With over 30 years in the business, Encarnacion Rodriguez has a lot of wisdom to share. From starting out in the industry digging trenches and installing sprinklers to installing automation systems for large commercial accounts and high-profile celebrities, he knows a thing or two about the highs and lows of being a pool industry professional.

Encarnacion started in the industry in 1993 when someone who had a startup pool company offered him a job to clean pools. After a few years, his hard work and determination got him a promotion at the company when he became the company manager and second in command, managing upwards of 700 service accounts. With experience and management under his belt, he went on to pursue his own career ambitions and started United Water Pool & Spa.

Ensuring customer satisfaction in his projects is of the utmost importance to Encarnacion, and he does so by seeing opportunities and problems through a technological lens. He is inspired by technology and explains, “When I started working as a pool technician, I started seeing a lot of potential for how technology could influence a pool industry that was very barebones and mechanical at the time. And now, technology advances at such an amazing rate to the point that now you can control and monitor almost all your pool equipment from your phone”. When it comes to customer satisfaction, he aims to be as informed as possible on new products and innovations that may make his customers’ lives more streamlined and convenient.

We asked Encarnacion which innovations or trends in the pool industry he is most excited about, and he elaborated, “I’m excited for the further advancements in Automation Systems. I’m always eager to learn more about the newest heaters from Raypak which are industry-leading in my opinion. Lastly, I’m particularly excited to learn more about heat pumps since they are relatively new and rising in popularity in the SoCal area”.

Pool professionals know that the industry is a balance between technical and creative aspects of an ever-evolving occupation. We asked Encarnacion his thoughts and he shared:

Back in the 90’s and early 2000’s there wasn’t a lot of information out there in regards to pools. The internet was in its infancy and technical data about pools in general was non-existent. You had to get training through a mentor or technical training classes or through simple trial and error. Now, information is abundant to whoever is eager to learn, which in turn leads to a lot of creative ways of solving problems and collaborating with colleagues from all over the country.

The pool industry continues to be a collaborative, creative group of people who aren’t afraid of challenges and problems. When asked what advice Encarnacion would give to someone just starting out in the pool industry, he replied, “I would encourage everyone to not be afraid and just go for it. Whatever it is. Don’t be afraid of asking questions. Don’t be afraid of your potential. There are so many people willing to help you, and there are so many resources and opportunities out there. The only person that can stop you from reaching your goals is yourself.”

Encarnacion also shared a story where a Raypak product helped solve a specific problem or improve a project. He explained that in 1993 he encountered his first Raypak heater, which was a diagnosis on a Versa 405b. He mentioned that the customer complained that it was taking longer than usual to heat their spa. He was happy to report that it ended up being a very simple diagnosis to fix. He elaborated, “Parts were readily available, inexpensive, and customer service was top notch compared to the competitors. I had such a smooth and seamless experience that all I recommend is Raypak heaters to this day.”

Learn more about Encarnacion and United Water Pool & Spa services in Los Angeles by calling his team at (818) 455-1755.