Pool Pumps: Sizing, Cost, Choosing, Maintenance, Reviews

There are few things more inviting on a warm summer’s day than the sparkling waters of a swimming pool. That is why so many people make the investment in a swimming pool for their own backyard. Whatever kind of pool they choose though, in ground or above ground, olympic sized or kidney shaped there is one very important element that cannot be overlooked if the swimming pool they choose is to remain alluring and enjoyable day after day - a good swimming pool pump.

What is a Swimming Pool Pump?

Most new or soon to be swimming pool owners know that they will need to add special swimming pool chemicals to the water in their pools to keep them nice and sanitary but alone those chemicals just are not enough. Water that does not move - stagnant water - quickly becomes germy, bacteria filled water however many chemicals you throw into it to it. A swimming pool pump keeps the water in a swimming pool circulating, helping to spread those chemicals around as well while also removing unwanted small debris from the pool so that the waters remain as clear as possible.

Choosing the Right Swimming Pool Pump

There are lots of different swimming pool pumps available for a pool owner to choose from and making the wrong choice can leave you with a swimming pool that no one wants to use! that’s why its important to put as much thought into which swimming pool pump you purchase as it is to which actual pool you choose. Here are some of the things that have to be taken into consideration:

Pool Size - The size of your pool refers not only just to how much square footage it occupies but also to how many gallons of water it holds. A large shallow pool may hold less water than a smaller, bur deeper pool so it is that measurement that it is important to know when you are shopping for swimming pool pumps. With that measurement you can calculate the pool’s flow rate which will then in turn help you buy a swimming pool pump that will keep the water in your pool nice and clean.

For the average residential swimming pool to remain in great shape the water in it should be completely circulated every 10 to 12  hours during the months that it is in use. As long as you know your pool’s capacity when you are choosing a swimming pool pump the salespeople will be able to help you choose the right one.

Power Level - Bigger is not always better when it comes to the power that a swimming pool pump packs. Too little power and the job won’t get done properly thats for sure but installing a swimming pool pump that is too powerful can seriously damage your pool. a pump that is too powerful can damage the pool filters and heaters and can even blow out plumbing, essentially putting the pool out of action altogether. Unfortunately many pool manufacturers use a more powerful pump as a selling point over their competition, leaving

Electricity costs play a part too when you consider how much power you want your swimming pool pump to pack. Most people leave their swimming pool pump running for most of the day during the months when the pool is in use and if you choose a pump that uses more juice than you needed to have done you are literally throwing money down the drain!

Doing the Math

  Although looking at the considerations above can give you a general idea about which pool pump will be best for your new pool to really get it right takes a little bit of math. The process of completely refreshing the pool water is known in the trade as the turnover. That is basically the amount of time it will take to move the water in your pool through the filtration process completely and the basic calculation goes like this:

 You have a smaller pool that holds 10,000 gallons of water (if that can be considered small) In order to keep it as clean as possible the water in it will need to go through two turnovers a day so that equals 20,000 gallons. Where it gets a little tricky is that a swimming pool pump’s capacity is actually measured in gallons per minute, not per hour. But that calculation is fairly easy as all you have to do is divide 20,000 by 24 which is roughly 833. Divide that hourly figure by 60 and you have your gallon per minute figure - which in this case is roughly 13.5 gallons per minute. After you have performed this calculation you can begin shopping for a swimming pool pump with this figure in mind.

The Cost to Run a Swimming Pool Pump

As previously touched upon the actual cost of the electricity needed to operate your swimming pool’s pump is not insignificant. Many residential swimming pools have a pump that is just too big. The average private backyard pool really only needs a .75 horsepower pump, yet many have one that is 1, 1.5 or even 2. Don’t think that makes much of a difference? Have a look at the chart below:

?Hours  
.5 HP
.75 HP
 1 HP
1.5 HP
  2 HP
4   
70
105
 133
 184
239
6    
105
157 
200
276
358
8   
140
209
 267
368
 477
10   
174
262
334
460 
 597
12    
209
314
400 
552
716
kWh per month - multiply by your electric rate for dollar figure 
Source: San Diego Gas & Electric Co.

As you can see the fact is that the horsepower rating of your pump can make a big difference to the cost of running it! So using the smallest possible swimming pool pump from this perspective is a must.

Saving Money on Pool Pumping Costs

Choosing a swimming pool pump with less horsepower is a good move but ther are other things you can do to cut the cost of keeping your pool safe and clean. The other big mistake that pool owners make is that they run their pool pump for too long. Some people even leave it running all the time in the summer rather than deal with the hassle of turning it on and off. Many people actually find that if they have a good pump they can cut the time they run it in half and still have nice clean water to swim in. If however that turns out not to be the case for you pool you can still save money by having a timer installed to your pump so that it turns itself on and off, working in short bursts at various points during the day, which is usually as efficient as having it run for hours continually.

You also need to make sure that you regularly check your pool’s intake grates doe larger pieces of debris (leaves etc) as a blocked grate causes you pump to have to work harder and therefore use more energy.

In Ground and Above Ground Pool Pumps

There are two types of residential swimming pool - in ground and above ground. In ground pools are permanent structures built into the land itself. A less expensive choice is an above ground pool. It can still be considered a permanent fixture but it sits on the ground, making the installation cost cheaper. The one thing the two types of pool have in common though is that they both still need a swimming pool pump to keep the water in them safe and pleasant to swim in.

In terms of the way they operate there are few differences between and in ground and above ground pool pump.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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• Above Ground Pool Pumps
• Using Your Pool Cover Pump
• How to Clean Dirty Pool Water