So, you have finally installed a pool in your backyard, and you are happy about it. However, installing a pool comes with its responsibilities, including inflated bills and daily maintenance. You have to run the pool pump every day to maintain the water and prevent stagnation. Pool pumps are the solution to sanitizing your pool water by circulating it through the filters and distributing chemicals.
The circulation sieves out debris, algae, and other bacteria from the pool while keeping it clean. However, despite the efficiency of a pool pump, there is always one question that bounces on the mind of all owners regarding the best time to run a pool pump. If you are grappling with running a pool pump in the summer, we provide some insight into the subject.
How long should a pool pump run in summer?
One of the main questions you will encounter with your pool pump regards how long it should run. The answer to this question is not entirely straightforward. Every person will have to select the best time based on their situation. Several factors should be considered when determining how long a pool pump will run, including cost, circulation, and chemical balancing.
The significant factor here is the cost of running a pool pump. Because the machines need electricity to function, you might encounter increased bills if you manage the pool pump poorly. Power companies charge different amounts for power, depending on how homeowners are spending.
The peak hours are when most users are using electricity in an area. During such times, you are likely to pay a premium for your power, which will be higher than during off-peak hours. The high cost will often affect how long you run the pool pump.
Factors such as the pool size and the type of pool pump come into light when discussing how long it takes the pool to run. For example, the size and efficiency of your pool pump, including its flow rate, will determine the speed of cycling the pool water.
A pool pump will have different turnover rates that explain how long it needs to complete a water cycle. Also, a large pool means more water to cycle and, therefore, takes more time to cycle the water through a filter.
Therefore, the time it takes to run a pool pump and complete a full cycle will vary. A typical turnover rate for an average pump running an average-sized residential pool is between 6 and 10 hours.
The average time is 8 hours a day for a residential swimming pool. It is also possible to run a pool pump for short periods throughout the day as opposed to running continuously during each filtration cycle. You will still get the same results by cleaning your pool when you run for short periods. The only caution is to keep checking the chemical balance in the water
Best time to run a pool pump
Putting cost into consideration, the best time to avoid running a pool pump is during peak hours of power use. You can determine the rate schedule of power use by calling your power company. Therefore, the best time to run a pool pump is when the cost of electricity is low.
This is possible in off-peak hours when the rate of electricity is low. The off-peak time is usually at night when people are asleep, and the electric charge is small. This means it will be cheaper to run your pool pump at this time as it is more efficient. For many people, this time entails 9 pm, and 8 am.
In this regard, many people will prefer running a pool pump at night due to off-peak hours. However, this is not always an effective strategy and may end up costing more time and money. While it may be cheaper running at the pool pump at night, the water temperature is low at this time, which means it will consume more power.
At the same time, nighttime is not the only off-peak time for power usage. If you can communicate with your power supplier, you can determine other times during the day when power usage is low, and charges are cheaper.
There are several reasons you should run your pool during the off-peak hours of the day than at night. Firstly, this is when most people are using the pool and therefore require frequent filtration.
Secondly, the pool water temperature during the day is warm and will not consume more voltages, thus saving on the costs. Another reason for running the pool pump during the day is to deal with the algae that tend to thrive under the sun.
Therefore, it is more efficient to run the pool pump during the day when the sun heats the pool, but during off-peak hours when the electricity rate is low.
How to turn on a pool pump
When operating a pool pump, it is essential to write a schedule that shows each day’s start and end times. A program can make a huge difference in how to manage a pool pump run by knowing what time of the day to start and stop the pool pump run.
At the same time, it is recommended to have an automatic pump time that will turn the pool pump on based on the pre-set time of the day. Such a machine can help maximize efficiency and convenience. An automatic timer will power your pool pump at the appropriate time, even in the absence, based on pre-set time or temperature.
How much does it cost to run a pool pump?
You can determine how much it costs to run a pool pump by calculating the electricity rates and the efficiency of a pool pump. The pool pumps are designed with different speed capabilities, which can help lower the pool bills.
When calculating the cost, start by finding the pool pump’s voltage which can be high, moderate, or low. Secondly, look at the amperage ratings of your pool to determine the total watts by multiplying with the voltage.
After finding the kilowatts of your pool pump, you can multiply by the hours you run your pool pump and the price of your electric bill to determine the cost.
What rpm should I run my variable speed pool pump?
When managing a swimming pool, it is also crucial to understand the concept of variable speed pumps. This is the way to do it when you want to save money on your energy bill.
It helps lower the rpm to the minimum speed needed to turn water and maintain your pool equipment. There are times of the day when electricity is cheaper with fluctuating electricity rates.
Therefore, the best setup for a variable speed pump lies in determining how long it can run at high and low speeds. It would help if you balanced between the length of time and RPG. It is not ideal to can run the variable speed pump at 3450 RPMs for 24 hours a day.
Therefore, you have to divide into different times based on the peak and off-peak hours. For example, you can set for high speed between 4 am, and 5 am, which are non-peak hours, and set a low rate between 12 pm and 6 pm, which are peak hours.
Should a pool pump run consistently?
Another critical question with pool management is how often to run a pool pump. In an ideal world, your pool pump should run continuously every day and all day. However, this will most likely contribute to a higher bill power that may eat into your monthly expenditure. Therefore, while running a pool pump continuously is the best idea, it is not necessary.
The focus should be on keeping your pool clean and safe by customizing the pool pump to circulate the water at intervals. The recommendation is to filter the pool water at least once every 24 hours. This means sifting once a day is safe unless the pool is used heavily.
Calculating the most effective runtime for a pool pump relies on its flow rate and size. The flow rate is determined by the manual or label on the pool, which can be 2600 gallons per hour. To calculate how many hours you should run a pool, you need to find its turnover rate by dividing the pool size by its pumps’ flow rate.
How does a pool pump work?
Pool pumps may come in different designs, but they work in the same way regardless of shape and size. This means you can easily manage them to keep your pool safe and sound. The devices work by pulling water from a swimming pool and pushing it back through a filtration system.
The purpose of having a pool pump is to keep your backyard pool clean and thus safe to use. If you leave water in your pool to stagnate, then it risks growing algae and all kinds of yucky stuff. This filtration and circulation of water in a swimming pool is vital to its health.
Conclusion
Running your pool pump is one of the crucial aspects when it comes to managing your pool. However, you must determine the best time to run the pool pump and how long it should run. Based on this discussion, the best time to run your pool pump is hours in a day if you have an average-size pool.
While longer filtration cycles result in cleaner water, it is also associated with high electricity costs. Running a pool pump is not the only thing needed to maintain its safety.
You will also need to learn about the appropriate balancing of water chemistry. This article has focused on running a pool pump on residential pools within your backyard as opposed to commercial pools. With a commercial pool, you will need more water cycles in a day to achieve the same effect.