Will A Variable Speed Pool Pump Save Me Money
Having a variable speed pool pump will certainly save you money in the long run as when it is running at a lower speed it will consume less electricity. In many instances savings are in excess of 50% so even with the increased cost of buying the pump initially it is easy to see that this cost will soon be recovered.
If your existing standard pool pump is quite old then it is likely to be pretty inefficient too. So even if you were to run the variable speed pump on full for the same amount of time as the old one you will save money as new variable speed pumps are more efficient. But using the new pump at a lower speed at certain times will save even more.
The generally accepted best variable speed pump is the Pentair 011028 IntelliFlo Variable Speed Pool Pump which can save up to 90% over standard pumps. It is quite a large investment but will pay for itself over time.
Single Dual Or Variable Speed
If you have a single-speed pool pump, we recommend you upgrade to at least a dual-speed. Youll get more efficiency and faster turnover. If youre going to buy a new pump, we highly recommend you get a dual-speed or better. In addition to the energy savings and better efficiency, some states, such as California and Arizona, actually prohibit the installation of new single-speed pool pumps.
But to really get all the benefits from your investment, we recommend choosing a variable-speed pool pump. They consume less power, help turnover and filtering go more quickly, and you may even be able to get a utility rebate for using one. They also run at lower revolutions per minute than single- and dual-speed pumps, so theyre quieter.
Yes, theyre also more expensive. But theyre a long-term investment in your pools efficiency and maintenance.
Does Location Affect How Long To Run Pump For
Location matters a lot when it comes to the runtime requirement for a pool pump. If youre in locations such as California and Florida where summers are long and dry, run the pool pump for 5-8 hours depending on the volume of your pool.
Florida often gets the wild windy weather. South Africa also has a similar climate, where there is often desert wind and scorching hot summer. Look out for those weather conditions, and run the pool pump for a longer time, as the pool water will get dirtier than usual.
Texas has a very muggy and hot summer. So, the weather will often be very sweaty and dusty. For such locations, its a good idea to run the pump for a bit longer than its optimal runtime.
For locations such as New York, that have a lot of pollution, its advisable for the pool pump to run for a longer period of time, maybe 7-10 hrs per day. However, if youre in a location like Australia, where the air quality is very good, you can just consider running the pool pump for its average optimal run time every day maybe 6-8 hrs.
It also matters where your pool is located. Pools that are surrounded by a lot of large trees will get dirty quicker because of shredded leaves and pollen. In those cases, the pump has to run for a longer time.
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How Long You Should Run Your Pool Pump Each Day
To keep all the water in the pool clean and clear, plan to run your pool pump long enough to filter the entire volume of water in your pool at least once a day. The number of hours it takes for all the water in the pool to go through the filter is called the turnover rate.
Did You Know?Routinely running your pool pump longer than your turnover rate is a waste of electricity and a shock to your electric bill. Not only that, youll end up wearing out your pool equipment much faster than necessary.
The rule of thumb is generally 8 hours, although it could be anywhere from 6-12 hours, depending on your pools size. Each pool is unique, so to keep your pool pump efficient and effective, you need to figure out exactly what your pools turnover rate is.
Is There A Best Time To Run A Pool Pump In Summer
You finally did ityou got a pool installed in your backyard. And you were incredibly glad you did, since its a nice way to cool off at the end of a long day. Then, your power bill came and your jaw dropped. You had run the pool pump all day, every day, and now youre wondering: When is the best time to run a pool pump in the summer?
Like some questions, the answer isnt entirely straightforward. Depending on your situation, you could choose to run your pump at night only, you may decide to switch to a different sized component to save money or you could find that running your pump all day long is preferible.
Homeowners want to do whats right and keep their pools pristine, but they often dont quite realize what theyre getting into, or ways to cut costs while still maintaining your pool. Lets explore how to keep your pool running efficiently during the most popular time to swim during the year.
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Closing Thoughts On How Long To Run Your Swimming Pool Pump
While running your pool pump for 8 hours a day is ideal, running it for 2 full cycles is even better. Longer filtration cycles mean cleaner water and better circulation. And now that you know how to calculate the best pump runtime for your pool, theres nothing stopping you from having the crystal clear swimming pool you deserve.
How Long To Run A Filter Pump & The Best Time To Do It
As we mentioned earlier, the optimal pool pump runtime is a little different for everyone.
This is for two reasons: pump size and pool size.
That said, 8 hours is a good amount of time to run your pool pump in most cases. But the longer you can run it, the better.
Heres why:
A pool pump takes a certain amount of time to fully cycle through all of the water in your pool once. This is known as a turnover rate, and its different for each pump.
On average, a pumps turnover rate ranges from 6 10 hours. So, when you run your pump for at least 8 hours each day, youre getting a bare minimum of one full cycle. Which is great.
But for those who want optimal filtration, 2 full cycles are best. And as you already know, the amount of time it takes for your pump to go through 2 cycles depends on your pump and pool size.
Fortunately, finding the most effective run time for your pool pump takes less than 5 minutes. Keep reading to learn how to do it.
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Can I Leave My Pool Pump Off For A Week
So if you have to leave it running for a week it shouldnt make a big dent in the electric bill. Having to spend the money on getting the pool back in shape will probably cost more than leaving it on anyway. I would make sure you fill the pool water as high as you can though since you will be gone for a week.
Single Dual Or Variable Speed Pool Pumps
Lets talk about speed real quick.
If youre trying to be as efficient as possible and to save some money, youll need to figure out what speed your pump is capable of.
If your pump is a bit older, chances are its a single-speed pump. It runs at full blast right out of the gate. Its not really efficient, but the pump itself is cheap.
Dual speeds pool pumps are much more efficient. They have a full power setting for heavy-duty tasks like vacuuming and a low power mode that can be left on for hours to filter and circulate your pool. Theyre much more efficient than a single speed but the pump itself is usually a bit pricier. It will save you on electricity and headaches later on down the line, though.
Variable speed means just that: you can crank up the speed of the pump or slow it down. It uses the same concept as the dual speed pump but with much more control. Although it has a higher upfront cost, it will be much more efficient for your pool and energy-saving for your wallet.
If you dont have at least a dual speed pump, its worth looking into if youre in the market for an upgrade. A single-speed pump will do the trick but itll be costing you more money every time you run it for the lifetime of your pool. If you have a small pool its probably not a big deal but for larger pools, it can add up.
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Other Factors That Affect How Long A Pool Pump Should Run
Other than the pool pump and pool size, the duration of running a pool pump also depends on:
The type of pool pump you are using
whether you use a pool cover or you leave the pool exposed
The amount of foliage around your swimming pool
The season of the year and the local climate
The level of activity the pool gets
Whether swimmers clean up before diving into the pool
An open swimming pool exposed to light will need longer pumping. The same is the case with pools during the summer or in hot climates, or pools surrounded by many trees that shade leaves. On the same note, a swimming pool that gets used often will also need long hours of cleaning.
But Why Should I Run My Pump At All
Your pool pump is the hub of your pools cleaning system. It makes sure the water is circulated, so dirty particles can be filtered out. It also widely distributes your cleaning chemicalssort of like stirring cream into your coffee.
No pump equals no circulation, which means no cleaning. No kidding: if you turned off your pump for a significant amount of time, your pool would become a green pond of stagnating water and unwanted bacteria. No, not exactly what you might picture for a refreshing swim.
Tired of having to painfully crouch and lean just to scrub the angles of your pool? This Professional-Endorsed 360-Degree Bristles Blue Torrent Pool Brush has a patented designed for easy cleaningand is a favorite of pool servicers everywhere.
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What Is Flow Rate
It is important to note how many gallons of water your pump moves per hour or minute, this is your pumps flow rate. The measure you should be looking for is GPH which stands for Gallons Per Hour this will tell you exactly how many gallons of water the pool pump filters per hour.
If you are trying to find out the GPH or GPM of your pool pump, all you have to do is convert GPM to GPH or GPH to GPM, divide the GPH by 60, or multiply the GPM by 60 since there are 60 minutes in one hour.
GPM x 60 = GPH GALLONS PER HOUR
GPH/60 = GPM GALLONS PER MINUTE
How To Calculate The Flow Rate
Flow rate is an essential criterion when choosing a pool filter pump. First, you need to determine the volume of your pool or how many cubic feet of water your pool holds. If you do not have this information on hand, youll need to calculate the volume based on the shape of your pool.
The flow rate is the amount of water filtered at a specific time and expressed in m³/hour. You can calculate the flow rate once you know the volume of your pool. The calculation depends on water filtration in four hours to be more precise.
For example, if the volume of your pool is 48 m³, the amount of water that the filtration system must filter is 48÷4, or 12 m³/hour. If the volume of your pool is larger, for example, 80 m³, it will filter 80÷4, that is 20 m³/hour.
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How Long Should You Run A Pool Pump In Winter
The length of time you should run a pool pump in winter rather depends on the climate where you live. It is different if you live in a cold climate or a warmer one.
If you live somewhere that can reach low temperatures and the water could freeze, then during those cold periods you really need to either winterize the pool or when the temperature may drop below freezing, run the pump to ensure the water in the pool and the pipes does not freeze.
If you have a variable speed pump then some of these have a winter setting which turns the pump on when the temperature falls to a particular level.
Where I live the minimum winter temperature at night is around 52 degrees Fahrenheit / 11 degrees Centigrade so I just leave the pump on an 8 hour timer all the time.
Of course, the above assumes that you do not close your pool for the winter by lowering the water level and draining the pipework, pump, filter etc. If you do then the pump should not be run since there will be no water in the system.
Quick Answer: How Long Should You Run A Pool Pump
Overall, the lessons learned today is you should run your pool pump an average 8 hours a day to properly circulate and clean your water. The pump should push your entire pool in gallons in this 8 hour period of time. Residential pool water only needs to be turned over once daily to have proper filtration.
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When To Run The Pool Pump
Just as important as the run time of your pool pump is when you run it.
You know you need to circulate your pools water in 6-12 hours but that does not mean you need to pump for 6-12 hours at a time. To save money on your electric bill, run your pool pump during off-peak hours when electricity costs the least. You can run it for three hours in the early morning and another five hours in the evening. Your electric company can tell you how they charge for electricity during peak and off-peak hours so that you can plan your pump schedule accordingly.
On the other hand, you should run your pump during the hottest and sunniest part of the day. When you run the pump, it counteracts the effects of the sun. The UV radiation will burn off the chlorine.
In addition to pumping every day, you should also run your pool pump whenever you add chemicals, so they distribute throughout the water evenly. Run the pump immediately after to ensure the spreading of chemicals properly, especially after shock treatment or simple routine chemical maintenance on your pool.
Whats The Best Time Of Day To Run The Pump
During the daytime, when the sun is shining on the pool, and during the warmest hours of the day. Unfortunately, these are also peak hours for energy consumption, but it is the best time of day to run the pool pump.
Use a timeclock to operate your pool pump, and reset it as needed, to maintain water clarity. If you dont have a timeclock, you may as well just run the pool pump 24 hrs/day, so you dont forget to turn it back on.
If you worry too much about how long to run the pump, or forget to turn it back on the water condition can quickly deteriorate, requiring expensive chemicals and extra filtering to bring it back.
its best to over-filter the water by running the pump about 12 hours per day, give or take, or as needed, to maintain water clarity.
Pay close attention to the water quality, or the condition of the water, and you can tell when you need to increase the amount of time that you run the pump each day.
When the pool is clean and the chemistry is good, but the water is a little dull or hazy, run the pool pump a bit longer each day.
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The Cost To Run A Pool Pump
The cost of running a pool pump depends on the type of pump being used.
Each pump has a different voltage and amperage rating, which directly affects how much it costs to run it.
Moreover, pool pumps also have different speed capabilities.
There are single, double, and variable speed pool pumps.
By todays standards, variable speed pool pumps are the most cost effective since they allow for a wider range of speed selection. And because of that, theyre essential to lowering your swimming pool bills.
If you want to know how to calculate the exact cost of running your specific pool pump, heres how to do it:
