Episode 167: AquaStar - Vertical Integration, State of the Art Research Facility & VGBA Updates with Todd Pieri & Steve Barnes
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Episode Summary
Today we do a deep dive into AquaStar Pool Products. Founded in 2000, AquaStar grew to become a vertically integrated company that offers a variety of products such as spa jets and fittings, skimmers, ozonators, chlorinators, cleaners, and—as we talk about at length in today’s episode—VGBA drains.
In this conversation, we sit down with AquaStar Pool Products COO Todd Pieri and Director of Science and Compliance Steve Barnes. Listen in as Todd and Steve illustrate the importance of referring back to the fundamentals through the lens of sports (leading Todd to tell the story of how he won a bet with Michael Jordan on the golf course).
Steve goes in-depth on the history and function of the main drain and what pool professionals must be ready to explain to owners with regard to staying safe around their pool’s main drain. Steve also shares how AquaStar built their state-of-the-art facility and explains how the main drains are tested as well as how they must meet NSF standards.
The two also discuss the story of AquaStar and how it grew to be the multifaceted company it is today. They speak on AquaStar’s meticulous attention to detail and push for cutting-edge design, particularly when it comes to their drains and drain covers.
Topics Discussed
02:40 - An introduction to Steve
06:09 - Steve’s personal entrapment experience at a waterpark
17:35 - An introduction to Todd
21:43 - How Todd’s time as an athlete helped him appreciate business fundamentals
28:28 - Todd’s experience winning money from Michael Jordan on the golf course
35:47 - The history of the main drain dating back to 1915
39:05 - Main drain safety
56:12 - The AquaStar origin story and vertical integration
1:04:15 - AquaStar’s state of the art hydraulic testing facility
1:15:27 - NSF certification
1:17:23 - What AquaStar looks at in a drain cover
1:26:55 - How the changes to the VGBA law affects the service industry
1:29:38 - What the future looks like for AquaStar
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Key Quotes From Episode
Fundamentals are paramount in whatever you’re doing, whether it’s sports or business. I’ve learned early on that if you take care of the little things, they make a big difference. ~Todd
Is it going to be a residential pool or a commercial waterpark with five thousand gallons a minute? Everything in between is a different answer, and the only way to know those answers is to test. We can’t guess. We’ve got to test. ~Steve
Our whole goal is going to be efficiency and safety: efficiency for the homeowners, efficiency for the installers, and safety for both as well. ~Todd
We are the science. We are looking at optimizing absolutely all aspects of anything where we’re moving water. The pool industry 20 years ago was the Model T: We were getting stuff around and we were square, boxy, and underpowered. [...] We want to go to that modern vehicle: energy-efficient, powerful, fun, sexy, and safe. ~Steve