Another "what pump to get" question

[PoolCleanerMom]

our current pump/filter setup is a Hayward S244S Sand Filter with Franklin Electric 0.75 HP motor and WhisperFlo WFE-3 pump (this was already here when we bought the house in 2006) and we're contemplating replacing the pump with a more energy-efficient one (we're in CA and during the summer time the pump is our mail electrical consumer. Our electrical rate for the 131-200% of baseline is now about $0.30/Kwh compared to about $0.13/Kwh baseline and $0.15/Kwh for 101-130% of baseline).

Our pool is about 17K gallon with one return and one skimmer and one cleaner port (main drain was voided when we resurfaced b/c of a leak somewhere in that portion of the line). No spas, no water features - just the basic rectangle full of water LOL.

So in your expert opinions, is it worth getting a variable speed pump (PG&E offers a $100 rebate) or would a 2-speed be enough? Current pump has an old-school intermatic-style mechanical timer so one thing we'd like on a new pump would be a programmable setup.

Thanks!

 

[jblizzle]

Re: Another "what pump to get" question

With rates that high and getting a rebate, a VS likely would only cost a few hundred more upfront and that would include a built in digital timer and speed control. With the 2 speed, you may have to spend another $100+ to then get something to control the speeds automatically if you do not want to throw the switch manually. The mechanical timers are bulletproof and many prefer them over the digital ones that may fail being in the environment.

Do you have a lot of different water flow requirements that warrant the VS? Maybe not, but in your case with high rates, a rebate, and a desire for a new timer (maybe not needed), then the VS likely makes sense.

Posted from my Droid with Tapatalk ... sorry if my response is short

 

[Christian]

If it were me, I'd go with the Pentair Intelliflo 011018 VS pump. Efficient and reliable. Also has the programmable features you want.