Do Pool Pros Actually Own Pools? We Asked and the Answers Are Hilarious

The Cobbler's Children Have No Shoes

You know the old saying. The cobbler spends all day making shoes for everyone else, and his own kids walk around barefoot. It turns out the pool industry has its own version of this.

Pool pros spend all day in other people's backyards. They balance water chemistry, clean filters, fix pumps, and keep pools looking perfect. They do it in 100-degree heat. They do it in the rain. They do it five or six days a week, year after year.

So what do their own backyards look like?

We found a thread on Reddit's r/PoolPros where someone asked the simple question: "What do you own?" The options were pool, hot tub, both, or neither. Over 30 pool professionals answered honestly. The results were funny, relatable, and honestly a little surprising.

"The cobbler's children have no shoes."

— Pool pro via Reddit

That quote showed up more than once in the thread. It is the unofficial motto of the pool service industry. Let's look at what these pros actually said.

The Unofficial Poll Results

We went through every comment and tallied the answers. Here is how it broke down across roughly 26 respondents:

The biggest group by far? Neither. Almost four out of ten pool professionals do not own a pool or a hot tub. The people who keep everyone else's water sparkling all week long go home to a dry backyard.

If you are a pool owner reading this, just know that the person keeping your pool perfect probably does not have one of their own. They are that tired.

Team "No Pool, No Problem"

The largest group had zero interest in owning a pool after working on them all day. And they were not shy about it.

"I have no interest in having a pool or hot tub for myself."

— Pool pro via Reddit

This was the most common answer. Not "I can't afford one" or "I don't have room." Just a flat-out "no thanks." After spending 8 to 10 hours a day in other people's backyards, the last thing many pros want to do is come home and deal with more water chemistry.

"I think pools are super interesting but I almost never actually want to be in them."

— Pool pro via Reddit

That one is funny because it is so honest. You can love the science of water chemistry. You can love the puzzle of fixing equipment. You can love the business side. But that does not mean you want to swim when the day is done.

Several pros in this group said they prefer natural water instead. Lakes, rivers, the ocean. One pro from Ohio said she goes paddle boarding on Lake Erie at sunrise before her route starts.

"I'd rather go take my paddleboard out on the lake or river."

— Pool pro via Reddit

There is something poetic about that. You spend all day keeping chlorinated water clean, and when you finally get free time, you want the real thing. No chemicals. No filters. Just open water and a paddle board.

Team Hot Tub

Hot tubs won the "if I own anything" category. And the reason is simple: they are low maintenance compared to pools.

A pool is a full-time commitment. A hot tub? You can get away with checking it once a week. For someone who already spends 40 to 50 hours a week managing water, that difference matters.

"My chemical expenses are less than $15 annually. I change the water once a year and never have any problems because... I'm a pro."

— Pool pro via Reddit

That is the pro advantage. When you know what you are doing, a hot tub is almost zero effort. This particular pro runs his hot tub on a timer: one hour in the morning, one hour in the evening. His chemical costs for the entire year are less than what most homeowners spend in a single month on their pool.

Another pro in Ohio uses her hot tub almost every day, year-round. She has gotten so good at spa chemistry that she can guess the readings by smell alone. That is the kind of skill you pick up after years in the industry. She does not even need to pull out the test kit most days. She just knows.

The hot tub crowd had something else in common: they all talked about how much they use it. This was not a "nice to have" that sits empty. These pros are in the hot tub after work, on weekends, and even during winter. It is their reward for a long day on the route.

Team Pool (and Proud of It)

A smaller group, but a passionate one. These are the pros who got into the business because they love the water. They grew up swimming. They spent summers at the pool. And they cannot imagine living without one.

"I have a pool and don't plan on ever living without one. I love the water. That's why I got into pools in the first place."

— Pool pro via Reddit

For this group, owning a pool is not extra work. It is the whole point. They do not see pool maintenance as a chore because they genuinely enjoy it. These are the same pros who get excited about new equipment and spend their free time reading about water chemistry.

A Texas pro pointed out that a pool is pretty much a must-have when you live somewhere with triple-digit temperatures for four months straight. When it is 108 outside, jumping in the pool after work is not a luxury. It is survival.

One fiberglass specialist took things even further. He resurfaced his own pool and is now planning a full remodel with sheer descent waterfalls and fire bowls. When you have the skills and the connections, your backyard becomes the showroom. His pool is basically a walking advertisement for his business.

The Ones Who Tried and Gave Up

This might be the most relatable group of all. These are the pros who owned a pool, neglected it because they were too busy servicing everyone else's, and eventually gave up.

"I neglected it as I was too busy with my pools. I got rid of that house, downsized, and live in a community where someone else takes care of the pool. Now I just sit back and giggle as I watch the pool guy clean the pool."

— Pool pro via Reddit

That is peak cobbler energy right there. A pool professional who moved to a community with a pool so that someone else could take care of it. You cannot make this stuff up.

"My pool is a swamp right now. I didn't check it for a few weeks and the pressure gauge leaked half the pool out and ran the pump dry and seized the motor."

— Pool pro via Reddit

And there it is. A pool pro with a swamp in the backyard. The person who fixes pumps for a living has a seized motor at home. The person who balances water chemistry for 30 customers has green water in their own pool.

The lesson here is simple. Even professionals are not immune to neglect when they are busy. When you spend all day taking care of other people's pools, your own pool is always the last priority. It is the thing you will "get to this weekend." And then the weekend comes and you are exhausted. And then it is Monday again.

It is not that they do not know how to fix it. They know exactly how to fix it. They just do not have the energy.

What This Tells You About the Business

This thread was funny, but there are some real takeaways here if you are in the pool industry or thinking about getting into it.

Pool service is physically and mentally demanding. By the end of the day, many pros want nothing to do with water. That is not a complaint. It is just reality. The work takes a lot out of you. The best owners and managers understand this and build systems that help their teams work smarter, not harder.

Hot tubs win because they are low-effort. Set it and forget it for a week. For pros who want to enjoy the water without the full commitment, a hot tub is the sweet spot. Less water. Less chemicals. Less time. More relaxation.

Owning a pool when you run a pool business is like a chef cooking dinner at home. Some love it. Most do not bother. And there is nothing wrong with either choice. The chef who eats cereal for dinner is not a bad chef. They are just tired.

You do not need to own a pool to be great at pool service. Most of the best pros in the industry do not have one. They are amazing at what they do because they are skilled, experienced, and dedicated. Not because they practice on their own pool every night.

If you are a homeowner, this should make you appreciate your pool tech even more. They are out there every week keeping your water perfect while their own backyard sits empty. They chose your pool over their own. That is dedication.

If you are thinking about starting a pool service business, do not let anyone tell you that you need to own a pool first. You do not. You need training, good equipment, and a willingness to learn. The pool is optional.

And if you do own a pool, our pool volume calculator can help you figure out exactly how much water you are working with. Even the pros use it.