Now that I have my water balanced what do you recommend the minimum run time should be? My electric rates go up significantly next month. It’s a 2 speed but on slow speed it’s not powerful enough to prime
Pump run time
- Thread starter ethany
- Start date
- Jul 21, 2013
- 66,419
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Pump Basics - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
You should run the pump for a reason. Consider both speed and duration if you have a VS pump and automation. Reasons for running the pump can be:
- Mix chemicals: Low speed for 1/2 hour is fine for chlorine and acid additions. Salt, calcium, and stabilizer can require more circulation at higher speeds.
- SWG: Clean filter, lower speed until cell indicates "no flow," add 200RPM and run at that speed (the +200 allows for a dirty filter), for whatever duration you need for the % output of the SWG.
- Filter: Low speed is better for filtering. Filter long enough so you are happy with the water.
- Skim: Run the lowest speed that get you sufficient skimming. Run for long enough to get the results you want.
- Heater: Run at the speed that gives you enough flow for the heater and run for the duration you need to heat.
- Vacuum: sufficient RPM to operate the vacuum for as long as necessary to clean satisfactorily.
If you have an In Floor Cleaning Systems, your pump must run much longer at higher speeds.
So maybe I should run slow speed for now 24/7…… I’m done with stabilizer , might add Cal Cloride in near future waiting on test reagents
While @ajw22 responded with points for a variable speed pump, same logic applies for a 2 speed. Run on low, unless there is a specific need to go to high. If some of your items (SWCG, Heater, skimming) don't like the current low speed, then you are stuck a bit.
The current variable speed pumps are much more capable of saving huge amounts of energy. Google "pool pump energy calculator" and you will find several from manufacturers that will estimate optimal energy savings. Here's one:
Pool Pump Savings Calculator
Of course, they lean heavily on comparing worst to best, and don't have a lot of nuance, but still give a rough feel as to how much you can save. Payback can be in as little as 2 years. Might cost $850-$2000 (plus install, if needed), depending on whether you can (or are comfortable with) mixing brands. Many of us run on very slow 24/7, and the energy costs are really low ($20-25 per month, even with rates near yours!).
If you don't have automation of other things that need to be run, you can consider a cheaper option (~$500) of replacing just the motor on the pump with one that has 3 programmable settings (plus scheduled off times), that allow you to dial in a speed/time for each, which can realize the same cost savings. But depending on all your other items, may need other add-ons so everything plays well together. It is perhaps more DIY than you care to think about.
Start a new post if you want to pursue, and the experts here can get into the details of what choice would work the best for your pool.
The current variable speed pumps are much more capable of saving huge amounts of energy. Google "pool pump energy calculator" and you will find several from manufacturers that will estimate optimal energy savings. Here's one:
Pool Pump Savings Calculator
Of course, they lean heavily on comparing worst to best, and don't have a lot of nuance, but still give a rough feel as to how much you can save. Payback can be in as little as 2 years. Might cost $850-$2000 (plus install, if needed), depending on whether you can (or are comfortable with) mixing brands. Many of us run on very slow 24/7, and the energy costs are really low ($20-25 per month, even with rates near yours!).
If you don't have automation of other things that need to be run, you can consider a cheaper option (~$500) of replacing just the motor on the pump with one that has 3 programmable settings (plus scheduled off times), that allow you to dial in a speed/time for each, which can realize the same cost savings. But depending on all your other items, may need other add-ons so everything plays well together. It is perhaps more DIY than you care to think about.
Start a new post if you want to pursue, and the experts here can get into the details of what choice would work the best for your pool.
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