On average, you should run your pool pump around 6-8 hours per day during winter and 10-12 hours per day during summer.
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!
As much as you can
If your question is “How often should I run my pump to keep the pool at its best?” the answer would be 24/7 for as much of the year as the pool is in operation.
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.
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.
Avoid running the pump during “on-peak” hours.
Make sure your pool pump isn't running from 3-7 p.m. in the summer. Those hours coincide with peak energy demand when energy costs are higher. Program your pump to turn off at 3 p.m. and then on again at 7 p.m., if necessary.
If you want to save on your energy costs, you can run your pool pump at night to avoid peak hours. You can run your pool pump overnight while your swimming pool is not being used. This way, you get to wake up to a clean swimming pool the next day!
Do You Run a Pool Pump While Swimming? While you can run your pump while taking a dip, it is not necessary so long as it has been running recently enough to ensure the water is clean and debris-free.
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.
Water circulation is important for a healthy and safe swimming pool. A pool with proper circulation has fewer issues with cloudy water or pool algae. Keeping your pump and filter system running for at least 8 to 12 hours is the best way to keep your pool safe and clean.
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.
So how long should the average pool pump run during the summer? To make this process simple, it easier for homeowners to follow this basic guideline: for every 10 degrees of outdoor temperature run your pump for one hour. So if the average temperature is 60 degrees, run your pump for 6 hours.
Just as important as how long you run your pool pump is when you run it. You know you need to turn over your pool water in 6-12 hours – but that doesn't mean 6-12 consecutive hours. To save money on your electric bill, opt to run your pool pump during non-peak hours when electricity costs the least.
For energy efficiency best time to run the pool's filtration system is during off-peak hours when the electricity demand is lower. This time is typically between 8 p.m. - 10 a.m. Also, to warm the pool you can run it during the day, to cool it at night.
It's important that when you're using your pool often, like during the summer, you run your filter at least 12 hours a day to clean out the dirt, grime, and other debris that gets in and out of the pool with your swimmers. Running your filter for 12 hours daily will help keep the water clear and the pool looking great.
It Should Not Be Done Together
This is because when you mix chlorine and algaecide together, it renders both of them useless. Hence, you should first shock the pool and wait for the chlorine levels to fall below 5 PPM. Only then should you introduce algaecide to get the best results.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I SHOCK MY POOL? Shocking your pool regularly will help to keep the water clean and free of contaminants. You should aim to shock your pool about once a week, with the additional shock after heavy use. Some tell-tale signs that your pool needs to be shocked are cloudy, foamy, green, or odourous water.
Chlorine is a sanitizer, and (unless you use Baquacil products) is necessary for maintaining a clear and healthy pool. Shock is chlorine, in a high dose, meant to shock your pool and raise the chlorine level quickly.
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.
Absolutely! A cover does nothing to interfere with the water circulating through your system. It doesn't touch your pump or any other piece of equipment you have. When your pool is covered during these winter months, you can run it less, thus protecting the pump from premature aging.