THE POOL SURGEON

great. honest, reliable

I was recommended to the Pool Surgeon to have my equipment relocated prior to starting a construction project at my home. In is quote he gave me options of upgrading the equipment to new. While the idea of upgrading was pleasing to me I felt the quote for the equipment to be a bit high. Upon researching the pump I found his price to be over 50% higher than the internet. When I questioned it, he told me it was an older model and did not carry a three-year warranty. When I pull the distributor to verify this I found out he was lying. Even after that I was prepared to move ahead if he would make some consideration in the price of that equipment. His response was I was too adversarial. Bad business.

Excellent service. Chris knows his stuff. Am extremely pleased with his work. Highly recommended.

Came promptly and fixed problems.  I had been told that the pool would need to be drained in order to fix it but he did it without draining the pool.  He is fabulous!

Chris was very prompt and professional and knew exactly what he was doing. I had used 2 other companies before who granted were cheeper. But the problem didn't go away. After Chris came out, he fixed my problem and told me everything I wanted to know about my pool. I felt like he actually cared about me and wasn't just trying to hose me for money. Now that I found a good trust worthy pool person, ! I am having him give me some quotes on adding things to my pool to make it look nicer, and be more efficient. I saw a bunch of pictures of other projects he did. Pretty awesome, and he had references who spoke highly of him. At this point I think of him as a friend because I believe he is taking care of me. 
Don't call if you are just looking for the cheapest price. He's not that much more expensive and IS that much better that it's totally worth it. 
If you factor in that I had two others out, Chris was actually cheeper. 
GREAT GREAT guy, Great company, Great Service. Have I said Great? 
Angie's list is giving me about 8000 more characters to write this review. I don't know what else to say, might update this review after all the rest of the work is done! 
THANKS CHRIS!

After some minor adjustments and a few phone calls, the pump runs great!! It is the best the pool pump has ever run!  The set-up is super tight and looses no pressure overnight between cleanings.  Chris was very professional on the phone.  He also installed a pool light for us last summer.  Everything done right the first time!!!

I spoke with Chris on Monday afternoon and explained the issue with the pool pump.  He said he would be in the area again towards the end of the week.  Later that day he texted me to let me know he could come on Wednesday.  My schedule on Wednesday was a little crazy but he said he would work around it and he did just that.  He called Wednesday during one of my available times and asked if it was a good time for him to come by.  He arrived as scheduled and saw the issue, quoted me a price and said he could do it that day.  I agreed to it and he first took apart the pump to be sure nothing else would need replacing and came back a little bit later and replaced the pump.  He was very professional and did an excellent job.  I would definitely use him again and highly recommend him.

Chris is a true professional who knows what he is doing.  He was recommended by another pool guy who refers all the difficult cases to him.  He installed a saltwater generator in a system that another pool guy was unable to do.  It's worked great ever since and we're happy with the results.  A small leak happened several months later and Chris returned and took care of it.  I fully expected to pay for a service call at the least, but Chris said no it's still covered under the install.  He is honest and always took the time to answer my questions and promptly returned my phone calls.  I will definitely use him again when my pool needs servicing. His prices are fair and in line with any competitor.

Everything went great. I contacted a bunch of pool repair/service companies on Angie's List via email regarding the issues and they were the most responsive via email (most didn't even bother to reply). I am extremely impressed with them and will be using them for all of my pool repair/service needs in the future! Chris was great! :)

Our spa heater had stopped heating.  There was an error messsage stating "Ignition failed".  I called one company, which had a good rating on Angie's List.  They sent out a person to provide an estimate, at a cost of $150.  The technician's boss called to say that there was a component that needed to be replaced, and that part would cost $750. The company I originally called, called me back.  It turns out that they are just a "service" company and outsource the actual work.  Anyway, the guy tells me that since the cost to fix the heater is so high that I should just get a new heater.  Which, by the way, they can sell to me and install.
Hmmm... This all made me uncomfortable.
So, I called the manufacturer and spoke to a support person.  He tells me, first of all this heater new is $3,000, so it is definitely better to fix the current one, especially as it is less than 3 years old.  Second, the part in question is not under warranty and should not have worn out yet.
So, feeling more knowledgable, I find the Pool Surgeon on Angie's List.  He is well rated.  I give him a call and he stops by that afternoon.  Very nice guy, I am impressed at how quickly he comes over.  Of course I relate the prior information.  He takes a look and says the part which is bad is a different part, maybe $300 new and he may have one in his shop from a heater he removed recently.  He checks and does have a used part available.  I ask how much?  He says, no charge for the part.  It was $100 for the labor. 
The heater worked perfectly when he was finished.
I could not be happier.  I am impressed with this guy.
P.S. I call the original company back and relate the resolution.  I emphasize the point that they recommended replacing the wrong part and attempted to sell me a new heater when my current heater is now working perfectly after a $100 repair.  The guy I talk to is very apologetic and offers to waive the $150 service call fee. That is fair.  I am glad I dodged this bullet.  I will find the name of this company and cross-post my experience there too, as a warning to others.

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Chris Merkle is a very pleasant person to deal with.  He located the leaks and gave an estimate for repairs, and started the work the next day.  Pavers were removed and a hole was dug to reveal the leaking pipes(spa drain leak), which was repaired, and pavers replaced perfectly.  Next, small skimmer leak was patched.  Again, pavers were removed and replaced, and cleanup was very good.  The job was finished in two consecutive mornings.  The final price was less than originally estimated.  Chris and his assistant did a fine job and I would highly recommend them, especially since TWO other leak repair "specialists" were abrupt, condescending, and wanted much more to do the work. 

Excellent response and service.

Our pool heating unit had been leaking for quite a while before we realized we had a leak. The grass around it and several feet away from unit was quite wet.  I found Chris' name on Angie's List and called him following the good reports. He was quick to respond and to schedule visit. Based on age of unit, about 15yrs old, I was expecting him to tell me we needed a new one. I was not home when he came to check it, so he really could have given me a high estimate and I would not have known the difference. When he called to give me the diagnosis, he said he had replaced the pressure switch and the cost was $121. I was never so happy to spend this amount!
He is clearly an honest professional who respects his customers. I highly recommend him and would call him back in the future

Chris Merkle was referred to us by our pool service, TL Ziel.  We're first time pool owners so we rely heavily on our service providers while we learn the ins and outs of pool ownership.

Both times, Chris has been pleasant, professional and prompt.  He identified the source of a leak and corrected it in under an hour.  We are fortunate to have him as a service provider.

Professional, friendly, and reasonably priced! This guy does his work and finishes up in a timely manner.

Great experience! Prompt. Competent. Professional. Trustworthy.