If you're lucky enough to own a swimming pool, you understand how important it is to keep it clean and free of debris. While sweeping and using a net to clean the pool are a good start, they take time and are only so effective. The best way to keep your pool clean and ready to go is with a pool pump.
It's important to run your pool pump as often as necessary to keep your pool in good condition. However, running the pump too long may be unnecessary and can lead to premature wear and tear on your pump. It will also consume more electricity, which will increase your utility bills. Therefore, it's necessary to find a happy medium and only run your pump as much as necessary.
If you're wondering how to do this, you've come to the right place. This article will examine general rules of thumb for how often to run your pool pump as well as how to calculate run time down to the minute. We'll also look at why your pump is so important and why it's important not to over or underuse it.
The Role of Your Pool Pump
Your pool pump is one of the most important components to having a clean and healthy swimming pool. It serves the same function as an air filter does on your HVAC system, in that its job is to remove dirt, particles, and other debris from your pool.
Pool pumps do this by keeping water circulating throughout your pool through suction and propulsion. As the pump is running, it sucks water into itself and passes it through a filter inside the pump. The pool filter removes debris and dirt and forces water back out the other side. The water is then recirculated into the pool, and the process repeats.
However, most pool pumps operate continuously once they are switched on. They do not automatically turn on or off based on the cleanliness of the water. Instead, pool owners need to manually control when their pumps are turned on and off.
Why You Don't Want to Keep Your Pump Running Continuously
If you let your pool pump run non-stop, you'll certainly have the cleanest swimming pool in your neighborhood. However, you'll also have the highest electric bill because even the best variable speed pump will use more electricity. Additionally, running your pool pump longer won't result in cleaner water because your pool water can only get so clean.
Finally, pool pumps have a finite lifespan that's measured in hours. The more you use your pump, the more wear and tear it will receive, and the sooner it will give out. Therefore, if you don't want to replace or repair your pool pump every couple of years, it's important to understand your pool pump run time and only use it when necessary.
Factors That Affect How Often You Should Run Your Pool Pump
The pump run time will be different for every pump and pool, depending on a number of factors, including:
Pool Volume
It goes without saying that the bigger your pool is and the more water it has, the longer your pump will need to run. Swimming pools with more water will take longer to clean, which means longer run times each time you use your pump, along with having to run it more often.
Pump Size
Next up, you need to consider how big your pump is. The larger your pump is, the more water it will be able to circulate at any given time, and the less frequently you will need to run it. However, that doesn't mean you should go and buy a massive pump for a tiny pool because it will cost way too much and won't necessarily save money on your electric bill since bigger pumps use more power.
State of the Pool
How clean your dirty pool gets will also affect pool pump run time. If you live in an area with trees, heavy winds, or pollen, you will need to run your pump more often. However, if it stays relatively clean and you have a pool cage to keep out most debris, you can run your pump sparingly.
How Often You Use the Pool
Lastly, the more often you use your swimming pool, the more often you should run your pool pump. More use means more debris, dirt, and other contaminants.
How Long You Should Run Your Pool Pump: Calculating Running Time
The general rule of thumb for pool pump run time is around 8 hours a day. However, because all pools and pumps are different, it's important to be more precise with your run time. The key to doing this is to calculate your pool's turnover rate and volume, as well as your pool pump's flow rate. Here's how to do that:
1. Start by determining how many gallons of water are in your pool. You can find your pool's volume by contacting the installer or manufacturer and asking them.
2. Next, use the rule of thumb of 8 hours as the turnover rate.
3. If you don't know your pump's flow rate, which you likely won't, you can calculate it by dividing the pool's volume by the turnover rate by 60. For instance, if you have a 10,000-gallon pool, you determine the flow rate as follows: 10,000 divided by 8 divided by 60 = a flow rate of 21 gallons per hour.
4. Finally, we can calculate how long you should run your pool pump each day using the following formula: Pump Flow Rate (21) x 60 = 1,260 gallons per hour. Total pool volume (10,000 gallons) divided by gallons per hour (1,260) = a run time of 7.9 hours a day.
Times You Should Not Run Your Pool Pump
While it's important to run a pool pump as often as needed, there are certain times you want your pump turned off. It's also important to understand that you can break up your pump's run time however you need to. In other words, you don't have to run it for 8 hours straight.
While it will vary from person to person, the best time to run a pool pump is generally in the evening during off-peak hours when the pool isn't in use. That way, you can enjoy your pool without the loud humming of the pump and gurgling of the water. However, there's really no bad time to operate your pool pump as long as you run it long enough for one turnover cycle.