Skimmer, America’s most widely-used pool service platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Orenda Technologies (a HASA Company), a trailblazer in water treatment solutions. This collaboration aims to enhance the user experience for pool professionals by integrating the Orenda Calculator™, with its Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) and dosage recommendation engine, into Skimmer’s software.

The inclusion of Orenda’s LSI calculator and dosage recommendation engine within Skimmer’s platform marks a significant milestone in pool service technology. The LSI serves as an impartial measurement of water balance, specifically gauging calcium carbonate saturation. By assessing whether the water is aggressive/corrosive, balanced, or scale-forming, the LSI plays a pivotal role in ensuring optimal water chemistry. 

This, combined with Skimmer’s easy-to-use, all-in-one software will give tens of thousands of pool pros access to water quality insights right in the Skimmer app. 

“Partnering with Orenda and HASA aligns seamlessly with our commitment to providing pool professionals with cutting-edge tools,” says Jack Nelson, CEO of Skimmer. 

Integrating the Orenda Calculator™ into Skimmer empowers our customers to make informed decisions that directly impact water quality and customer satisfaction,” says Nelson.

“We are excited to integrate with partner software that helps pool professionals up their game, and that can expand upon the app we have built. Skimmer is a powerful tool that helps thousands of pros improve their business every day. This integration allows for us to help those same pool pros even further. With this partnership, Skimmer users will be able to save chemistry results and history, which is something our customers have asked of us for years.  This partnership makes that possible,” says Eric Knight, VP of Pro Marketing at HASA/Orenda. 

The integration is slated for launch in the coming months, promising a user-friendly experience that streamlines pool maintenance. This collaboration underscores both companies’ dedication to innovation and customer-centric solutions within the pool maintenance industry.

For more information on the Langelier Saturation Index and its impact on water chemistry, visit Orenda’s blog at https://blog.orendatech.com/langelier-saturation-index.

About Skimmer:

Skimmer is America’s most widely used pool service platform. The company is on a mission to modernize the pool and spa service and repair industry through easy-to-use software and best-in-class support. Over 25,000 pool service professionals servicing 500,000 pools in North America use Skimmer to get organized, get paid faster, and grow their businesses.

About Orenda:

Orenda (a HASA Company) is at the forefront of revolutionizing water treatment solutions for pools, emphasizing the importance of proper water chemistry and sustainability. Through its advanced technology and expertise, Orenda helps optimize pool water quality by empowering pool professionals with industry-leading products and educational resources.

About HASA:

HASA, Inc. is a leading producer and distributor of high-quality water treatment products used to sanitize and maintain water systems, including swimming pools, water tanks and containment vessels for recreational, industrial, and municipal end markets. Founded in 1964, the company operates out of facilities in California, Arizona, Washington, Nevada and Texas. Over its 60-year history, HASA has established a strong reputation for supplying superior products through excellent logistics and distribution capabilities. Additional information about HASA is available at www.hasa.com

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:

Jes Ellacott

[email protected]

Pleatco, owned by Pentair, and longtime co-sponsors GENESIS / Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), along with AQUA Magazine, are proud to present the winners of the 2023 Pleatco Pool Tech Search. These outstanding achievers stood out in the pool and spa industry and were nominated and voted for by their peers. Please join us in congratulating the Pleatco Pool Tech Search winners. 

Grand Finalist – Cristina Forcione, Seychelles Pools & Spas – Lasalle, Quebec, Canada 

“I am feeling immensely grateful and honored to receive recognition from Pleatco Pool Tech Search. I have put in a lot of sweat, tears, and effort to reach this milestone, and this recognition validates my unwavering belief in my abilities. It is a testament to my skills, knowledge, and expertise in the field, and I am truly humbled by this honor.” 

 Grand Finalist – Wes Kane, Pools Unlimited Incorporated – Elliot City, Maryland 

“I am feeling absolutely thrilled to have received recognition from the Pleatco Pool Tech Search. This is the first time that I have won an award or been a part of such a prestigious event, and I must say that it feels truly humbling and exhilarating at the same time. Being acknowledged for my work in this field is an incredible honor, and it gives me a renewed sense of purpose to continue striving for excellence in everything that I do.” 

Lifetime Achievement Awards – Rob Stewart, ROBCO Water – Hammond, Ontario, Canada 

“It’s an honor and a feather in my cap, plus it’s nice to be a part of something bigger. Winning this gives me an opportunity to share my wealth of knowledge, the value of education and understanding water chemistry, as well as the importance of communicating with your customers.” 

Young Leader Award Winner – Benjamin Gardea, Cody Pools – San Antonio, Texas 

“It means so much. The ability to have a platform to bring education and awareness to my fellow pool pros is incredible. Watching my friends, family and coworkers support me in getting here also makes this award mean so much more.” 

Customer Service Award – Joe Puccio, Clean & Clear Pools – Houston, Texas 

“I think it’s pretty cool to receive this honor! It’s more than just about me. My customers voted to support me and my business. I’m also excited about the training that is offered. Everyone involved will have some bragging rights! It’s all about teamwork – it takes a team!” 

Advancing Technology Award – Branden Lewis, Lewis Pool Service – Centerville, Tenn. 

“I am thrilled to have received this honor! The grand prize is truly amazing – not only does it come with an unforgettable experience, but also with a set of classes that will equip me with the knowledge and skills necessary to take my company to the next level. Learning more is crucial to becoming a better entrepreneur.” 

HONORING THE WINNERS 

Winners will be honored at the 2024 Pool and Spa Show in Atlantic City, New Jersey. 

About Pleatco, LLC At Pleatco, we are committed to quality. As your trusted industry leader for filter and cleaning products, we make cleaner water filtration possible so every pool and spa owner can enjoy reliability and peace of mind. The combined strength of our exclusive Pleatco Advanced Point Bonded Filtration Fabrics, Free Flow Cores and Pure Pleat Technology delivers the high-performance filtration that service professionals and end-users have come to rely on. Ready to rule the pool with an industry leader in replacement filter elements? Choose wisely. Choose Pleatco. For more information, visit www.pleatco.com. 

About the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance 

The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), a non-profit organization with more than 3,700 members from around the world, was established in 1956 to support, promote, and protect the common interests of the $36.5B pool, hot tub, and spa industry. PHTA provides education, advocacy, standards development, research, and market growth initiatives to increase our members’ professionalism, knowledge, and profitability. Additionally, PHTA promotes the use of pools by expanding swimming, water safety, and related research and outreach activities aimed at introducing more people to swimming, making swimming environments safer, and keeping pools open to serve communities. For more information, visit www.phta.org. 

About GENESIS GENESIS educates, certifies and connects pool and hot tub designers, builders and pool professionals throughout the world. Since 1998, GENESIS has taught thousands of students in best practices governing proper water vessel design, engineering, and construction. The vast GENESIS curriculum, coupled with adherence to standards, leads to excellence in education. GENESIS is a company of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance. 

About AQUA Magazine 

Since 1976, AQUA Magazine has been the leading trade publication for pool and spa retailers, builders and service professionals. Each month, thousands of pool and hot tub pros turn to the online and print pages of AQUA for its valuable mix of news, trend and product coverage. For more information, visit www.aquamagazine.com.

In recent years, the cost of pool products has been steadily increasing, causing concerns for both pool professionals. This trend has been attributed to a variety of factors, including global supply chain disruptions, increased demand, and rising manufacturing costs.

The pool industry, like many others, has experienced rising prices due to various factors such as inflation and increasing interest rates. These economic influences have had a direct impact on the cost of materials, labor, and other expenses associated with pool construction, renovation, and the service and maintenance sector.

As a result of these increased costs, pool builders and service technicians are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain their profit margins. Many are being forced to raise their prices in order to keep up with the rising costs of materials and labor. This, in turn, is leading to higher prices for consumers who are looking to have a pool built or serviced.

The costs of everyday goods have gone up dramatically in the past few years. For those who have managed to maintain pricing structures, a cost increase may just be inevitable. In the wake of the pandemic, the average price of a new vehicle has surged to nearly $49,000, marking a significant increase of approximately $10,000 compared to pre-pandemic times. Between January and June of 2022, the cost of regular motor gasoline experienced a notable surge of 49%, while the price of diesel fuel witnessed a slightly higher increase, reaching 55% (Bureau of Transporation). Consequently, just keeping a pool service fleet on the road has become exorbitantly more expensive.

How To Approach Raising Prices

While raising prices is never an easy decision, it is often necessary in order to maintain the quality of service and products that customers expect. Pool builders and service technicians must balance the need to stay profitable with the need to provide affordable and accessible services to their clients.

As the cost of pool products continues to rise, pool companies are faced with the challenge of maintaining profitability while still providing quality service to their customers. This can be especially difficult for small businesses who rely heavily on customer loyalty and word-of-mouth referrals.

Treat Customers Like People

To address this issue, pool companies should approach rising prices with transparency and communication. It’s important to explain to customers why prices are increasing and how it will affect their pool maintenance and repair services. This includes discussing the specific pool products that have risen in cost and how that impacts the overall cost of pool maintenance.

Communication should also include offering alternative solutions to help customers manage costs. This could include providing a range of pool product options that vary in price, or offering discounts for pre-booking services or signing up for a maintenance package.

Ultimately, being upfront and honest with customers about rising prices is key to maintaining trust and loyalty. By providing education and alternatives, pool companies can help customers navigate the increasing costs while still delivering quality pool services.

The template letter below serves as a useful tool for pool companies to notify their customers about an upcoming price increase for their services. While price increases can be a sensitive topic for customers, the template provides a professional and clear explanation of why the change is necessary. It can be customized to reflect the specific needs and circumstances of each company, allowing them to communicate the information in a way that is both transparent and respectful of their customers’ needs. By using this template letter, pool companies can approach price increases in a thoughtful and effective way, maintaining the trust and loyalty of their customers.

Raising Prices Template Letter For Pool Companies

Dear Valued Customer,

We hope this letter finds you well. At [Company Name], we take pride in providing top-notch pool cleaning and maintenance services to our clients. We appreciate your trust in us and want to take a moment to address a recent change in the pool industry that has affected our pricing.

Over the past few years, we have seen a steady increase in the cost of pool cleaning products and equipment. Unfortunately, this trend is expected to continue, and we must adjust our prices to reflect these changes. We understand that price increases can be difficult to accept, and we want to assure you that we have taken great care to keep our rates as competitive as possible while still providing the quality service you deserve.

Our company remains committed to providing exceptional service and will continue to strive for excellence in all that we do. We appreciate your understanding and want to thank you for your continued business. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Thank you,