Effective date: September 8, 2026 · Version 2026-09-08
This Privacy Policy explains how PoolPad ("PoolPad," "we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, shares, and protects information when you visit poolpad.com, create an account, use our Local Pros directory, community forum, reviews, or any other feature we offer (together, the "Services"). By using the Services, you agree to the practices described here. If you do not agree, please do not use the Services.
- Account information. When you create an account we collect your name, email address, password (stored only in hashed form by our authentication provider), the account type you choose (homeowner or pool professional), and an optional public handle and profile photo.
- Business listing and claim information. If you claim or add a business listing we collect the business name, address, phone number, website, email, description, service types, and your name and role at the business.
- Proof-of-ownership documents. To verify a business claim you may upload documents such as a business license, utility bill, or formation certificate. These documents are treated as confidential (see Section 6).
- Content you post. Forum posts, comments, questions, answers, reviews, photos, and any other content you choose to publish. This content is public.
- Listing media. Photos, a logo, and links to YouTube videos that verified business owners add to their listing. Photos and logos are resized and stripped of embedded metadata such as camera details and GPS location before they are stored, are reviewed by PoolPad, and are public once approved.
- Email verification. When you create an account we send a verification link to your email address and record when you verify it. Accounts that have not verified their email can browse but cannot post, message, review, or manage listings.
- Communications. Messages you send through our contact form, replies to our emails, and quote or lead requests you send to pool professionals through the Services.
- Messages between users. If you use messaging features to communicate with other members or businesses, we collect the content of those messages, attachments, and related details such as who you messaged and when.
- Preferences. Email notification settings and any other preferences you set.
- Usage and device data. IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device identifiers, referring URL, pages viewed, links clicked, and the dates and times of your visits.
- Cookies and similar technologies. See Section 5.
- Public business records. Our directory includes publicly available business information (name, address, phone, website) compiled from public sources so that homeowners can find local pool professionals. Business owners may claim, correct, or request removal of a listing at any time.
We use the information we collect to:
- provide, operate, maintain, and improve the Services;
- create and manage your account and authenticate you;
- verify business ownership claims and publish approved listings;
- display the content you choose to publish;
- send transactional messages such as account notices, claim decisions, replies to your posts, and security alerts;
- send newsletters or marketing emails you have opted into, which you can stop at any time using the unsubscribe link in any email or your notification settings;
- respond to your questions and support requests;
- understand how the Services are used so we can improve them;
- detect, investigate, and prevent fraud, abuse, spam, and security incidents;
- comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service.
3. Legal Bases (for users in the EEA, UK, and similar jurisdictions)
Where applicable law requires a legal basis, we process personal information (a) to perform our contract with you, (b) to pursue our legitimate interests in operating, securing, and improving the Services, (c) with your consent, which you may withdraw at any time, and (d) to comply with legal obligations.
We do not sell your personal information. We share information only as described below.
- Public content. Anything you post to the forum, reviews, Q&A, or a business listing is visible to the public and may appear in search engines. Your public handle (and your name, unless you hide it in your settings) is shown with your posts.
- Pool professionals and other users. If you request a quote or send a message to a business or another member through the Services, the information you include is shared with that recipient. Messages between users are not end-to-end encrypted; they are stored on our systems and authorized PoolPad staff may access them to operate the Services, moderate, respond to reports of abuse or fraud, enforce our Terms, or comply with law.
- Service providers. We use trusted vendors to run the Services, including Google Firebase (authentication, database, file storage, hosting), Amazon Web Services (website hosting and content delivery), Resend (transactional and marketing email), and Google Analytics (usage analytics). These providers process information only on our instructions and under contractual confidentiality and security obligations.
- Legal and safety. We may disclose information if we believe it is reasonably necessary to comply with a law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request; to enforce our Terms; to protect the rights, property, or safety of PoolPad, our users, or the public; or to detect and address fraud or security issues.
- Business transfers. If PoolPad is involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to this Policy.
- With your consent. We may share information for any other purpose with your direction or consent.
5. Cookies, Analytics, and Advertising
- Essential cookies keep you signed in and remember your preferences. The Services will not work properly without them.
- Analytics. We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use the site. Google may set cookies and collect usage data as described in Google's privacy policy. You can opt out with the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.
- Embedded videos. Business listings may include videos hosted on YouTube. We show a preview image and load YouTube's player only when you press play, at which point YouTube (Google) may set cookies and collect data under its own privacy policy.
- Affiliate links. PoolPad participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs. When you click an affiliate link, the retailer may set cookies to attribute a purchase to PoolPad. We earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
- Advertising. Third-party advertising partners, if used, may set cookies to show ads based on your visits to this and other sites. You can manage cookies in your browser settings and learn more at aboutads.info/choices.
We do not currently respond to browser "Do Not Track" signals because there is no common standard for them.
6. Proof-of-Ownership Documents
Documents you upload to verify a business claim are handled with additional care:
- they are stored in access-controlled cloud storage, encrypted at rest and in transit;
- they are never published and are never shared with other users or businesses;
- only you and authorized PoolPad staff reviewing your claim can access them;
- they are used solely to verify your claim and to maintain a record of that verification;
- we retain them for as long as your claim record is kept (see Section 8), after which they are deleted. You may request earlier deletion once your claim has been decided.
Please do not upload documents containing more sensitive data than necessary. You may redact account numbers, Social Security numbers, and similar details before uploading.
7. Your Choices and Rights
- Access and update. You can view and edit your profile, handle, and notification settings from your account pages.
- Hide your name. You can choose to show only your handle on public posts.
- Email preferences. Every marketing email includes an unsubscribe link, and you can manage notification categories in your settings. We may still send essential account and security messages.
- Delete your account. Contact us to request deletion. We will delete or de-identify your personal information within a reasonable period, except where we must keep it for legal, security, or dispute-resolution purposes. Public content you posted may remain visible in de-identified form.
- Business listings. Business owners may request correction or removal of a listing through the claim process or by contacting us.
- Messaging. You can block other users and report abusive messages. Deleting a message from your view does not remove the recipient's copy.
Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights, including the right to access, correct, delete, or receive a copy of your personal information, to object to or restrict certain processing, to withdraw consent, and to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. California residents have the right to know what personal information we collect, use, and share; to delete it; to correct it; and not to be discriminated against for exercising these rights. We do not sell or "share" personal information as those terms are defined under California law. To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details in Section 13. We will verify your identity before acting on a request and may decline requests that are unfounded, excessive, or that we are not required to honor by law.
8. Data Retention
We keep personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Services. Business claim records, including verification documents, are kept for the life of the associated listing plus a reasonable period afterwards so we can resolve ownership disputes. We may keep certain information longer where required by law or to establish, exercise, or defend legal claims, and we may keep de-identified or aggregated data indefinitely.
9. Security
We use administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your information, including encryption in transit and at rest, access controls that limit data access to authorized personnel, per-user storage permissions, and monitoring for unauthorized access. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for keeping your password confidential and for activity under your account. If you believe your account has been compromised, contact us immediately.
10. Children
The Services are not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us information, contact us and we will delete it. Users must be at least 18 to create an account.
11. International Users
PoolPad is operated from the United States. If you use the Services from outside the U.S., your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the U.S. and other countries where our service providers operate, which may have different data protection laws than your country. Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards such as standard contractual clauses.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Policy from time to time. We will post the revised version here with a new effective date and version number, and for material changes we will provide additional notice such as an email or a notice on the site. Your continued use of the Services after a change becomes effective means you accept the revised Policy.
Questions, requests, or concerns about this Policy or your information can be sent through our contact page or by email to admin@poolpad.com.
This Policy should be read together with our Terms of Service.
