The weather is improving, and thoughts of opening the family pool are near.
Many don’t know there’s a bit of a learning curve when thinking about installing your own pool in the backyard, but local experts are available to help you every step of the way.
Noel Thimlar comes from a long line of pool experts and she’s expecting a very busy year at Harmony Pools.
Her grandparents started a pool business, and now Thimlar and her family have taken the reins.
“Back in the 1960s they started to gunite build, a special trade that we do that’s all in-house,” Thimlar said. “They’re kind of like pieces of art. When we build one, we want to take care of it for life.”
While much of Harmony Pools’ installations are commercial now, they’re offering plenty for residential customers as well.
In May of 2022, Harmony Pools opened their first retail store in Zionsville – a place customers can stop by, ask questions, have their water tested and pick up supplies for their pool at home.
“We now have 1,000 more square feet of warehouse space so we’re able to stock more supplies for customers,” Thimlar said. “If you bring in water from your pool, we can test it and advise you on how to take care of it. For those new pool customers, we can get you started.”
They have all of the needed pool chemicals in stock and will even recycle old chemicals customers want to toss.
Harmony Pools also offers routine maintenance and repair packages.
“We have people who want to do it themselves to those that want us to do it all,” Thimlar said. “Either way, it’s really important that your pool is serviced year-round. Think of it like a car; it’s better to be proactive than reactive.”
They offer services to open and close your pool for the season, along with weekly and monthly packages for upkeep.
A typical maintenance call includes water testing, vacuuming of the pool, serving the equipment and making small repairs. By the time the crew leaves, the water line will be clean, the deck rinsed, and everything in pristine condition.
When the pandemic was at its height, Thimlar noticed a large increase in customers wanting to build a pool in the backyard. However, many of us don’t know what we’re getting into.
“There are a lot of people who don’t know if they don’t do their research,” Thimlar said. “If you want a pool installed, it’s a big investment and considered a structure on your property. There are all different types of pools, so you want to research your options and know what’s going to be best for you when it comes to budget and long-term care.”
Like a vehicle, maintaining the pool properly can save a lot of money in the long run.
“You have to maintain your pool in the wintertime, test the water and add chlorine,’ Thimlar said. “Many don’t realize that there is a difference between automatic covers and a winter cover – that is, until we get a huge snowstorm that dumps ice on the auto cover and it can’t hold.”
Another quick tip – always have a swimming pool inspection done before purchasing a home.
Thimlar said too many times, a family buys a home and doesn’t realize their pool is outdated, has a leak or hasn’t been taken care of, prompting a big bill to correct the situation.
“We can fix a lot, but there does come a point where it’s no longer fixable and your option is to fill it in or build a new one,” Thimlar said. “Back in the ’60s we didn’t have the pool technology we have today, so there are instances where a pool is so old, they are no longer fixable.”
As technology and advancements progress, even equipment used decades ago is changing and developing with the times.
Knowing the latest developments could save customers time and money.
“The biggest thing we’re bringing back from educational seminars is everyone is switching to energy-efficient pumps,” Thimlar said. “There’s a big movement right now to meet new energy guidelines so we expect all of the pumps and equipment to be changing.”
What many appreciate is the honest and helpful way Thimlar and her crew go about trying to help their clients, and the family environment they experience when reaching out to the pool company.
Too often she hears new pool owners saying, “This is not how I wanted my pool experience to be,” and at Harmony Pools, they can make things easier.
“I’m the only third generation in the pool business in the state of Indiana,” Thimlar said. “One of our service guys has worked with us since he was 18, and now his teenage son is learning the ropes. My husband graduated from Zionsville High School and we live in Lebanon now. We just want the pools in our community to be taken care of.”
The ultimate goal, Thimlar said, is to make the industry as simple and safe as possible for all pool fans.
They’ve even implemented an online ordering and delivery service from their website for chemicals.
“Owning a pool can be an expensive project to begin with, but we try to relieve a little bit of that with affordable prices and maintenance packages,” Thimlar said. “We’re here to help the community with any of their pool needs.”
For more information, call 317-800-0899 or visit swiminharmony.com.
