logo
    • News
    • Classifieds
    • Free Subscription
    • Book Store
    • Submit
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Submit an Educational Announcement
      • Submit a letter to The Editor
    • Past Issues
    • Regional Trade Shows
    • Testimonials
    • Contact
    • News
    • Classifieds
    • Free Subscription
    • Book Store
    • Submit
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Submit an Educational Announcement
      • Submit a letter to The Editor
    • Past Issues
    • Regional Trade Shows
    • Testimonials
    • Contact
News
October 31, 2020
Trichlor shortage — Service techs seek options

 

By Marcelle Dibrell

The trichlor shortage has numerous service techs scrambling. It has been estimated that about one third of the nation’s trichlor supply was taken out of circulation by the August 27, 2020, fire at the Biolab manufacturing plant in Wesltake, Louisiana.

Prices are going up, distributors are rationing, scarcity is real.

For those service techs that rely on trichlor (and there are many) the future is probably going to require making significant changes in how they maintain proper disinfection levels at the pools they service. Perhaps the vast array of specialty chemicals may provide some solace during these trying times.

Fortunately, the swim season has come to an end in most regions of the U.S. and with temperatures dropping, algae is not as great a threat as it will become in the spring and summer months.

But suppliers are warning that the trichlor shortage may not resolve itself anytime time in the near future. Robert Rankin, Vice President of Pool Corp, says that 2021 may well be remembered as the year the industry survived without dry chemicals.

With that grim future looming ahead, now is the time for trichlor-dependent service techs to gain a necessary education of disinfectant alternatives and supplements.

For those with the financial means, converting to a salt system or UV and ozone systems may be possibilities, and could be a way for service techs to turn lemons into lemonade. But not all pool owners are going to go for these relatively expensive options.

For customers such as these, converting to liquid chlorine will likely be the only solution. The trick is to use it efficiently and effectively. Maintaining an appropriate cyanuric acid level is the key to minimizing the need for excessive liquid chlorine use: 30-50 ppm CYA is a good target.

But there are other ways to reduce unnecessary chlorine consumption for high traffic or algae prone swimming pools. Select specialty chemicals can be the important ingredients in maximizing sanitizer efficiency.

For example, when phosphates get too high, algae prevention and remediation can be challenging, even if the pool is operating within recommended chlorine and CYA levels. Many users have noted that keeping phosphates below 500 ppb can significantly reduce the reproduction rate of algae, which helps lower chlorine demand.

Similarly, the use of an old-fashioned algaecide provides a supplement to chlorination in preventing and/ or killing existing algae.

Borates have also somewhat recently come to the fore and are being used as an algestat. Many borate users have noticed a significantly slowed algal growth rate even in the presence of high phosphates when borates are used and they also have the added benefit of improving water sheen.

For high traffic pools or those that experience a lot of organic contamination, a high-quality formulation of enzymes can also do wonders in lowering chlorine demand as well as creating an awesome sparkle.

There is a plethora of products that can be used in conjunction with chlorine to help improve its efficiency and that is the focus of this edition of Service Industry News: specialty chemicals to help reduce chlorine demand.

LATEST NEWS
Homes with pools raise price and sell speed
News
Homes with pools raise price and sell speed
Demand for houses with swimming pools remains strong in warm weather states
June 30, 2025
By Marcelle Dibrell As summer begins to heat up, so does the U.S. housing market — though not evenly across the board. Buyers and sellers are navigati...
this is a test
News
Final summer survey results tallied
June 30, 2025
Each year, Service Industry News takes the pulse of the pool and spa service sector through our comprehensive survey, and in this final installment of...
this is a test
during the pandemic peak. This ….
News
during the pandemic peak. This ….
June 30, 2025
during the pandemic peak. This has resulted in a widening gap between buyers and sellers. According to Redfin, there are approximately 1.9 million sel...
this is a test
News
Chem exposure sends 5 to hospital
June 30, 2025
Several patrons at a residential community swimming pool in Apache Junction, Arizona, were sent to the hospital following a hazardous materials incide...
this is a test
News
New Jersey city pool workers arrested
June 30, 2025
A group of municipal pool workers in New Jersey has been arrested for allegedly stealing chemicals from the Secaucus town pool to support their privat...
this is a test
Gators swim to escape heat wave
News
Gators swim to escape heat wave
June 30, 2025
As summer heats up across the South, pool technicians are being reminded that it’s not just algae or cloudy water that can cause a service delay. Some...
this is a test
Read Our Newsletter
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Free Subscription
View Current Print Ads
Educational Announcements
Aquatic Training Institute

Educational Leverage

Foundation For Pool Industry Education

Locey Pool

Pool Chemistry Training Institute

Pool & Hot Tub Alliance

Portofino University

Underwater Pool Masters
Trade Show Dates
  • The International Pool Spa Patio Expo
    Nov. 12-14, Dallas, Texas
  • The Pool and Spa Show
    Jan. 28-30, Atlantic City, New Jersey
  • 35th Annual National Plasterers Conference
    Feb. 26-28, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
  • The Southwest Pool and Spa Show
    Feb. 4-8, Houston, Texas
  • The Western Pool and Spa Show
    Feb. 6-8, Long Beach, California
Books to Order
About Us Terms of Use Privacy Policy
We use cookies to ensure that our website gives you the best experience possible. By continuing to use this website, you agree to this use of cookies.OK