Traditional single speed swimming pool pumps consistently use as much as 1,800 to 2,500 watts while running. Variable speed pumps use just as much energy when they are running at full speed, but because their speeds vary throughout the day, they often operate at a much lower energy level, averaging 50 to 500 watts.
Do pool pumps use a lot of electricity? In fact, a pool pump will consume between 3,000 and 5,000 KWh per year, which translates to between $480 to $800, based on the national average electricity rate of 16 cents per KWh.
In fact, due to the high energy costs, even with an energy efficient in-ground single speed swimming pool pump, it would still cost a fortune to run it 24-hours a day. Some commercial properties require 24-hour a day pump circulation, but as a homeowner, this is not advisable.
Take daily cost and multiply by how many days per year you operate your pump. $2.91 cost per day x 365 days = $1,062.15 per year to operate your 1-½ HP pool pump.
Every pool must turn over at least once a day, so most pool pumps should run approximately 8 hours a day. But here's the thing: you don't have to run your pool pump consecutively. You can choose to run it for three hours in the morning before you leave for work and another 5 hours in the evening.
Running the pump at night should only be when you are doing a major chemical treatment such as algae clean-up. Your pool is more vulnerable during the day, plants don't grow at night the way they do during the day–that's true of ALL plants including Algae.
It's often recommended to run your pool pump during the evening or at night as these are outside of peak times. However, the most important thing is ensuring your water stays clean, so if you prefer to run it during the day and when the pool is in use, that's perfectly fine too.
It's best to run your pool pump during the day
Not only does sunlight give fuel for algae to grow, it also destroys your pool chlorine and this is why you should always run your pool during the day!
That's around 24 kWh per day, or around 720 kWh per month, just running only 10 hors per day. During the heat of the summer, many pumps need to run longer to maintain clear water.
180 hours times 1.679 kilowatts = 302.22 KWH. Assume your electric utility charges $0.14 per KWH. You simply multiply your total kilowatt hours 302.22 X the rate of $0.14 to discover you will pay $42.31 for the month to run your pump motor.
Keeping your Pool its Cleanest Requires the Pool Pump to be Running. Not running the pump 24/7 is also a sanitary issue, and is the primary cause of a murky pool. The moment you turn off your water pump, debris, algae and bacteria start to build up, which can eventually lead to cloudy or green water.
Filter Is Replaced Weekly (Ideally)
Pool pumps run constantly when the water is in motion, so it's important to turn them off while swimming to prolong the life of your pump and filter.
Yes you can turn your pool pump off for a week. You can turn it off for a month, but there are consequences. The pool will get dirty—no pump, no filtering. The chemicals will not circulate and the water could start turning a nice shade of green as algae forms.
Single-speed pool pumps are large and typical in conventional swimming pools. A one-speed pump has a less efficient motor that operates at a higher speed, increasing energy usage. They are also noisy and produce substantial carbon emissions. Pool pumps are the leading contributors to high energy consumption by pools.
On average, you should run your pool pump around 6-8 hours per day during winter and 10-12 hours per day during summer. Note that you need to run your pool pump longer during summer because algae grow more in warm temperatures.
The rule of thumb is generally 8 hours, although it could be anywhere from 6-12 hours, depending on your pool's size. Each pool is unique, so to keep your pool pump efficient and effective, you need to figure out exactly what your pool's turnover rate is.
For an average-sized swimming pool of about 16,000 gallons, owners can expect to save about $50 to $60 per month on their energy bill, and those with larger swimming pools could be looking at well over $100 per month in pump energy savings.
Scheduling your pump to run at a lower RPM for most of the day (approximately 18 to 22 hours) reduces your energy costs and is much quieter. For an average pool, set the speed between 1,500 RPM and 2,000 RPM. You'll want to run your pump at a higher RPM for approximately two to four hours every day.
It's often recommended to shock your pool once a week. If you don't do it every week, you should at least do it every other week. This is necessary to maintain your pool's water chemistry. If you have a lot of people over in your pool or have a party, you may want to shock your pool more frequently.
On average, a pool pump motor can last between 8 and 10 years before it needs to be replaced. If you hear a noise, such as screeching, humming, or even no noise at all, these are warnings that something has to be done. Alternatively, your pool pump should last about 60 months on average.
There is no need to turn off your circulation system during a rain storm. We need the chemicals to still work and want the dirt and debris to be filtered out just like under normal circumstances. Never try to change settings on the pool pump or at the timer when it is raining.
A typical pool pump uses about 1 kilowatt (kWh) per hour, putting it on par with running a 100-watt light bulb continuously for 10 hours.
Cold temperatures on their own don't really do much harm to the elements of a pool motor (copper, plastic, steel, etc.). It's the moisture that goes along with the cold that usually does damage. Some pool technicians don't feel as though storing the pump indoors actually prolongs motor life.