Responses to our chemical and testing survey came in from 16 states. As we have come to expect, responses were heaviest from the areas with the highest number of pools. The top states in order of participation were California, Texas, Arizona, and Florida.
For statistical purposes, we divided the country into seven geographic regions, based on their location and the number of responses we received.
The following is the way we broke it down: Northern California — From the Oregon Border south to Bakersfield. Northern California represents 16 percent of the responses we received. We also included Oregon in this region.
Southern California — From the Mexican Border north to Bakersfield. Southern California represents 33 percent of the responses we received.
Southwest — Arizona; Colorado; Nevada; New Mexico; Oklahoma; Texas; and Utah. The Southwest represents 19 percent of the responses we received this year.
Florida —The Service Industry is large enough in this state for it to qualify as a separate region. Florida represents 11 percent of the responses received.
Southeast — Alabama; Arkansas; Georgia; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maryland; Mississippi; North Carolina; South Carolina; Tennessee; Virginia; and West Virginia. The Southeast represents 12 percent of the responses we received this year.
Northeast — Connecticut; Delaware; Maine; Massachusetts; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; and Vermont. The Northeast represents 7 percent of the total number of responses that we received this year.
Midwest — Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Michigan; Minnesota; Missouri; Montana; Nebraska; North Dakota; Ohio; South Dakota; Wisconsin; and Wyoming. Because the Midwest represents 2 percent of the responses we received this year the data obtained was insufficient to include in this issue.
The average is actually the median Whenever possible, we use the median figure for determining averages. So the “average” price for the various levels of service represents actual prices that someone is charging. Half of the reported pricing is higher than the median, and half is lower.
When responses from a region were considered insufficient to give us an accurate reading, we dropped that region from our pricing survey. And whenever possible, we provide “highs” and “lows” for each level of service, to give you an idea of the ranges of pricing that we were dealing with. When considering dollar amounts, we rounded up or down to the nearest whole dollar.
To make it easier to evaluate business practices, all prices are organized by region.
Not all regions of the country respond to this survey section at the same level, but those that did will find these pricing guidelines useful in evaluating their business practices.
In general, the data that inspires the most confidence is based on higher participation and came from Southern California, and the Southwest.
The following is a regional breakdown for chemical prices as well as auto cleaners. We also include common testing methods, the use of salt water chlorine generators, and other specialty equipment.
Northern California
Northern California includes the space from the Oregon Border south to Bakersfield. Northern California represents 16 percent of the responses we received for the survey.
For chlorine testing, respondents from Northern California indicated preference for DPD with 77 percent usage. OTO is still in use by 8 percent of respondents, and test strips are used by 38 percent of those who responded.
Service professionals from this region indicated a preference for liquid chlorine over trichlor to sanitize pools, with 85 percent of regular technician usage compared to 69 percent using trichlor. They get liquid chlorine at $5.50 per gallon on average. For trichlor, Northern California professionals responding to the survey are paying $172 for a 50-pound bucket, which works out to $3.81 per pound of available chlorine for trichlor. So as expensive as trichlor has become, it still costs less than liquid on a per-pound basis.
Calcium hypochlorite is used by 31 percent of those responding to the survey, and they pay an average of $4.43 per pound of available chlorine. Dichlor, used by 38 percent of respondents, purchased in 50-pound increments costs an average of between $8.73 and $7.89 per pound of available chlorine, depending on whether it is anhydrous.
Service technicians from Northern California reported that on average of 91 percent of all their pools are equipped with an automatic pool cleaner. The cleaners are nearly equally pressure side as suction side – 52 percent compared to 45 percent, and only 3 percent are robots.
Salt water chlorine generators are used on an average of 14 percent of pools for sanitation.
Respondents indicated that about 3 percent of their pools utilize UV and 1 percent of their pools incorporate ozone.
Southern California
Southern California includes the region from the Mexican Border north to Bakersfield. Responses from Hawaii were included in this region. This region represented 33 percent of the responses we received in this year’s survey.
Relative to the response received from other areas of the country, the response from Southern California was particularly heavy so that the data for this region is the most reliable.
For testing methods, responses to the survey indicate that Southern California services techs use all forms of chlorine testing methods and rely equally on DPD and test strips: 48 percent use each. 33 percent report to using OTO, and 7 percent reported using ORP.
Liquid chlorine is used predominantly over other chlorine sources, with 92 percent usage. Trichlor is used at a high rate as well, with 77 percent usage. Dichlor is used by 50 percent, and calcium hypochlorite is less used by only 23 percent of those who responded to the survey.
Southern California service technicians pay a median price of $4.86 for liquid chlorine.
A 50-pound bucket of trichlor is priced at an average $186, which works out to $4.13 per pound of available chlorine – lower than liquid.
For dichlor, Southern California service professionals are paying an average of between $7.50 and $6.77 per pound of available chlorine, depending on whether it is anhydrous.
Calcium hypochlorite prices are a median reported price of $4 per pound of available chlorine Service pros responding to our survey indicated the average of 54 percent of their pools have automatic pool cleaners. As in years past, a large number of them, 88 percent are suction side cleaners as opposed to only 8 percent employing pressure side cleaners. Robotic cleaners are used in 4 percent of the pools of those who responded.
Southern California service professionals reported that an average of 22 percent of their pools have salt water chlorine generators.
Respondents indicated that about 2 percent of their pools utilize UV and less than 3 percent of their pools incorporate ozone.
Southwest
For our survey, the Southwest region of the country includes the following states: Arizona; Nevada; New Mexico; Oklahoma; Texas; and Utah. The Southwest represented 19 percent of the responses we received in this year’s survey.
Responses to the survey were particularly heavy from Texas, and are thus much more representative of the maintenance preferences of that state in particular.
Service technicians responding to the survey reported an equal use of DPD and test strips, both employed by 69 percent of respondents. About 13 percent of respondents OTO to assess chlorination levels. ORP is used by only 6 percent of those who responded.
Respondents from this region indicated greater reliance on trichlor tabs as a chlorination method: 94 percent use trichlor. This area pays an average price of about $155 for 50 pounds, or $3.10 per pound available chlorine. Liquid chlorine is used by 69 percent where the cost of liquid chlorine was reported to be $4.75 per gallon.
Calcium hypochlorite is also widely used by 88 percent of those responding to the survey, where they pay a relatively low median price of $2.27 per pound of available chlorine. About 19 percent of respondents use dichlor, paying a median price of between $8.41 and $7.59 per pound of available chlorine, depending on whether or not the dichlor is anhydrous.
Respondents indicated that about 79 percent of all pools employ an automatic cleaner. More service professionals reported seeing pressure side cleaners over suction side cleaners, used in 66 percent and 23 percent of pools respectively, with 11 percent of pools using robotic cleaners.
Chlorine generators are employed on an average of 13 percent of those responding to our survey.
Respondents indicated that about 5 percent of their pools utilize UV and 5 percent incorporate ozone.
Florida
The Service Industry within Florida is large enough for it to qualify as a separate region. Florida represents 11 percent of the responses received.
Floridians have typically reported a high use of liquid chlorine in years past, with 100 percent of service professionals reported relying on liquid chlorine. Compared to the rest of the country, they get a great deal on the chemical at an average price of $1.92 a gallon.
With the high price of trichlor, its use is less common, employed by 67 percent of respondents, averaging $196.50 for 50 pounds, or $4.37 per pound of available chlorine.
56 percent of service professionals reported to using calcium hypochlorite at $3.72 per pound of available chlorine. About 22 percent reported to using dichlor, although 55 percent helpfully provided pricing. Dichlor is reportedly selling for $6.39 and $5.77 per pound of available chlorine depending on if it’s anhydrous.
Responses to our survey indicate that service professionals in Florida primarily use DPD as their means of accessing chlorine concentrations: 56 percent of respondents use this method. Test strips were used by 44 percent of respondents; OTO by 11 percent; and ORP by less than 1 percent of respondents.
Salt water chlorine generators sanitize 37 percent of the pools serviced by respondents.
An average of only 26 percent of respondent’s pools have a cleaner.
Every year, Floridians usually report among the highest use of suction side cleaners in the country. Suction cleaners are reported by 89 percent of respondents, while pressure cleaners are employed by 6 percent of those responding, and robotic cleaners used by 5 percent.
Less than 1 percent of respondent’s pools utilize either UV or ozone.
Southeast The Southeast includes Alabama; Arkansas; Georgia; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maryland; Mississippi; North Carolina; South Carolina; Tennessee; Virginia; and West Virginia. The Southeast represented 12 percent of the responses we received in this year’s survey.
Respondents from this region indicated a preference for calcium hypochlorite as a chlorination method: 80 percent use it. This area pays an average price of about $257 for 100 pounds, or $3.95 per pound available chlorine. Liquid chlorine is used by 40 percent where the cost of liquid chlorine was reported to be $5.50 per gallon.
Trichlor is used by 60 percent of those responding to the survey, where they pay a median price of $200 for a 50 pound bucket, or $4.44 per pound of available chlorine. About 20 percent of respondents use dichlor, paying a median price of between $9.21 and $8.32 per pound of available chlorine, depending on whether or not the dichlor is anhydrous.
Respondents from this region seem to favor the DPD method for testing chlorine: 90 percent of this area reported using DPD, while 30 percent also uses test strips. OTO was used by 10 percent and less than 1 percent of respondents use ORP.
Service professionals in the Southeast report to working with chlorine generated pools more than many other parts of the country. Salt water chlorine generators are on an average of 46 percent of the pools that they service.
Respondents from this region indicated that an average of 31 percent of the pools they service incorporate an automatic pool cleaner. Suction side cleaners make up only 4 percent of these, pressure side 71 percent, and robots 25 percent.
Respondents indicated that about 1 percent of their pools utilize UV or ozone.
Northeast
The Northeast includes Connecticut; Delaware; Maine; Massachusetts; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; and Vermont. The Northeast represents 7 percent of the total number of responses that we received in this year’s survey.
Only 40 percent of those responding to the survey reported that they use trichlor to sanitize the pools they service. Dichlor, and trichlor are both used by about 40 percent of those responding to the survey. Liquid is favored by 80 percent.
Respondents from the Northeast declare an average liquid chlorine cost of $3.58 per gallon, and $204 for a 50-pound bucket of trichlor tabs. For trichlor, this works out to $4.53 per pound of available chlorine.
For Dichlor, respondents indicated that they pay between $9.55 and $8.63 per pound of active chlorine, depending on whether or not it is anhydrous. They pay a median price of $4.02 per pound of available chlorine for calcium hypochlorite.
For testing purposes, professionals reported to using test strips equally with DPD, both employed by about 60 percent. About 20 percent are using OTO and None of the respondents from this region reported to using the ORP testing method.
According to our survey, salt water chlorine generators are in use on an average of 49 percent of the pools that they service.
Close to 1 percent of pools incorporate UV or ozone.
Service technicians reported that 54 percent of the pools they service are equipped with an automatic pool cleaner. Of those that use automatic cleaner, 21 percent are pressure side cleaners. As usual, this region also asserts the highest national use of robotic swimming pool cleaners at 74 percent. Only 5 percent reported that their pools are equipped with a suction side cleaner.
