Chemical Outlook ‘21 REPORT

The chlorine shortages the pool industry has faced over the last two years might be far from over. Find out what pool professionals are doing to deal with ongoing price increases.

BY JOE TRUSTY

Photos: Adobe Stock Photo

The future looks pretty uncertain at this point in time on how much chlorine will cost in 2022. Industry professionals are already bracing for more more bad news. It’s anticipated that manufacturers will announce further price increases this fall. Experts say that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to rationalize all the increases to customers.

Recently we co-hosted a Town Hall discussion on the Talking Pools podcast. Various professionals representing different aspects of the industry, from service to construction to distribution were discussing how the ongoing shortages and price increases were impacting their day to day operations.

Jeremy Hine of Florida Leisure Pool & Spa said, “Everybody wants a pool. We’ve sold all our slots available for 2022 to build one. Now the challenge is actually getting materials and components for executing the construction projects.”

Hine, who operates off of a flat rate bidding process doesn’t charge for time

plus materials. As a result, he said that he’s wound up upside down on a few jobs. “Bidding a pool all the way into 2023, we’ve gambled and hope that we won’t have to eat too much on our package price pools,” said Hine.

Korey Wax of Alpha West said he doesn’t see supply issues getting better right away. “Pool companies are relying on the relationships with individual branches,” said Wax, “The people that are really suffering are the guys that don’t have a relationship because they’ve been ordering off a web portal. When they go into a random branch, the manager and counter guys don’t recognize that individual so those supplies are magically not there because supplies are being reserved for their core customers.

Rudy Stankowitz, who was moderating the discussion said, “If you’re trying to estimate costs, right now it’s a total guess. We know everything is going up across the board. Prices are jumping dramatically in a short amount of time. I just can’t tell you what it’s going to cost to clean your pool this year.” Prices for dry chlorine products are not anticipated to level out until the reopening of the BioLab plant in Louisiana. Hurricane Ida however, has delayed construction efforts.

BIOLAB REOPENING WILL BE DELAYED

Prices for dry chlorine products have dramatically gone up since last pool season and are predicted to increase next year as well. Experts say that consumers need to become more familiar with other methods to help them reduce chlorine demand.

RETAIL PRICES FOR DRY CHLORINE SOARED UP TO 70% THIS SEASON.

In terms of lowering chemical usage to sanitize pools; there are certainly some tried and true products available on the market.

The problem it seems, is making consumers and professionals aware that alternatives exist.

“We need to see more education in the enzyme sanitizer, mineral sanitizer world,” said Wax, “This is the time for companies like Sigura, BioDex, PoolRx, and NC Brands to really step up and put forth the education into the marketplace about what their products do.” “This is the time to explain to guys that aren’t using an enzyme in their pools and are just forward dosing with chlorine and freaking out because they can’t find that same chlorine. We’ve got to be smarter. The data is out there. The ROI is out there. You can use up to 50% less chlorine.”

Andrea Nannini, owner of Hibiscus Pool & Spa and co-host of the Talking Pools podcast, said she’s been making enzymes part of her protocol for managing pools. “I’ve used PoolRx and Blueray XL. Things like that definitely help.” “One of the ways you can actually stretch the chemicals you’re using in the pool is to add automation,” said Stankowitz, “you don’t realize how much chlorine is actually being used up unnecessarily. The same thing with acid. Your salt cell would love you if you added automation. You’d see a lot less flaking or pool dandruff.”

Listen to the Talking Pools Podcast