Episode 167: AquaStar - Vertical Integration, State of The Art Research Facility & VGBA Updates with Todd Pieri & Steve Barnes

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 
• 17:35 - An introduction to Todd 
• 21:43 - Athletics helped Todd appreciate business fundamentals 
• 28:28 - Todd’s experience winning money from Michael Jordan 
• 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 trade 
• 1:29:38 - What the future looks like for AquaStar 

 

 

 

Sponsors: 

• AquaStar 
• Pentair 
• Lyon Financial 
• S.R. Smith 
• Acid Magic 

 

Connect with Guest: 

• Website 
• Facebook 
• Instagram 
• Twitter 
• YouTube 

 

Connect with Pool Chasers: 

• Website 
• Instagram 
• Facebook 
• Facebook Group 
• Twitter 
• YouTube 
• Patreon 

 

 

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