This is long-winded, but I feel like I am a Mike the Poolman expert now, which requires a Yelp review, so here goes:
I am a newbie pool owner who has had 3 run-ins with Mike the Poolman and his associates. All 3 times, the service was top notch. We inherited our pool and all its glorious problems when we bought our house in September, and the first company we worked with was far less polite than they were not-accommodating-in-the-least. But not to worry, we found our new pool guy!
The first time, we had the filter replaced. This was a very good thing, because the old filter looked like Nessie straight out of the Loch in Scotland. Mike's associate came over and explained everything to me while he was doing it. He did not seem annoyed at all that I was staring at him while he was working (which would annoy me incredibly if someone did that to me). I asked my Dumb Newbie questions as the filter was changed, and received nothing but informative and polite responses back. The water quality seemed to improve after the filter change, which means the new filter was doing its job. He gave the pool a quick inspection, and let me know we had an entrapment issue with a missing drain cover. Which led me to my second run-in....
Not wanting our guests to drown in our pool because we are nice people, we had the missing drain cover replaced. We also chose to replace the other drain cover to match because we are not savages. Mike took his tools under water in a wet suit, and the work was done quickly, and with deft hands. Once again, I was allowed to watch the process and ask newbie questions while staring awkwardly, as seems to be tradition for me during pool repair. After the installation, Mike took a look at the pool and made some more suggestions, and I asked about 8 million more Dumb Newbie questions. I was pleased with his answers and even more so with his patience.
Slightly before replacing our drain covers, our pump started screeching like a wounded banshee, and I'm pretty sure all of our neighbors up to 8 blocks away absolutely hated us. We also had this hideously ugly jankity solar pump that looked like it was built at the same time Thomas Edison invented the light bulb in 1879, which worked, but only with some manual prodding. This was tedious, but fine and dandy, until the man of the house (who has nothing to do whatsoever with the pool, its chemicals, or its equipment) turned the solar on without the main pump running. Mike the Poolman caught this upon inspecting the pool for the drain covers, considerately turned it off, informed me how obviously BAD this was, and suggested we install a new pump that a.) replaces said Wounded Banshee Pump, and b.) communicates with the existing solar system. Error proofing, no jankity equipment, and no angry neighbors? Triple win! Let's do it!!!
So third run-in, Mike the Poolman ordered the supplies and came out around noon on a Monday to install. I didn't NEED to be there, but I CHOSE to be there because, as I mentioned before, as is tradition, I like to stand around awkwardly and ask Dumb Newbie questions. It took about 6 hours for the equipment to be installed, bless his little heart, but Mike withstood the job with steadfast endurance! Not only was the jankity Thomas Edison solar pump ancient history, but the pipework required to install the new pump and solar actuator was painstakingly painted to match the rest of the equipment! I told him I could have redneck camo'd it myself with some spray paint, but he didn't want to leave without a streamlined look to the new plumbing and equipment. The proper gentleman that he is, he created a seat for me on a bucket so he could show me how my new toys operate. I watched with glee and asked about 8 million more Dumb Newbie questions.
All in all, I am blown away by the service I received every single time I received it. I am a little sad that our relationship is ending, as I don't foresee I will have any equipment issues anytime soon. But if I do, Mike the Poolman will be the first guy I pester for help! Thanks Mike...all of your hard work and advice is much appreciated. Our neighbors love you too, even if they don't tell you. You are a hero on our block...and up to 8 blocks away.
Expert tip: If you maintain your own chemicals, READ HIS BLOG! READ HIS BLOG NOW!! If you don't, you're dumb. Sorry, but it's true. read more