In Episode 297 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar De Jesus, John “JJFlawless,” and Zac “The Pool Boy” sit down with Jose Perez, founder of Encore Filtration also now officially known as The Duke of Dirty Filters.

This episode goes deep into one of the most overlooked yet critical components of pool service: filtration and why it directly impacts water quality, efficiency, customer trust, and profitability.

Jose shares his journey from air filtration into the pool industry, why most pool pros are losing money on filters without realizing it, and how innovation, pricing strategy, and protecting the service professional are reshaping the industry.

This isn’t just a product conversation it’s a business conversation about margins, competition from online retailers, and what it really takes to build a sustainable pool service company.

If you’re a pool pro, service company owner, or industry professional this episode will change how you think about filtration, pricing, and long-term growth.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to the Pool Nation Podcast
01:30 – Introducing Jose Perez (Encore Filtration)
04:15 – Why filtration is overlooked in the pool industry
08:20 – Jose’s background: From air filtration to pool innovation
13:45 – Taking the leap into entrepreneurship (no customers, no guarantees)
18:30 – The biggest gaps in the pool filtration market
23:10 – The real problem: Online pricing vs. service profitability
29:40 – Why protecting pool pros matters (and why most manufacturers don’t)
36:15 – The truth about margins, pricing, and customer trust
42:00 – Innovation beyond the product: thinking differently
48:20 – The FIT Kit concept (solving real field problems)
54:10 – How to build loyalty through customer experience
59:30 – The future of filtration & industry standards
1:05:20 – Technology center & raising the bar in testing
1:10:45 – Why “good is not good enough” in business
1:15:30 – Final thoughts & lessons for pool pros
1:18:00 – The birth of “The Duke of Dirty Filters”

💥 Key Takeaways

Filtration isn’t just maintenance it’s a profit center
Competing with online pricing is one of the biggest threats to pool pros
Innovation isn’t just products it’s customer experience + business strategy
The companies that win will be the ones that protect the trade
If you’re not improving, you’re falling behind good is not good enough

🎙️ Thank You to Our Sponsors

We want to thank our amazing Pool Nation Visionary Partners for making this podcast possible:

The SPPA
Blu-Ray XL
AquaStar Pool Products
Natural Chemistry
Raypak
EnCore Brands
Heritage Pool Supply
Hayward Pool Products
Poolside Tech
Pool Brain
Nidec
Encore Filtration

📲 Connect with Pool Nation

Website: PoolNation.com
Instagram: @PoolNationPodcast
Podcast: Pool Nation Podcast