What Is The Best Time To Run The Pool Pump

Is Night Or Day Best To Run A Pool Pump

It is best to run your pools pump during the day when the sun is out to reduce the risks of algae bloom and because there is generally more debris and contaminants that will enter your pool in the day.;

You can also run the pool filter at night to enjoy a discount on electricity and the overall cost of running a pool.;

Another option is to run your pool pump both during the day and at night too. You dont need to run your pump in one continuous block and can run it for a few hours during the day and a few hours at night.

We recommend using a pool pump timer, that way you can set and forget it.

Which Pool Timer Should I Use

Choosing the right pool pump timer for your pool should start with taking a look at what you want to control or automate. The most basic timer will turn a single pump on and off while some timers will adjust the setting on your variable speed pump and control just about anything electrical in your pool system.;

Other considerations you need to keep in mind are how much HP you need to control, upper limit of amps required and how many devices you want to control. The most common HP capabilities you will find range from 2-5 HP which is more than enough for most residential pool applications. It’s also common to find timers that handle up to 12 devices so you can be sure to automate just about anything that keeps your pool going.;

If you are operating a variable speed pool pump you will need a timer that switches from high to low speeds. The Intermatic T106R timer will help you regulate your pump but you will also need to purchase the T104 if you want to be able to control ON/OFF setting through a timer.;

If you live in a climate that experiences freezing temperatures you may want to use a pool pump timer with freeze protection. The Intermatic PF1102 pool timer works in conjunction with an existing timer to protect against freeze damage by automatically turning on the pump when the air temperature drops below the temperature preset on the thermostat.;

Can A Pool Pump Be Too Strong

There is a very persistent myth in the pool world that the higher the horsepower, the better. As a result, it is probably safe to say that the majority of pools have oversized pumps. Too large of a pump can cause poor filter performance and even damage it, if the filter is not also oversized accordingly.

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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.

Is It Better To Run The Pool Pump During The Day Or Night

With all of the advice floating around on the internet on when is the best time to run your pool pump, it can get confusing on which advice is correct and which ones are just myths. Today were going through all of the situations on when youll need to run your pump so that by the end of this post, youll know exactly whats the best time to run your pump.

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What Is The Best Time Of Day To Run A Pool Pump

I gave very little thought as to when to run my pool pump when I first had my pool and just let the timer run as it had been set by the previous home owner. Since then I have investigated the subject further and made some adjustments.

There are many points of view as to the best time of day to run a pool pump. Some say it should be during the day while others say it is better at night. Each has its merits but there is no absolute winner but this is how to decide.

The best time of day to run a pool pump is during the day in the summer to keep the pool surface clear of bugs and debris and overnight during the winter when swimming will not be taking place when electricity prices may be lower.

I will try to make things a bit clearer so you can make up your own mind about the best time for you.

Running Your Pool From Sunrise To Sunset

It may seem logical to have the pump running during the day, while people are swimming in it, so the water stays clean. And thats a good thought. But consider a couple of other things too.

Those non-peak hours your utility has may be at night, especially if you live in a warm climate where people are more likely to run their air-conditioning during the day.

Also, running your pump is usually necessary after youve added chemicals to your pool. In order to get the chemicals dispersed throughout the water, it has to be moving. Otherwise, you may end up with super-sanitized spots and pockets of not-so-clean water, and thats not the kind of Marco Polo you want to play.

But theres one chemical that needs to be added at night, or at least at dusk: pool shock. Add it during the day, and the sun will just burn most of it off, reducing its effectiveness.

So when you shock your pool, youll definitely want to run your pump at night, and for a minimum of eight hours to fully distribute the shock.

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Following Basic Rules For Filtering

Buying Guide For Best Pool Pumps

Just as your body has a circulatory system that is vital to your health and well-being, so does your pool. When the water circulates, it passes through a filter that removes undesirable particles, helping to keep your pool safe for you to enter. Circulating water also makes certain that any chemicals you add to sanitise the water get evenly dispersed throughout the entire pool, making them more effective. And if you have a heater, that hot water isn’t going to travel around on its own. The one component responsible for all of this is the pump the heart of your pool’s circulatory system.

Whether you’re getting a new pool or replacing an old pump, there are many things you need to consider before making your purchase. Choosing a pump isn’t as easy as simply buying the biggest, most powerful one you can afford. In fact, besides being a costly waste of energy, running a pump thats too strong for your pool can cause a great deal of damage. Conversely, if you try to save a few bucks and underestimate your needs, you will find yourself running into a whole new world of problems. So what do you do? Knowledge is your greatest asset when shopping for a pool pump, and we have the facts for you.

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Calculating How Long To Run Pool Pump

If you dont want to mess with all the math, running your pump for 8 hours a day is still a good rule of thumb. You can also keep a close eye on your chemical levels to see if this is best and experiment with different run-times.

However, for the best efficiency, you can calculate exactly how long you should run it. To do this, youll need to know the pumps flow rate and the size of your pool in gallons.

You can usually find the flow rate in the owners manual or on the pump label. Same goes for the size of your pool.;

If youre having trouble finding these numbers, you can look online or contact the manufacturer.

Now divide the pool size by the flow rate. For example, if your pool is 10,000 gallons and your flow rate is 2,600 gallons per hour , the formula will look like this:

10,000 ÷ 2,600 = 3.8 hours

Next, multiply this number by 2 since your pump should complete 2 full cycles for optimum performance.

3.8 x 2 = 7.6

So, 7.6 would be the ideal number of hours to run your pool pump each day.

Running The Pump While Swimming

Pool owners are often unsure about when they should keep the pump running. You can run the pump while you are swimming, but you can keep it turned off too.

The main advantage of running the pump while swimming is to filter out debris while you are in the pool.

Keeping the pump running when you are inside the pool will also create a waterfall effect. It has nothing to do with the pools functionality, but it makes your swimming session a little more enjoyable.

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Best Single Speed Pool Pump Brands:

Except for cost, I see no difference in the above ground pool pump offerings. Centrifugal;vane pumps have not changed in 150 years. Motors have gotten better over the years but little else.

Hayward, Pentair, Jandy, and Reliant all make a great single speed pump. It might be of interest for you to know, whatever the brand, most;use the same motor. You could buy a round flange , or square flange motor from A.O. Smith to replace the pump-motor thats on your Hayward, Jandy, or Pentair pump. Century supplies most;manufacturers with pump motors.

Recommendations

Best Place to Buy A 1 HP In-ground Single Speed Pump;;$325.00 to $360.00

Best Place to Buy A 1 HP Above-Ground;Single Speed Pump;MGK Pools;$145.00 to $170.00

I could easily argue and show you why you should never buy a single speed pool pump. That goes for above ground pools too. Unless you burn money as a past time, do your self a favor and shell out the extra few bucks for the variable speed mentioned further down in this article. Or a two-speed pump for an above ground pool.

I know for you above ground pool people this is a big leap, but not only will it last longer than any above ground pump, but it will also pay for itself over the long haul. Most variable speed pumps come with a timer that above ground pool pumps are sorely lacking.

Here Is How You Can Compute The Turnover Rate:

Pool Volume / Filtration Rate = Hours for 1 Turnover

33,000 / 3,000 = 11

One turnover may take 11 hours, close to 12 hours running a pool pump a day.

The solution discussed earlier means that the recommended time for running a pool pump may also depend on the size of your pool and your pumps capacity.

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What Does A Pool Pump Do

If the water in your pool didnt move, it would quickly become a stagnant swamp, host to algae and all kinds of other yucky stuff. One of the most important factors in keeping your pool clean and swimmable is pool circulation. And that is generated by the pump, which is the first component of your pools filtration system.

The pool pump pulls water in, and then pushes it out through the filter. No matter what kind of filter you have, it only works if water moves through it. Thats how the filter is able to capture debris and bacteria.

To keep all the water in the pool clean and clear, it must run through the filter system at least once a day. This is called the turnover rate.

You can skip this whole process by investing in the pool care video course and finally master pool water chemistry and maintenance for good! Its time to take control of your pool and save a ton of money in the process.

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.

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Running A Pump In The Daytime

The arguments for running the pool pump during the day are mainly as follows:

• Algae grows quickest when the sun is at its strongest so it makes absolute sense to run the pool pump when the sun is at its strongest, ie. during the period over midday. So if you need to run the pump for 8 hours each day to ensure the total volume is filtered then you should run the pump from 8am to 4pm.
• The pump operates the skimmers, which, in turn, remove all of the floating debris such as leaves and insects. So ideally you want the skimmers to be working at a time you are likely to be swimming otherwise you will be getting all sorts in your mouth while swimming.
• The UV in sunlight degrades chlorine so there is a larger demand for it during daylight hours. Running the pump helps to stop this happening by dispersing it around the pool. This saves money on chemicals which running at night would not.

Three Key Elements Of A Pool Pump

Pool pump technology hasnt changed much in the past 2,000 years: water is sucked in and pushed out, creating a current that circulates the water in your pool. For our purposes now, we only need to consider three key elements of your pump: the motor, the impeller, and the filter basket.

• Motor: This is your pool pumps power source. It’s what makes the pump work. The pool pump motor nameplate will provide information such as the horsepower, service factor , voltage, and more. Although these numbers all provide valuable information, the most important thing you need to know when buying a pump is the flow rate how many gallons per minute it can pump. You can obtain that information from the pump manufacturer.

• Impeller: This is the fan-like part that the motor spins. As the blades whirl, they pull the water in one side of the pump and force it out the other.

• Filter basket: All you need to circulate your water is a motor that spins an impeller. That’s what makes the water move. However, the filter basket is essential because it is your pump’s last line of defence. Any debris that slipped past the skimmer baskets or got sucked into the system through the drain will get caught in this basket so it doesn’t damage your pump.

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Choose The Right Pool Pump

This parts easy once you have all the numbers. Simply find one that pumps at least the same GPM as is required for your pool. If the one you choose pumps a little more than you need, thats fine. Just dont go below your required GPM.

This will ensure your pump will run at the appropriate rate to turn over your pools water in one eight-hour period.

Is A 2 Speed Pool Pump Worth It

At River Pools, we used two speed pumps for years with great success. They are quite a bit more expensive to purchase than single speed pumps and last the same amount of time, which is typically 3-8 years. On average, a two-speed pump will save about 50%-70% on energy cost compared to a one-speed pump.

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How Long To Run A Pool Pump During The Winter

Heres an important question worth addressing before we wrap this post up:

How long should you run your pool pump during the winter?

Outdoor temperatures change drastically during the winter. For some, temperatures can be as mild as 70 degrees.

But for many others, especially those living in the northeast, winters can drop below freezing temperatures of 32 degrees.

So if youre living in a climate with harsh winters, the last thing you want is your pool to freeze over.

Swimming pool freeze prevention made simple:

• Always keep your water warm and above freezing temperatures
• Close the pool

During the winter, expect to run your pump anywhere from 14 24 hours a day to prevent freezing temperatures. Or, as long as necessary to keep your water warm.