Swimming pools and housing

Count the pool equipment business as a sector already feeling the effects of the housing market's downturn.

Pentair Inc., a Golden Valley-based maker of fluid-handling systems, said Tuesday it wouldn't hit its earnings forecast for the third and fourth quarters. A key part of the difficulty for the company is the slowing market for pool equipment in Florida and Southern California.

Florida and Southern California, home to some of the country's largest pool companies, are in the midst of a marked downturn in the pool business.

"It's mostly attributable to the housing market," said Jeff Fausett, CEO of Aquatech, based in Huntington Beach, Calif., that does business in 45 states. Pentair is the company's largest supplier.

New home construction is down in Southern California, houses aren't selling as quickly and "people are being more conservative about their spending habits," he said. The pool market there is down 20 to 30 percent.

In Florida, Fausett said, fear of more hurricane damage might be slowing consumers' pool-buying decisions.