About Buchmyer's Pools, Inc
My Dad, Ken Buchmyer, started working at Penguin Pools during his Jr. High school year. My grandmother was friends with the owners of Penguin Pools. He began as a yard boy; cleaning covers, unloading trucks and working in their retail store where he learned about pool water chemistry. When he turned 16 years old, he painted the white lines for the pool layout in preparation for the dig and was “in charge” of keeping the pool site cleaned up. The following summer he was working full time on the inground crew. He continued learning everything about inground pools and progressed to foreman of his own crew.
After he left Penguin Pools in the early 70’s, he went to work full-time at Harley Davidson as a plumber. However he always dreamed of having his own pool business. In 1981 Buchmyers Economy Pools was started as Dad began doing pool work on the side while continuing to work full-time at Harley. He wasn’t home very much. At one point, our front yard was filled with pool materials and we were threatened with fines from the township. In 1984, we rented and opened our current location at 713 Arsenal Rd., York at which time, my mom Susie, joined the business full-time. The store was very small, and grew larger over the years as we rented more and more of the building as it became available through the landlord.
The early days of the retail store were extremely slow. We were actually bored to tears most of the first couple of years. Construction was steady, but nothing like it is today. Dad did most of the construction as a one-man operation with some help from time to time with friends and family. He also did all of the sales and service himself. I started working at the ripe age of 12; I loved every minute of it (still do) and always had a desire to take over someday.
As the business continued to grow Dad quit Harley Davidson,] in 1988, we incorporated in July and became Buchmyer’s Pools, Inc.. We purchased the entire building at 713 Arsenal Rd., York and in 1997 we did a major remodel. You could see clear through one end of it to the other. We worked out of a trailer that winter using Rutter’s bathrooms. In 2018 we did a refresh and reconfigured the offices. All construction and service were run out of the York location, it became very congested with 35 men and 15 trucks, as well as tractor trailer deliveries and the retail store, all run out of this very tiny location.
In spring 2003, we continued our growth as we opened our second retail store location in Hanover, at the Grandview Plaza. Of course we were very excited to announce in 2013 that we made our home in Hanover permanent with the purchase of our property at 969 Baltimore St.
As we grew we had numerous off-site storage facilities. In the fall of 2023, we purchased property off Hilton Ave in Dover. We have built a new facility to be our contractors’ office, storage, and home for all of our crews and trucks that you see out and about. It is also our third retail location which is now open as of March 2025. It was a VERY long process and I’m glad it’s over and we are finally at the finish line! This strategic location will alleviate some of our congestion in the York store as well as offer opportunities to be more convenient for our clients.
Of course, our people are what makes our business special! Our son Spencer started working for us at the age of 14 and came on board full-time after graduating from Dallastown High School. He loves the business and looks forward to becoming the owner someday. Spencer got married in 2022 to Taylor; she shares our family values and goals both personally and in the business. She is now our bookkeeper and training to become Spencer’s right-hand “man”. We are super excited as we are expecting our first grandbaby in July of 2025!! My sister Wendi joined the retail team in 2010 and now runs our service department. It’s a demanding position, but she does a great job. Our niece Mckenzie started with us in 2016 and is now full-time; she has become an excellent pool lady! Erin, who was Spencer’s BFF through high school and our bonus child started working with us in 2018. She has decided to take on an administrative role as week look towards the future succession of Buchmyer’s Pools, Inc. While this is our family, it must be mentioned that we have many loyal, dedicated, long term team members and they are also “family”. They are in the trenches with us day in and day out making the magic happen and I am ever grateful for each and every one.
I have been on this journey from the very beginning, I can still picture the tiny space that we rented that was formerly Mack’s Hardware. My husband Chris, whom I met at Buchmyer’s in 1989, and I have completed our succession to ownership. I learned from a very young age all I know about swimming pools from my father and husband. We are very fortunate to have Chris to continue taking care of our loyal customers, and pass on his wealth of knowledge and run our infield operations. We continue to strive to be caring, fair and competent business owners. We do our best to offer our customers honest, friendly and top notch pool services.
As I update this story, I am humbled. From such modest beginnings, I think about how very blessed we’ve been throughout this journey. We owe much gratitude to man y dedicated and hardworking team members both past and present as well as you, our wonderful customers.
Sincerely,
Kriste J. Buchmyer-Feltman
Our Services
Job Opportunities
Are you interested in joining the Buchmyers’ team? Check out our EMPLOYMENT page for more information.
Association and Certifications
Further evidence of our advantages in the swimming pool industry are the various groups and associations we belong to.
PHTA – Pool And Hot Tub Alliance
The PHTA was formed in 2019 through the merger of The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals and The National Swimming Pool Foundation. Both organizations have similar goals of making swimming safe, healthy and fun – so the merger was a logical improvement.
PHTA is the world’s largest association representing swimming pool, hot tub and spa manufacturers, distributors, manufacturers’ agents, designers, builders, installers, supplier, retailers and service professionals. PHTA offers pool and hot tub education and certification programs, provides valuable membership benefits, develops trusted industry standards and advocates for critical legislation.
PHTA members adhere to a code of ethics in business and technical practices and share a strong commitment to the safe, healthful, and enjoyable use of industry products.
BBB A+ Better Business Bureau
The BBB is a private, non- profit organization whose mission is to promote and foster the highest ethical standards between companies and their customers in the areas of:
- Dependable Service
- Honesty In Advertising
- Honest Business Practices
- Reliable Complaint Handling Procedures
Examples of services provided by the BBB are Business Reliability Reports, Dispute Resolution, Truth-in-Advertising, Consumer and Business Education and Charity Review.
We’re A “Totally Hayward” Pool Builder
A “Totally Hayward” pool builder is someone who is qualified to offer the complete line of technologically-advanced pumps, filters, heaters, heat pumps, automatic pool cleaners, lighting, controls and salt chlorine generators. These are all high-quality components that are engineered to work together to keep your pool always at its best.
As a Totally Hayward builder, we are able to offer you a three-year extended warranty on all Hayward equipment. That’s three times the industry average!
Hayward® is one of the top pool equipment manufacturers in the world. For the past 80 years, their focus and objective are to make every homeowner’s pool experience worry-free and hassle-free. Their equipment is engineered to last, work smart, and help pool owners enjoy the pleasures of pool ownership.
For more information visit: Totally Hayward
United Aqua Group
United Aqua Group is a collaboration of top-notch pool builders from across the country and the world, who work together to share their knowledge and talents for common good. The United Aqua Group is an exclusive, invitation-only organization. They will accept no pool builder other than those meet their strict standards for quality construction, business ethics, and impeccable reputations.
Less than 1% of all pool builders in America have been approved to join the ranks of United Aqua Group builders.
Originally formed in 1962 as “Aquatech,” the United Aqua Group is comprised of over 120 pool building professionals, and over 100 retail store operators. They conduct ongoing professional educational programs to develop each pool builder’s capability in the overall planning process and to emphasize each member’s leadership role in customer service. Neither a franchise nor a corporate chain, it’s the nation’s #1 Society of Pool-Building Professionals.
More information at: www.unitedaquagroup.com
