Supply and production-related issues as a result of the coronavirus pandemic have some pool retailers drowning in back orders, with consumers on waiting lists through March 2021. Above-ground swimming pools are on backorder at some retailers until at least 2021 as a result of production delays from coronavirus-related shutdowns. (iStock)
Full Answer
Why are swimming pools so expensive?
A widening gap between available labor to build swimming pools has created delays in production. The pool construction and pool service industries also continue to struggle with rising costs for essential materials such as PVC pipe, valves, tile, heaters, concrete, the list goes on and on.
Are pool supply shortages real?
Pool Supply Shortages Are Real Pool supply shortages continue to create real problems for the industry as we move further along into the 2021 pool season. One unexpected side effect to the Covid-19 pandemic last year was a renewed interest in swimming pools.
What's behind the swimming pool boom?
The swimming pool boom illustrates how the health crisis has altered consumer habits in favour of stay-at-home businesses as the world struggles to contain new outbreaks and some people avoid beaches, pools and lakes to vacation at home.
What happened to the world's largest swimming pool manufacturer?
Spain's Fluidra FLUI.MC, the world's largest swimming pool equipment maker, initially furloughed employees in anticipation of a slump in demand but it soon put them all back to work, and hired more people. In May, Fluidra ran out of stock and production capacity for the year for its above-ground pools, despite the extra staff.
Who is the CEO of Claro Pool?
We spoke with Stephen Little, CEO of Claro Pool in Palm Desert. Little runs a large pool service company which maintains and services roughly 10,000 pools a month. He is also a contractor on the front lines of the issue that has experienced shortages first-hand. From his viewpoint the delays in manufacturing are a large part of the problem. “Manufacturers have shut down due to shelter in place orders.” said Little “They aren’t producing, when they are producing, they’re short labor. With the shelter in place orders folks are required to stay at home.”
How much water does a pool need per year?
A study conducted by the City of Sacramento concluded that lawn irrigation use equals 49 inches per year and that swimming pool requirements are 39.6 inches per year, less walkway and decking areas equal to the actual pool area, which reduces total pool water use to 20 inches per year.
Can water sit on top of pool deck?
The flat surface of the pool deck allowed water to sit on top of the waterproofing until it evaporated. Morabito’s recommendation was to perform immediate repairs which would consist of removing the deck waterproofing as well as the top concrete slab to gain access to the waterproofing membrane.
Will there be a shortage of pool supplies in 2021?
Pool supply shortages continue to create real problems for the industry as we move further along into the 2021 pool season. One unexpected side effect to the Covid-19 pandemic last year was a renewed interest in swimming pools. For the first time ever, the pool industry has had less competition for discretionary dollars than any time in it’s history.
Is inground pool water wasteful?
The perception amid many homeowners that were facing all these crazy new water restrictions at the time was that inground swimming pools were wasteful uses of water. An alarming number of homeowners had taken to filling in their swimming pools as a result and new pool construction had slowed to a crawl in California.
Why are above ground pools on backorder?
Above-ground swimming pools are on backorder at some retailers until at least 2021 as a result of production delays from coronavirus-related shutdowns. (iStock) Sheila Berry, who runs her family’s 42-year-old business, Berry Family Pools, in Longview, Texas, has a waiting list of nearly 150 orders, twice as many as last summer before the pandemic.
When will pool parties be delayed?
Pool parties may be delayed until next summer. Supply and production-related issues as a result of the coronavirus pandemic have some pool retailers drowning in back orders, with consumers on waiting lists through March 2021.
How much does Berry Family Pools charge?
Berry Family Pools charges between $5,000 and $19,000 for above-ground pools and installation, and Berry says some people are offering to throw down up to $2,000 extra to get bumped up on the waitlist, which, she says, she won't take. THE BEST WAY TO PAY FOR A SWIMMING POOL.
Where are Berry Family Pools manufactured?
Berry Family Pools relies on Doughboy, a company that sells above-ground swimming pools manufactured in Arkansas. But due to nationwide shutdowns in mid-March delaying production, the firm's supply chain has been disrupted.
How does a saltwater pool work?
These pools work by salting the water and then using a generator to turn the salt into chlorine at a very slow rate. The resulting water is slightly salty, gently chlorinated, and 100 percent safe.
Why is salt water pool called saltwater pool?
The term “saltwater pool” is a bit of misnomer, because pools with saltwater still have a small amount of chlorine. Still, no one is predicting a salt shortage this summer, and saltwater pools make their own chlorine via a chemical reaction.
What is an ACO pool?
In active catalytic oxidation (ACO) pools, a safe chemical agent is dissolved in the pool. Sunlight activates this catalyst material, releasing free radicals that are destructive to all the bugs that might get in your pool. The result is a sanitized, safe pool with no need for chlorine. ACO can even be used in conjunction with a small amount of chlorine to amplify its effects.
Is chlorine good for a pool?
(After all, you can’t rescue someone if you can’t see them in the water.) But for as useful as chlorine is, it isn’t your only option for maintaining a healthy pool.
Is ozone pool water safe?
Ozone-treated pools use plain water that continuously circulates through an ozone generator, making a safe, non-caustic environment that’s still free of germs and gunk. There’s a larger initial investment because of the extra equipment, but experts say ozone pools are safer in many ways and cost less to maintain, according to Green Garage.
Will chlorine shortages cause empty shelves?
Experts say the chlorine shortage will cause empty shelves in stores and extreme markups, which, because of the seasonal nature of pool usage, is about to come as a rude awakening to many outdoor pool ...
Why did Laila Dagali splash out on the pool?
Laila Dagali, 36, splashed out on an inflatable pool for the terrace of her house near Barcelona in May as she shunned the beach and a neighbourhood pool because of “the fear of being with unknown people” during the pandemic.
Who is the sales director of Pools of Fun?
In Indianapolis, Tyler Hermon, sales director at Pools of Fun, said his phone hasn’t stopped ringing after an initial lull and sales are now up 43% from a year ago.
Is Leroy Merlin out of stock?
Sales of easy-to-build pools by the home equipment distributor Leroy Merlin in Spain soared more than 200% in the first six months of 2020 from a year earlier and stores are now out of stock , said head of products Ines Egea.
