Pump questions

[survivalcar]

I have a Hayward pump that the local pool guy told me to run 24/7. It's a 30,000 gallon pool and sadly, it's not used that often (we don't have kids, but our friends' kids come over sometimes).

Is there any reason for that thing to run around the clock? We're in the woods and occasionally there's a lot of leaves after a windy day but for the most part the only thing pushing down the FC is the sun.

It's got a weird, big 3-pronged plug and I did some Googling about a timer for that sort of thing but I don't know enough about it to phrase the question properly.

Anyone have any idea if I need to run this thing around the clock? Or any experience with a 30,000 gallon pool running say, half the time, and whether it will suffice and what might be the expected drop in my electric bill?

I've lived here for 13 years and I'm just now re-learning the science of the pool thanks to you guys.

Thanks

Chris

 

[mknauss]

Pool School - Determine Pump Run Time

You should install a timer to control the pump.

How do you chlorinate the pool?

 

[sktn77a]

24/7 is probably costing you over $150 a month. I wouldn't go over 12 hours a day and maybe even less.

 

[survivalcar]

Thanks to you guys, doing it now with LC.

- - - Updated - - -

I see things like this Which Pool Timer Do I Need? and it doesn't look like something I can install myself. Or are there other options? Should I call an electrician? My local pool guy doesn't sell them.

 

[mknauss]

An electrician is a good idea.

 

[survivalcar]

Or, in the meantime, if I just decide to manually turn it off and myself, is it best to turn it off at night? My guess is the most optimum situation with a timer is to run it intermittently, like 3 hours on/3 hours off etc. or the like. Yes?

 

[mknauss]

You can run it for as long as you want then turn it off yourself.

How do you chlorinate the pool?

 

[survivalcar]

With LC. But if I'm turning it off myself, I would assume a couple things which may or may not be true, such as

1. Maybe it should be running after adding stuff like CL or MA, etc.?

2. Maybe it's less important to circulate at night? The pool is covered with a solar cover at night that we use to preserve the heat (it's New England).

 

[mknauss]

Good information!

So, yes, you should circulate the pool for at least 30 minutes after adding any chemical.

It would be best to not run it at night if you want to conserve heat in the water.

Start with running it 8 hours per day. If things are still OK, go to 6 hours. Repeat until you decide you need to run it longer.

From a chemistry standpoint, you only need an hour or so a day of circulation.

 

[SUNOFTHEBEACH]

I have a timer and run my pool for 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening. that's it. 24,000 gunite pool with a cartridge filter and it stays clear.

 

[Avitron]

Maybe a stupid question but if you have a heater, does the pump need to run 24/7?

 

[mknauss]

Heater will only run when the pump is pushing water at whatever rate is required by the heater.