I have a variable speed pump and was thinking about running my pump from about 8am to 4pm, have it stop, and then kick back on from about 9pm to 11:30pm. The reason why is because in Southern California, electricity costs go up significantly during the hours of 4pm-9pm. Does breaking up the pump run times like this do anything? Is this sort of thing recommended? Or does it even matter and I'm worrying about basically nothing? Yes, I'm just a dump pool owner that doesn't know what he's doing.
Variable Speed Pump & When to Run Pump
- Thread starter poolman4000
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4000,
VS pumps cost very little to run at low RPMs. At 1200 RPM, my pump uses about 165 watts. Newer VS pump use even less power.
You just need to run your pump for a reason. Not just to run for a set number of hours.
You generally run a pump to generate chlorine from either a Saltwater Chlorine Generator (SWCG) or to dissolve chlorine tablets.
The other reason to run your pump is to skim the water surface.
Not sure how long that would take for you, but I suspect that 8 am until 4 pm would be plenty of time.
Why do you think you have to run your pump so long???
Thanks,
Jim R.
VS pumps cost very little to run at low RPMs. At 1200 RPM, my pump uses about 165 watts. Newer VS pump use even less power.
You just need to run your pump for a reason. Not just to run for a set number of hours.
You generally run a pump to generate chlorine from either a Saltwater Chlorine Generator (SWCG) or to dissolve chlorine tablets.
The other reason to run your pump is to skim the water surface.
Not sure how long that would take for you, but I suspect that 8 am until 4 pm would be plenty of time.
Why do you think you have to run your pump so long???
Thanks,
Jim R.
kul
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- Oct 1, 2021
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Hi for reference I live in the SF valley area and I run my pump 4 hours a day (7-11am) at 2400 RPM. I don’t have a SWG so this is to do some skimming and just move the water around 
@kul - 4 hours a day is all!? That's amazing!! And you don't get issues with algae? I would think that having your water be stagnant for all that time your pump isn't running would cause issues?
@Jimrahbe - Before I started servicing my own pool, I was told by my pool guy that you need to recirculate your water at least once a day. While running the pump at very low RPM's definitely saves water, I don't think I would be able to recirculate enough of the water. Is this just Bull my pool guy was feeding me? For reference, I have a DE filter and I use liquid chlorine to sanitize my pool.
@Jimrahbe - Before I started servicing my own pool, I was told by my pool guy that you need to recirculate your water at least once a day. While running the pump at very low RPM's definitely saves water, I don't think I would be able to recirculate enough of the water. Is this just Bull my pool guy was feeding me? For reference, I have a DE filter and I use liquid chlorine to sanitize my pool.
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- May 3, 2014
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- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
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kul
Bronze Supporter
- Oct 1, 2021
- 1,434
- Pool Size
- 15000
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- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Nope, no algae to date. I keep all my levels within TFP guidelines. If we are using the pool I turn the pump on during that time as well.
@mknauss - Okay, so if I'm using liquid chlorine, do I just need to run the pump when I add chlorine? And then of course for skimming? And it makes sense it was Bull for reasons I don't need to get into here.
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- May 3, 2014
- 62,672
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
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- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
yes. Typically at least 30-60 minutes to be sure it is very well mixed. Most pools should run the pump about 4 hours per day during swim season, at a minimum, to keep the surface skimmed. YMMV.
When you were told by the 'pool guy' you needed to run the pump a long time, were you using trichlor (pucks)? Those do need pump run time (same as a SWCG) to erode the pucks enough to add some chlorine each day. It typically is not enough to keep the FC at the right ratio with the CYA, but it does add chlorine.
Yes, they were using trichlor pucks. So that makes sense. When you say 4 hours per day, would the RPM's need to be high like the above comments (2400 RPM)? Or is the speed irrelevant and it's just about circulation?
- May 3, 2014
- 62,672
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Pretty irrelevant. Whatever speed you need to skim the surface.
Again, if that amount of time is not sufficient to skim or filter the pool, run the pump longer. That run time can dramatically change throught the year. In winter, depending on your conditions, it may only need to run a couple hours a week. All depends.
4000,
This is called "Turnovers".. The idea that you have to turn over your pool water X times a day, to prevent algae, is just a myth. Your filter is there to capture the junk that falls into your pool and floats. By the time your filter starts capturing any algae, you have already lost the war. Chemicals, (Chlorine and CYA) are what keeps your pool algae free, not the number of times the water passes through your filter.
Thanks,
Jim R.