Back in the pool

Local pool stores are seeing a boom in pool installations as homeowners settle in for a summer at home.

With people stuck at home due to the coronavirus, many are bringing some summer fun to their backyards by installing a new pool or hot tub.

Swimming pool stores report their sales have essentially doubled this year, compared to this point last year, and calls to open up existing pools started much earlier than usual.

“Business is booming,” said Rebekah Chamberlain, retail manager at Hat City Pools in Danbury.

The store has sold all but one of the hot tubs on the floor, and aboveground pools are sold out for about two months. They’re also booked through the bulk of the summer for new pool installations. Chamberlain has had to turn people away for the regular maintenance services because the demand was so high.

The shop wasn’t able to do projects in New York for a bit, but that restriction has since been lifted; Chamberlain doesn’t think it had any impact on the business.

She believes the increased demand is because people aren’t planning to travel places this year, so they’re turning to their backyards.

Pat McDougall, owner of Newtown Pools, said not only are requests for new pool installations up, but people are doing more add- ons, such as pool houses, outdoor kitchens and firepits.

“People seem to be leaning toward creating a whole backyard experience,” he said, adding he started noticing an increase about a month ago

McDougall, who is also the vice president of the Northeast Spa and Pool Association Connecticut chapter, said he is hearing from many of his colleagues that they’re grateful the pool industry is doing well, especialy since so many small businesses are hurting from the coronavirus. Chamberlain agreed. “We’ve been fortunate,” she said.

Hat City Pools stayed open during Connecticut’s nonessential business shutdown because it sells sanitizer. Chamberlain said customers weren’t sure the store would remain open, though, and thinks that’s the reason for an early wave of pool openings, coupled with people being home.

“We’ve never opened so many pools in the month of April,” she said.

McDougall started fielding calls to open pools earlier than usual, with some starting in late March.

“Many people called early to open pools,” he said.

H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media Dale Robertson of Newtown Pools, left and at top, explains the results of a pool and spa water test he performed for Elle Callanan, of Easton. Callanan was doing curbside pickup at the store in Newtown on Thursday. At right, Robertson goes over the pool water test he took for Jamie Hayden, of Monroe.

H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media

A sign at Newtown Pools warns customers to wear a mask to come into the store or to call inside to arrange for curbside pickup if not wearing one.