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Karen Erstad

Karen Erstad joined the staff of AQUA magazine in 2001. She served as Senior Editor before becoming a full-time stay-at-home mother in 2007. She has a B.A. in English from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and lives in Madison, Wisc.
Retail
Quick Tip: Preserving Portable Spa Covers
Portable spa covers are a maintenance item, like tires on a car, and they must be replaced occasionally, yet consumers don’t look forward to the expense of a replacement cover any more than they look forward to coughing up $500 for new tires.
May 31, 2011
Service
North Texas Pool Pros Swamped With Work
North Texas’s unusually harsh cold spell this past winter was bittersweet for local pool professionals: While it’s unfortunate that Mother Nature wreaked havoc on so many pools, it’s good to be busy.
May 25, 2011
Builder
Q&A With Ron Robertson
A family-owned business in North Texas since 1985, Robertson Pools has expanded to four locations, and has earned more than 50 awards ...
May 25, 2011
Builder
Q&A With Steve Ast
Founded in 1966 by Steve Ast's uncle, Bob Ast, Shasta Pools has grown to become Arizona's largest swimming pool builder.
May 24, 2011
Builder
State Of The Industry: Slow, Steady Recovery For Builders
May 23, 2011
Builder
Q&A With Dan Lenz
Founded in 1954 under the name National Pools of Palos, this family-owned AQUA 100 company has earned numerous other industry honors, including ...
May 23, 2011
Retail
The Next Text: Your Water Needs Testing
Everyone's busy. So sometimes water testing gets forgotten even by the most conscientious pool owners. To help these busy folks remember to get their water tested, this summer Family Pools & Spas of Ashland, Ohio, is going to start text messaging reminders to clients to bring their water in.
May 17, 2011
Service
And The Winners Are ...
Last February, AQUA asked its readers to respond to its annual State of the Industry Survey, the results of which were published in AQUA’s May issue.
May 12, 2011
Builder
Spotlight: Ron Perkins, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Q: What's the most interesting new building product you've seen in the last few years?
May 4, 2011
Retail
Water Testing Stations Boost Pool Store Sales
Offering free water testing for clients can spur chemical sales, but if your main intention is to make a few extra bucks, clients will see right through that, and your testing station won't be nearly as effective as it can be.With an overarching intention to help clients enjoy a crystal-clear pool, it's also wise to strategically situate your water-testing lab within your showroom and mindfully merchandise around the testing station. "It's just like milk and bread. You don't find that inside the front door of the grocery store," says Penny Johnson, co-owner of Johnson Pools & Spas in Huntsville, Ala. "There's no difference in our industry versus others when it comes to merchandising."
April 12, 2011
When clients come in to get their water tested, it’s important to ask them questions about their pool and water in addition to running the tests. (Courtesy Swimming Pool Services)
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How to Get Algae to Give Your Pool a Bad Review
Algae control in swimming pools demands a multifaceted approach.
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Managing the Margins
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Rudy Stankowitz: Don't Do This to Yourself
Because vermiculite retains so much moisture, on my first pass, I leave the surface rough to speed up evaporation.
Builder
The Vermiculite Touch
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