Terms of Service

01 Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of PoolsScientific.com, the Pools Scientific Podcast, the Chemist’s Circle and related memberships, and all associated digital and physical products (collectively, the “Platform”), operated by Pools Scientific LLC (“we,” “us,” or “our”), a Kansas limited liability company.

By accessing or using the Platform, subscribing to our email list, joining any membership, or purchasing any product, you agree to be bound by these Terms and by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated here by reference. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

02 Who We Are & What We Offer

Pools Scientific LLC operates:

• The Pools Scientific Podcast, a weekly educational program about pool and spa water chemistry.
• PoolsScientific.com, including the Field Notes blog, free reference resources, and product recommendation pages.
• The Chemist’s Circle, the Test Kit, Off-Season membership, and the Spot Check — a set of paid membership and single-purchase services described fully in Section 6.
• Digital products (ebooks and reference materials) and physical products sold through Payhip and other retail channels.
• Additional courses and credentialing programs as they become available.

We reserve the right to add, modify, or discontinue any part of the Platform at any time.

03 Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account, join any membership, or make a purchase on the Platform. By using the Platform, you represent that you meet this requirement and that any information you provide us is accurate and current.

04 Educational Content Disclaimer

• Pool and spa water chemistry involves variables specific to your equipment, construction, climate, and usage that general content cannot fully account for.
• Personalized chemistry reviews are based solely on the information and test readings you submit. We rely on the accuracy of the data you provide and cannot verify it independently.
• Recommendations provided through the Platform do not create a professional consulting relationship, and you remain solely responsible for decisions made about your own pool, spa, or equipment.
• We make no guarantee of specific results from following any recommendation, protocol, or dosing guidance found on the Platform.

05 Chemical Safety Disclaimer

• Never mix pool chemicals with each other except as specifically directed by the manufacturer.
• Always add chemicals to water, never water to chemicals, unless a specific product’s label instructs otherwise.
• Store all pool chemicals in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location, out of reach of children and pets, and away from incompatible chemicals.
• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (gloves, eye protection) when handling concentrated chemicals such as muriatic acid or calcium hypochlorite.
• Follow your local jurisdiction’s regulations regarding backwash and discharge water before releasing pool water to a storm drain, yard, or municipal sewer.
• We are not responsible for injury, property damage, or any other harm resulting from the handling, storage, mixing, or application of any chemical, whether or not that chemical was discussed on the Platform or purchased through a link provided on the Platform.

06 Paid Products & Memberships

The Chemist’s Circle

The Chemist’s Circle is our core membership tier, offering personalized chemistry review and community access. It is billed on a recurring basis, monthly or annually depending on the tier selected, through our payment processor, Stripe. By enrolling, you authorize us to charge your payment method on file at the then-current rate until you cancel.

Cancellation: You may cancel at any time through your account portal on PoolsScientific.com. Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period, and you retain access through that date. We do not provide prorated refunds for partial billing periods.

Founding member rate: If you hold a Founding member rate, cancelling permanently forfeits that rate. Re-enrolling after cancellation, at any time and for any reason, places you on the then-current standard rate, not your original Founding rate.

The Test Kit

The Test Kit is a lower-cost recurring membership providing community access and subscriber-only content, without included personalized chemistry submissions. Billing, cancellation, and rate terms follow the same structure described above for the Chemist’s Circle.

Off-Season Membership

Off-Season is a retention tier available only to existing or former Chemist’s Circle members. It is not available as a new-member entry point. It provides reduced-frequency chemistry review and continued community access at a lower recurring rate. Billing and cancellation follow the same terms described above.

The Spot Check

The Spot Check is a single-use, one-time purchase providing one personalized chemistry review, with no recurring billing, no account creation, and no ongoing membership relationship. Because it is a one-time transaction, the cancellation terms above do not apply to it. Refund treatment for the Spot Check follows the Refunds policy below.

Refunds

All purchases — including Chemist’s Circle membership, Test Kit membership, Off-Season membership, and the Spot Check — are non-refundable except where required by applicable law. If you believe you were charged in error, contact us at office@poolsscientific.com and we will review the matter in good faith.

Member Conduct & Privacy

Chemist’s Circle and Test Kit membership includes access to a private Telegram community. Participation in this community is subject to Section 10 (User Conduct) below, and to the member privacy protections described in our Privacy Policy.

Changes to Membership

We reserve the right to modify membership pricing, tiers, or included benefits with reasonable advance notice to active members. Continued membership after a pricing or benefit change takes effect constitutes acceptance of that change.

07 Digital & Physical Products

Digital products (ebooks and reference materials) are sold through Payhip and are subject to Payhip’s own terms of sale in addition to these Terms. Due to the nature of digital goods, digital product sales are generally final once the product has been delivered.

Physical products, where offered, are subject to the shipping, return, and warranty terms disclosed at the time of purchase.

08 Amazon Associates & Affiliate Links

Pools Scientific LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com. Certain product links on the Platform, including on product recommendation pages such as the Reagent Locker, are affiliate links. If you click one of these links and make a qualifying purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Product recommendations reflect our own field-tested experience and independent judgment. Affiliate relationships do not influence which products we recommend; we do not accept payment from any manufacturer in exchange for a favorable mention. Any product carrying a financial or affiliate relationship is disclosed as such at the point of recommendation.

We do not control, and are not responsible for, pricing, availability, product listings, or the transaction itself once you leave the Platform for Amazon.com. Your purchase from Amazon is governed by Amazon’s own conditions of use.

09 Intellectual Property

All content on the Platform, including podcast episodes, transcripts, articles, reference sheets, graphics, and the Pools Scientific name and logo, is the property of Pools Scientific LLC or its licensors and is protected by copyright and trademark law.

• You may share links to our content and quote brief excerpts with attribution for non-commercial purposes.
• You may not reproduce, redistribute, or repackage our content (including reference sheets or ebooks) for commercial purposes without our prior written permission.
• The Pools Scientific name, logo, and any related marks may not be used without our prior written permission.

10 User Conduct

When using the Platform, including any Telegram community, the Ask John form, or the Chemistry Submission form, you agree not to:

• Submit false, misleading, or fraudulent information.
• Harass, threaten, or abuse any other member, staff, or contributor.
• Share another member’s identity, submission, or personal information without their consent.
• Use the Platform or any membership community for commercial solicitation unrelated to Pools Scientific.
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Platform, including another member’s account.

We reserve the right to remove content, suspend access, or terminate membership for any violation of this section, at our reasonable discretion.

11 Third-Party Services & Links

The Platform integrates with or links to third-party services including Kit, Stripe, Payhip, MemberPress, Google Analytics, Cloudflare, WP Engine, Telegram, and Amazon.com. Your use of those services is governed by their own terms and privacy policies, not ours. We are not responsible for the content, practices, or availability of any third-party service.

12 Disclaimer of Warranties

The Platform and all content on it are provided “as is” and “as available,” without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. We do not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of harmful components, or that any recommendation, protocol, or piece of content will achieve any particular result for your specific pool or spa.

13 Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Pools Scientific LLC and its owners, employees, and contributors will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to property damage, equipment damage, personal injury, or loss of data, arising out of or related to your use of the Platform, your reliance on any content or recommendation provided through it, or your handling of any chemical or product discussed on or linked from it.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, our total liability to you for any claim arising from your use of the Platform will not exceed the amount you paid us, if any, in the twelve months preceding the claim.

14 Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Pools Scientific LLC, its owners, employees, and contributors from any claim, demand, loss, or damage, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising out of your use of the Platform, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any right of a third party.

15 Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access to the Platform, including any active membership, at any time for violation of these Terms. You may stop using the Platform and cancel your membership at any time as described in Section 6. Sections of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination (including Intellectual Property, Disclaimer of Warranties, Limitation of Liability, and Indemnification) will survive.

16 Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Kansas, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Informal Resolution First

Before filing any arbitration claim, you agree to first contact us at office@poolsscientific.com and give us 30 days to resolve the dispute informally. Most concerns can be resolved this way without further action.

Binding Arbitration

If a dispute is not resolved informally, you and Pools Scientific LLC agree that any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or your use of the Platform will be resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules, rather than in court, except that either party may bring an individual claim in small claims court if it qualifies.

Class Action Waiver

You and Pools Scientific LLC agree that any arbitration or claim will be conducted only on an individual basis and not as a class, consolidated, or representative action. You waive any right to participate in a class action lawsuit or class-wide arbitration.

Arbitration Location & Format

Arbitration will be conducted remotely or through written submissions where permitted by AAA rules, unless you and Pools Scientific LLC agree otherwise.

17 General Provisions

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found by a court to be invalid or unenforceable, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions of these Terms will remain in full force and effect.

No Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not be considered a waiver of that right or provision. Any waiver of any provision of these Terms will be effective only if in writing and signed by us.

Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Pools Scientific LLC regarding your use of the Platform, and supersede any prior agreements or understandings, whether written or oral.

18 Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes to the Platform, our products, or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify active members directly. Continued use of the Platform after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

19 Contact Us

Questions about these Terms can be directed to:

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Pools Scientific LLC · PoolsScientific.com