Reducing Pump Run Time

[beautifulpool]

Pool pumps are designed to run continuously. Before he upgraded to a variable speed pump (which I had a heck of a time convincing him to do) my father ran his single speed IG pump continuously from April to October every year for the better part of a decade.

I’ve heard people in the industry, (exceptions being for pools already battling issues) as long as you circulate your gallons, at least 1 time completely each day, as long as water maintains clarity and chemistry balance
It’s ok to cut back on run time?
I was at 12 hours p/day June-Aug
Been at 7 hours p/day in September
Can’t see any downside so far
Trying to cut back high electricity
No- Can’t afford new V/S pump
my My single speed 15 yrs plus pump ..... it’s still going ....
I may cut back to 4 hours Nov-Feb
What say you?

 

[homegameroom]

There's a pool school article for that too - Determine Pump Run Time - Trouble Free Pool

I run mine about 3 hours a day (pretty much year round). It's a single speed pump with a SWG. I've had no issues and don't really feel that changing to a different pump would save me much for my setup (and my electric is pretty cheap). Your mileage may vary....

 

[mknauss]

I’ve heard people in the industry, (exceptions being for pools already battling issues) as long as you circulate your gallons, at least 1 time completely each day, as long as water maintains clarity and chemistry balance

That is a myth.

Read the article linked in the post by homegameroom.

 

[beautifulpool]

That is a myth.

Read the article linked in the post by homegameroom.

Thank you so much. I
And great article by the way.
What part is the myth?

 

[mknauss]

What part is the myth?

Turnover.

You run your pump to generate or distribute the chlorine and skim the surface.

 

[SteelBlue]

After reading this article several months ago, I cut back to 4 hours a day (at high speed on my variable speed pump). Mind you, this took place during the hottest time of year, in Arizona no less. My pool has remained crystal clear. I test the water almost daily.

 

[TBSNPS]

I have been running my pump 4 hours daily all summer, pool crystal clear with TFP method. I add chlorine manually in the morning while enjoying my coffee. I'm retired.My electricity is inexpensive with SMUD, costs me 10 cents per hour in summer, less in winter months. I brush every 3 -5 days and remove leaves as needed. The pressure gauge on my DE filter has risen almost one pound since May.

 

[HeyEng]

3 hours a day here...no issues at all. It runs 1.5 hoirs in the AM and 1.5 in the evening when I add chems (if needed). Pool has looked great all season.

 

[Lilypad]

2.5hrs.+/- here. Small pool, so after reading same article I backed it way down to see what would happen. Figured I could always increase it if it needed more run time. Pool has been pristine all summer. Testing 2-3 x week and adding chlorine etc. as needed. Electric bills are down. We run the pump if we're in it or want to enjoy the water moving. Otherwise, it's running to mix chems, push debris to the skimmers and filter small debris. And all those years I was running it for 8 hrs. a day. Live and learn! (The TFP way!)