaStar Pool ProductsThe Global Leader in Safety, Dependability, & Innovation in Pool Technology.POOL MAGAZINE Pool Magazine is leading up to the minute news source for Swimming Pool News and Pool Features. OuBLUERAY XLThe real mineral purifier! Reduce your pool maintenance costs & efforts by 50%Jack's MagicIf you know Jack's you'd have no stains!Service Industry NewsOnline Pool ClassesThe difference between you and your competition is what you know!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media: Facebook Instagram Tik Tok Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com