How long do I need to run my pool pump?
The “How Long to Run a Pool Pump” Dilemma
The ideal answer to this question is all day, every day, all year, all the time, forever.
And then go out and get two more jobs because your electric bill is going to be ridiculous if you do that.
So, while that would be ideal, it’s not practical, or even remotely necessary. We must understand our pool pump’s purpose.
What Does a Pool Pump Do?
If the water in your pool did not move, it would quickly become a stagnant swamp, host to algae, bugs, and all kinds of other yucky stuff. One of the most important factors in keeping your pool clean and swimmable is pool circulation. And that is generated by the pump, which is the first component of your pool’s filtration system.
The pool pump pulls water in from your drains/skimmer in the swimming pool, and then pushes it out through the filter. No matter what kind of filter you have, it only works if water moves through it. That’s how the filter is able to capture debris and bacteria.
The industry standard for turnover rate (how long it takes to circulate the entire volume of the pool) is 2-3 times per day. Your average 1hp pool pump pumps around 80gpm. Means it will take a 1hp pump an average of 8 hours to turn over a 12,000-gallon pool 3 times a day.
When Should You Run Your Pool Pump?
Just as important as how long to run a pool pump is when to run it. In Florida most pools should run at least 8-12 hours per day. But is that consecutive hours? Daylight? Nighttime? What are we talking about here?
Running Your Pool Pump During Non-Peak Hours
Did you know the rate you pay for electricity changes throughout the day? It’s based on what electric providers call peak hours, meaning when more people are using more power, and putting more strain on the grid.
Peak hours vary from location to location. For example, in warmer climates, peak hours most likely correlate to when people have their air-conditioning cranked, maybe late afternoon or early evening when people are getting home from work and turning up the A/C.
All it takes is a call to your provider to find out the peak hours where you live. Once you know that, try to schedule your pool pump run time around those hours if your concerned about keeping your costs lower.
Running Your Pool from Sunrise to Sunset
It may seem logical to have the pump running during the day, while people are swimming in it, so the water stays clean. And that’s a good thought. But consider a couple of other things too.
Those non-peak hours your utility has may be at night, especially if you live in a warm climate where people are more likely to run their air-conditioning during the day.
You can make this easy on yourself by get multiple timer pins to turn the pump on and off at the right times. For example, running from 8am-1pm, and then again at 6-9pm. You are getting your 8 hours of runtime, while avoiding peak demand charges.
So, in summary. A minimum of 8-12 hours of runtime in southwest Florida is recommended but keeping out of peak demand times is ideal. Feel free to reach out with any questions, or if you’re interested optimizing your pools runtime!