2 minute read
pool running
by Philip S. Ruckle Jr.
Sometimes all that’s needed for a little relaxation is a swimming pool.
There is, however, a little more to pool ownership than just keeping it full of water.
Ask almost any pool owner what’s the most important thing to know about having a pool and they will likely tell you proper maintenance heads the list.
A substantial investment much like a finetuned motor vehicle, swimming pools require a certain degree of maintenance in order to function properly.
While some homeowners are up to the task, not everyone has the time nor are they able to perform the manual vacuuming, filter back washing, cleaning skimmer baskets, necessary water testing and adding chemicals as needed.
That’s where Lynn Davis and his son Matthew of Lynn’s Repairs come in.
“We do whatever it takes to keep a pool running,” said Lynn.
Certified and licensed to provide regular cleaning services, they take care of about 40 pools from Whalebone to Corolla. The fatherson team also takes care of various types of repairs and warranty work on almost any pool equipment from Carova Beach all the way to Hatteras Village.
It’s part of a repair business that was started by Lynn in 1994.
The p o o l cleaning part of the business came about in 1998 when Victor Davis, his father, needed a more flexible work schedule than the one his auto parts job provided. Lynn helped set up and trained him to clean pools. Before long they were working together as a father-son team.
“Dad cleaned them and I fixed them,” explained Lynn. “I also repaired decks and some other home maintenance type work and even did a few roofs when I was younger. Sometimes you just do what you have to do to feed your family.”
After a while Lynn’s son, and Victor’s grandson, Matthew joined in making it a truly family business.
“I’ve been cleaning pools since I was 12,” said the younger Davis proudly.
Graduating from Manteo High School in 2011, Matthew tried his hand at a couple of other occupations before gravitating back to the family pool business. Today he credits restaurant work with helping develop his communication skills and working the air conditioning business helped him learn about Outer Banks businesses overall.
“I also developed an appreciation for not having to lift air conditioners every day,” he added with a chuckle and a grin.
Then there was a short break in the family business when Victor passed away in 2006.
“We needed a little time off to regroup,” explained Lynn. “Then we restarted everything in 2008.”
Today, based out of Wanchese, Lynn and Matthew continue the business focused on pool cleaning and pool equipment repairs, emphasizing the importance of proper maintenance.
“Chemical balance is the key,” said Lynn.
He went on to say that having properly balanced water chemistry is an important step toward reducing skin and eye irritations and it helps prolong the life of the pool and pool equipment.
“We’ve done this long enough now that we are at the point that we understand what we’re doing and it’s all fairly routine,” he added.
And as Lynn approaches retirement age, Matthew is there to carry on the family business.
Philip S. Ruckle Jr. photo
Matthew Davis, left, and his father Lynn operate a family pool cleaning and repair business that until 2006 included Lynn’s father, Victor Davis.
