New build Pool pump advice...is it good enough?

Captchaos · Jul 25, 2018

I just went through this, but with Jandy equipment. I have a single speed 2HP filter pump, separate 1HP pump for my waterfall, no spa, no heater, and no SWG. I really wanted a variable speed pump from the getgo, but the upgrade was $1200 during the build. In my quick research, buying the single speed pump was roughly $450. Buying the variable speed pump was about $950. To me, this should have been a $500ish upgrade so I declined the builder's upgrade and ran the single speed for about 4 weeks. The builder did not install a timer and recommends running the pump 24x7. I ran the pump 24x7 for about a week, until the water was clear. I then went to an 8 hour schedule using a Zwave switch that measured energy usage. After about 3 weeks of that, I got a variable speed pump. Here is a comparison of energy usage for both pumps:

Variable speed pump:

Schedule	RPM	Hours	kWh	Cost Daily	Cost Monthly
12p-5p	800	5	0.046	0.03059
8a-9:30a	2500	1.5	0.945	0.1885275
7p-10p	2500	3	0.945	0.377055
12a-3a	600	3	0.035	0.013965
		12.5		0.6101375	$18.30

Compared to my old single stage pump:

8a-9a	3150	1	1.92	0.25536
12p-4p	3150	4	1.92	1.02144
7p-10p	3150	3	1.92	0.76608
		8		2.04288	$61.29

End result and recommendation? Upgrade to a variable speed pump from the getgo if the cost is reasonable. For you with a SWG, you should absolutely have a variable speed pump because of your likely longer run times. I will likely add a SWG in the somewhat near future so that played into my decision as well. I found that the above keeps my pool very clean so far as well, but it's only been a week so I am still experimenting with speeds.

If the cost is not reasonable (like, say, $1200), it will take some time to recoup the costs even with the energy savings.

jenlov9 · Jul 25, 2018

Captchaos said:
I just went through this, but with Jandy equipment. I have a single speed 2HP filter pump, separate 1HP pump for my waterfall, no spa, no heater, and no SWG. I really wanted a variable speed pump from the getgo, but the upgrade was $1200 during the build. In my quick research, buying the single speed pump was roughly $450. Buying the variable speed pump was about $950. To me, this should have been a $500ish upgrade so I declined the builder's upgrade and ran the single speed for about 4 weeks. The builder did not install a timer and recommends running the pump 24x7. I ran the pump 24x7 for about a week, until the water was clear. I then went to an 8 hour schedule using a Zwave switch that measured energy usage. After about 3 weeks of that, I got a variable speed pump. Here is a comparison of energy usage for both pumps:

Variable speed pump:

Schedule RPM Hours kWh Cost Daily Cost Monthly
12p-5p 800 5 0.046 0.03059
8a-9:30a 2500 1.5 0.945 0.1885275
7p-10p 2500 3 0.945 0.377055
12a-3a 600 3 0.035 0.013965
12.5 0.6101375 $18.30

Compared to my old single stage pump:

8a-9a 3150 1 1.92 0.25536
12p-4p 3150 4 1.92 1.02144
7p-10p 3150 3 1.92 0.76608
8 2.04288 $61.29

End result and recommendation? Upgrade to a variable speed pump from the getgo if the cost is reasonable. For you with a SWG, you should absolutely have a variable speed pump because of your likely longer run times. I will likely add a SWG in the somewhat near future so that played into my decision as well. I found that the above keeps my pool very clean so far as well, but it's only been a week so I am still experimenting with speeds.

If the cost is not reasonable (like, say, $1200), it will take some time to recoup the costs even with the energy savings.

Thank you! that is really helpful!! Saving this!

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Captchaos said:
I just went through this, but with Jandy equipment. I have a single speed 2HP filter pump, separate 1HP pump for my waterfall, no spa, no heater, and no SWG. I really wanted a variable speed pump from the getgo, but the upgrade was $1200 during the build. In my quick research, buying the single speed pump was roughly $450. Buying the variable speed pump was about $950. To me, this should have been a $500ish upgrade so I declined the builder's upgrade and ran the single speed for about 4 weeks. The builder did not install a timer and recommends running the pump 24x7. I ran the pump 24x7 for about a week, until the water was clear. I then went to an 8 hour schedule using a Zwave switch that measured energy usage. After about 3 weeks of that, I got a variable speed pump. Here is a comparison of energy usage for both pumps:

Variable speed pump:

Schedule RPM Hours kWh Cost Daily Cost Monthly
12p-5p 800 5 0.046 0.03059
8a-9:30a 2500 1.5 0.945 0.1885275
7p-10p 2500 3 0.945 0.377055
12a-3a 600 3 0.035 0.013965
12.5 0.6101375 $18.30

Compared to my old single stage pump:

8a-9a 3150 1 1.92 0.25536
12p-4p 3150 4 1.92 1.02144
7p-10p 3150 3 1.92 0.76608
8 2.04288 $61.29

End result and recommendation? Upgrade to a variable speed pump from the getgo if the cost is reasonable. For you with a SWG, you should absolutely have a variable speed pump because of your likely longer run times. I will likely add a SWG in the somewhat near future so that played into my decision as well. I found that the above keeps my pool very clean so far as well, but it's only been a week so I am still experimenting with speeds.

If the cost is not reasonable (like, say, $1200), it will take some time to recoup the costs even with the energy savings.

So, from my quick math calculations based on your chart, *IF* the cost difference is only $500, I would recoup that savings in a year's time. Two, if it's $1,000. Correct? What's the general life of a pump?

jblizzle · Jul 25, 2018

Pump should last 5-10+ years

Remember your electrical costs in LA are different than in MD, so recoup time may be more or less.

Captchaos · Jul 25, 2018

Yes, I knew I forgot something. My electricity costs are $0.133 per kilowatt hour (taxes and all). Also note that I am running 12.5 hours per day. I think that is more than I need but I like a really clean pool. You can even adjust the schedule more if your SWG will allow lower flow. I've read that some allow as low as 700 RPM but that will depend on a lot of things.

jenlov9 · Jul 25, 2018

jblizzle said:
Pump should last 5-10+ years

Remember your electrical costs in LA are different than in MD, so recoup time may be more or less.

I just checked my bill, and just the fuel adjustment charge is $.02975/kwh. hmmmm...

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Captchaos said:
Yes, I knew I forgot something. My electricity costs are $0.133 per kilowatt hour (taxes and all). Also note that I am running 12.5 hours per day. I think that is more than I need but I like a really clean pool. You can even adjust the schedule more if your SWG will allow lower flow. I've read that some allow as low as 700 RPM but that will depend on a lot of things.

My bill is broken up into energy charge, bunch of other junk and $.02975 fuel adjustment charge.

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Just a quick google search told me that Maryland electricity costs almost twice as much yearly as Louisiana. Sooo....maybe not so much savings for me afterall.

Captchaos · Jul 25, 2018

Here there are taxes, mandatory participation in a subsidizing energy efficient devices fund, distribution, etc. I just take the whole bill and divide it by the number of kWh I used in that month.

jenlov9 · Jul 25, 2018

Captchaos said:
Here there are taxes, mandatory participation in a subsidizing energy efficient devices fund, distribution, etc. I just take the whole bill and divide it by the number of kWh I used in that month.

Ok, doing that, I came up with $.09505/kwh. Of course, this was August 2017 b/c for some reason, all other energy bills have disappeared...lol. I guess my husband may have switched to paperless billing.

Captchaos · Jul 25, 2018

jenlov9 said:
Ok, doing that, I came up with $.09505/kwh. Of course, this was August 2017 b/c for some reason, all other energy bills have disappeared...lol. I guess my husband may have switched to paperless billing.

Yes your rates are quite a bit lower than mine. It will take awhile to recoup the cost, but it also gives you more flexibility to run the pump longer if desired.

You may also want to look into two speed pumps. Those are a nice middle ground between single speed and variable speed pumps with close to variable-speed-pump-savings.