Capacity Planner

Pool Service Capacity Planning

Capacity planning determines the maximum number of pools a technician can service on a weekly basis, given available hours, average service time, and drive time between stops. Understanding capacity prevents both underutilization (leaving revenue on the table) and overextension (declining service quality).

Calculating Maximum Capacity

The formula: Available Minutes Per Day ÷ (Service Time + Drive Time Per Stop) = Maximum Stops Per Day. Multiply by service days per week for weekly capacity. With 8-hour days, 30-minute service times, and 8-minute average drive times, maximum capacity is approximately 12-13 stops per day or 60-65 pools per week on a 5-day schedule.

The 80% Capacity Threshold

Best practice is to begin the hiring process at 80% capacity utilization — not 100%. New technicians require 2-4 weeks of training and supervised route time before they're fully productive. Waiting until 100% capacity means operating short-staffed for a month while the new hire ramps up, leading to longer service times, skipped tasks, and customer complaints.

Factors That Affect Capacity

Route density has the largest impact on capacity. Dense routes (2-5 minutes between stops) allow 15-16 stops per day. Scattered routes (10-15 minutes between stops) reduce capacity to 10-11 stops per day. Pool condition, equipment complexity, and service scope also affect per-stop time. Commercial pools and pools with extensive equipment typically require 45-60 minutes versus 25-35 minutes for standard residential service.