When it comes to the shortage of chlorine, though, the pandemic-related issue is actually increased demand. Construction of new pools in 2020 went up nearly 25% over 2019, and the trend only continues to rise. With each new pool comes more demand for pool supplies like chlorine.
Between the pandemic and a catastrophic fire, the U.S. is currently experiencing a major shortage of chlorine tablets. ... Pool owners might have noticed that it was hard to find chlorine tablets in the spring of 2021, and interestingly, it's not just because of the global health crisis.
Chlorine Shortage 2022: The Nation's Chlorine Supply Takes Yet Another Potential Hit. *Update: Fortunately, it does not appear that this factory fire has resulted in any major chlorine loss and will not contribute to the expected ongoing chlorine shortage in 2022.
It not only brought the threat of high winds, fallen power lines and deadly waters, but also the potential for hazardous air conditions caused by chemical breaches in the nearby chemical plant. The loss of this plant will result in a nationwide chlorine shortage that will be felt through the 2021 season.
While it's being rebuilt, the plant isn't expected to reopen until 2022. That's left homeowners and pool-maintenance companies to scurry for supplies this year, and those who can find the tablets are paying higher prices.
The shortage is due to increased demand for pool supplies during the pandemic and a chemical fire at a BioLab facility in Louisiana after Hurricane Laura that knocked out one of the country's three main chlorine manufacturers.
Still, no one is predicting a salt shortage this summer, and saltwater pools make their own chlorine via a chemical reaction. These pools work by salting the water and then using a generator to turn the salt into chlorine at a very slow rate.
Chlorine prices have shot up due to a factory fire and increased demand. The pandemic led more people to put in pools.
That boom, experts say, created even more demand for chlorine. Then a manufacturing facility of one of the country's major suppliers of chlorine tablets, BioLab, burned down last August, right after Hurricane Laura. The plant, located near Lake Charles, Louisiana, expects to resume operations by spring 2022.
The new facility will replace the old manufacturing plant and restore the jobs that were lost resulting from its destruction. It is expected to be completed in 2022.
Rising Costs of Chlorine in 2022
Between high demand and material availability, we have seen multiple price increases across every channel in our industry. Does this mean that the cost of chlorine is going to keep rising? Unfortunately, yes. We expect chlorine costs to continue to rise next year.
Chlorine is a sanitizer, and (unless you use Baquacil products) is necessary for maintaining a clear and healthy pool. Shock is chlorine, in a high dose, meant to shock your pool and raise the chlorine level quickly.
It is possible use use the tablets in your large wading pool. However, this is not economical and it will take a large amount of tablets to clean your pool. Unless you have a major supply of these tablets on hand, I would not suggest using them to clean a pool.
Household bleach, Clorox and liquid chlorine can all be used to sanitize a pool. They are all types of chlorine. Household bleaches such as Clorox usually contain about 5-6% available chlorine, about half that of pool liquid chlorine. Household bleaches often have unwanted fragrances and colors.
The reason why trichlor tablets are so expensive and why they are sold out at many pool supply stores is because of the national trichlor supply shortage.
The prices also have been driven up by increased demand, fueled by the coronavirus pandemic. A report from Goldman Sachs released in April 2021 said about 96,000 pools were built last year in the U.S., with an estimated 110,000 expected to be constructed this year.
According to experts, there is a chlorine shortage due to a swimming pool boom and a fire at a chemical plant in Louisiana. This shortage will make it more expensive to keep pools clean.
The chlorine shortage has already shuttered public pools and cancelled swim lessons across the country, including many in sunny Los Angeles. Less than a month after they were cleared to reopen by the Department of Public Health, the majority of city-run pools in L.A. have had to close down for want of the chemical.
The RC-35/22 Cell – Maximum recommended residential pool size is 35,000 gallons. Produces 200 lbs. of pure gas chlorine at the average cell price of $382.99. Produces 200 gallons of liquid chlorine at the average price of $2.25 per gallon = $450.00.
What can happen if you go into a pool too soon after it's been shocked? There are a few potential issues. "Chlorine will react with water to produce an acid," Alan says. "The effects will be different depending on whether chlorine is inhaled or whether there is skin or eye contact."
After Shocking Your Pool
It is safe to swim once your chlorine levels are around 5 ppm or after 24 hours.
This is because when you mix chlorine and algaecide together, it renders both of them useless. Hence, you should first shock the pool and wait for the chlorine levels to fall below 5 PPM.
Short answer: yes. Longer answer: it depends on the formulation. The label on every bleach bottle should tell you the ratio of sodium hypochlorite (and available chlorine) in the bottle to everything else. A higher percentage is generally better, as you'll need to use less bleach to treat your pool.