Episode 179: Journey from Pool Tech to Expert on Heaters and Automation with Pat Burke of @poolin_aroundaz

Episode Summary:  Today, we speak with electrical automation and programming specialist Pat Burke. He is the owner of Poolin’ Around, LLC, which offers pool and spa mechanical services in the Phoenix Metro Area.  We kick off the conversation discussing Pat’s first love before he got into the world of pools: BMX racing and, funnily enough, pool riding (which actually became the inspiration behind the name of his future company, Poolin’ Around).  Pat started cleaning pools in Tucson at the age of 19 and kept at it for a number of years before boredom eventually nudged him into the technical side of the pool industry.  The rest of our conversation centers around Pat’s expertise in electrical automation and programming, particularly when it comes to repairing heaters. He goes into common heater-related issues and what he looks for in and around the pool when commissioned to install a heater for the first time.  Finally, Pat talks about best practices when pricing your services, his go-to resources for pool education, and his tips for organizing your tools and equipment as a technician.  Topics Discussed:  01:52 - How Pat got into BMX and pools  15:42 - Transitioning to servicing pools  18:29 - Pat’s life cleaning pools at 19  25:59 - Creating new income streams  28:41 - Moving on to gaining technical expertise