Amount of Time to Run Your Pool Pump - The first thing to look at is how long your pump is running per day. If you do not own a timer, get one. Click here for our
pool timers. Swimming pool pumps should be run an average 8 hours a day to properly circulate and clean your water. The pump should push your entire pool in gallons in this 8 hour period of time. However, often times swimming pool pump horse power is overrated for their size swimming pool. If it is overrated your pump may be pushing your water through in a 6 hour period or even a 4 hour period of time. In this case you can reduce the time you run your swimming pool pump. According to Florida Power and Electric reducing a pool pump by 2 hours will save you about $10 per month. Here is the average monthly costs for the average 1 HP pump to run.
1 HP - 4 Hours = $21
1 HP - 6 Hours = $31
1 HP - 8 Hours = $41
A pool timer will help you keep your pump running the proper amount of time. Again, check your pool chemical balance if you see a drastic change revert back to the old amount of time your run your pool pump.
Click Here to View Replacement Pool Pump Timers
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 8/15/2017
David - Your Jacuzzi was designed for a 2 HP pump so I'd stay with that. If your pump comes in a 2HP Energy Efficient model, I would recommend using that model and saving 20% in operational costs.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 8/14/2017
julzb - Your pool contains just over 20,000 gallons of water. I can't tell you exactly how long you need to run your pump without knowing your pump size, but most people run their pumps 8 hrs a day during the pool season. If you switch to low speed, you should run it 16 hours. Seems like you aren't saving any energy if you have to run it twice as long, but according to energy physics, when you drop the speed by half, you reduce your energy usage by 80% - less friction. And you can run your pump any time of the day. You are just trying to filter all the water in your pool each day.Reply
David Posted: 8/13/2017
I have a second pump for my jacuzzi only. It is about 25 years old 2 horse power. Do I need to replace it with a 2 horse power or can I reduce it to 1 1/2 horse power. It is only used for 4 jets. Also what kind of pump do I get.Reply
julzb Posted: 8/9/2017
Hi,we have a 30' round above ground pool 56" high, we estimate about 23,000 gal (although not sure about that). no idea how many gpm our pump does, because they never provided us with the manuals when they brought and set up our pool. But we know that it is a Hayward, and has 2 speeds, hi/low. We have been running it on high for the last 4 seasons, 24/7. i would really like to cut down on the wasted electricity. I have a couple of questions. How many hours are necessary for this size of pool, should i be running it on low (which it is right now), and how many hours a day should i run it? does it matter if that is during the sunlight hours, or night time?
I would appreciate some answers. Honestly, the people out here don't have a clue! thank you!
Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 7/30/2017
Sherm - Most people run their pumps 8 hours a day during the summer months. Your pump is a little larger for your size pool. You could try running it 6 to 7 hours a day. If you have trouble with algae, go back to 8 hours.Reply
Sherm Posted: 7/29/2017
Hi we have a whisperflo 1.5 hp pump and a 10,000 gallon uv pool. We have a pentair TR100 filter. How many hours do we need to run our pump?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 7/17/2017
Joe O' - We usually recommend a 1 1/2 HP pump for your 24,000+ gallon pool, but if you go to that size, you will definitely need to upgrade your filter to match the increased water flow (GPM) of the pump. If your pool maintenance was marginally good with a 3/4 HP pump and your filter was a little larger than you needed for a 3/4 HP pump, you might get by with a 1 HP pump and your existing filter. Check the GPM for a 1 HP motor against the GPM of your current filter.Reply
Joe O' Posted: 7/13/2017
We have an in ground 18 X 36 pool. 36 inches shallow end, 7 and a half feet in the deep end. Original pump is 3/4 HP but I am likely changing it as we are replacing the liner and want to get everything up to speed at once.What size pump do you recommend and how many hours a day need I run it?
We are on metered electricity with cheapest hydro by far being 7 PM to & AM weekdays and all Saturday Sunday. Peak hours on weekdays being more than double.
PS...I bought our sand filter from you guys few years ago and have been very happy with it.
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InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/30/2017
Pete - Here's the link to the standard Speck S90 1 HP Single Speed Pool Pump (S90-II). And here is the energy efficient version - Speck S90 1 HP EE Single Speed Pool Pump (S90-II).Reply
Pete Posted: 6/28/2017
Hi i need help on the correct replacement pump for my pool my current pump is a speck badu 90HP 1.0 SF 1.00 PH 1
HZ 60. RPM 3450
would prefer an energy efficient pump
Thanks
Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 5/23/2017
Franz- If you were running your single speed 1 HP pump for 8 hours at 3450 rpm to turn over your water, you might try running your VS pump at 1725 for 14 hours for basic filtration, and then 2 hours at 2600 for a suction cleaner. A suction cleaner usually needs higher water flow to operate. When your cut your VS pump to 1/2 speed, you reduce your operation cost to 12.5% of the cost operating at full speed. GPM is only cut by half.Reply
Franz Posted: 5/22/2017
I have a 25 x 20 pool 3 (shallow end) ft to 6 feet (deep end) with a VS pump. How long and at what speeds should I run my pump ( 1 hp)Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 5/6/2017
Piper2 - The answer to this question depends on the size of your pump. For a large club pool like yours, your would want to filter the water 3-4 times to make sure it is clean. Check the water flow for your pump (GPM) to see how long you have to run it to turn the water over 3-4 times a day. To save money, I would look into buying a larger (2.67 HP) VS pump that you could run at a low speed during the night and step to during the day as required.Reply
Piper2 Posted: 5/4/2017
I manage a 97,000 gal pool, and am a member.my question is do we need to run pump 24/7 all season? Can i just run during the night and off says? Any help would be nice.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 4/26/2017
Bert - Sounds like a good plan. I would run the SCG on the high side to over chlorinate your pool while you are gone. And I would run it for 6 hours for a couple of turnovers to try to avoid any problems while no one is able to monitor it.Reply
Bert Posted: 4/25/2017
HiI have 2 questions:
- I have a 20k gl in-ground liner saltwater pool. I am leaving this summer for 3 weeks and have no one to take care of the pool. My plan is to shock it and add algecide right before leaving , cover it with my winter mesh cover and then have the pump run for 4-6 hours per day through the main drain only in case the water level drops below the skimmer.
Do you think this is ok or what else should I do?
- Also, my pump says it pumps 96 GPM at 1.5 HP. At 20k gl it would take only about 3.5 hours to pump the entire pool water. How long do I really need to run the pump per day?
Thank you very much for your advice.
Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 12/12/2016
Anthony - If you want to stay with the single speed pumps, I would suggest a Pentair Whisperflo for a quieter pump. If you can switch to a Variable Speed pump, they are much quieter and will also reduce your operational costs considerably. We estimate that you will make up your additional purchase cost in just over a year.Reply
Anthony Posted: 12/9/2016
My number has a pool pump about 15 feet from the side of my house on the other side of the fence. We have three windows on that side of the house and the pump noise comes right in the windows and creates a constant hum in our living room. It is as tough we had a dryer running in our living room. Do you have any suggestions? Quieter pump? Housing for the pump?Thank you.
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InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 10/24/2016
TONY - Most people run their pools 8 hours a day during the season. If your pool people are suggesting running your pool 24/7 during the winter to keep the pool from freezing, that's an expensive option. I would suggest winterizing your pool instead. See our guide on "How To Winterize Your Swimming Pool".Reply
TONY Posted: 10/21/2016
My in ground pool is 3 ft to 9 ft deep & 16 ft wide by 34 ft long, about 22000 gals.The people who open & close my pool told me to run my filter 24/7 , I don't have to ?? p.s. I live near Pittsburgh, does this matter ??Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 9/27/2016
Adrian V - We would have recommended a 1 1/2HP pump for your size pool but not to cut down on running time. Going to a larger motor to reduce hours of run time from 8 to 6 would actually cost you a little more because of the energy required for the larger motor. If you want to save money, go to an 1 1/2HP energy efficient motor, or VS motor.Reply
Adrian V Posted: 9/26/2016
HiI'm about to make a pool of about 22,000 Gal, and they are suggesting me a 24" Hayward Pro-Series sand filter with a 1.5HP pump to be running for about 6 hours per day. Does investing on a bigger equipment sand filter & Pump will reduce the running time that I need for my pool???
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InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 8/21/2016
MK - I would not recommend investing more money into a pump that old. Doesn't look like we have the housing on that pump prior to 1995 anyway. For significant savings in operating cost, I would recommend a VS pump like the PureLine Prime Variable Speed Pool Pump 1.65 HP. Most VS pumps do not need any special electronics, just 220 V supply lines.Reply
MK Posted: 8/18/2016
A couple of questions:1) My ~35 year old pump is leaking (seems to have developed a crack in the housing). Is it possible to replace only the pump (as the motor was replaced several years ago)?
2) However, it sounds like VS motors save tons of electricity. Are there any special electronics needed to support such a motor? It is a newer single speed 3/4 HP Magnetek Century Centurion motor on a Hayward SP1805X pump.
Thanks!
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Swimmer Posted: 6/28/2016
I own a 26 inch round pool about 5 feet deep. My pool man says it also depends on the size of pool one has. He says it should be running if there is people in it or at the very least for an hour or two after people get out. I turn mine on before I go to bed and shut it off when I wake up as a constant rule. Here we have whats known as high, mid and low peek hours [hydro] from 10 pm to 7 am is low peek, the best times to be running anything that drains the hydro. I realised the first summer we lived here that my hydro bill ran me 400 dollars a month and had to find a fast way to turn that down as we were running it 24/7, that's when I spoke to my pool man about it.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/26/2016
high electric bills- Your pool man is correct. You have to run your pool water through a filter to keep the algae from growing. You might consider replacing your current motor with a variable speed pump. They are much quieter and can save you 80% of your current electrical bill. Here is a link to our PureLine Prime Variable Speed Pool Pump 1.65 HP Available July 2016.Reply
Anonymous Posted: 6/25/2016
Hi, my elderly dad has a swimming pool in the house we grew up in, that he no longer uses but we can't afford to take it out. The pump is old and runs four hours per day, he has high electricity bill and it is very noisy even for the neighbor. THe pool man says if he does not run it the algae will grow. Any suggestions?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/8/2016
run time - Generally, it doesn't make much difference when you run your pool for filtration. The only objective is to turn over your pool water once a day. If your electric company has incentives to run at night, it might make sense to run at night.Reply
Anonymous Posted: 6/8/2016
Is it better to run in evening or day timeReply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/5/2016
Steve - Thank you very much for your input. We will incorporate it into our How To Guide(s).Reply
Steve Posted: 6/3/2016
I lowered my Hayward DE pump pressure from 12 to 9 In/lbs by putting it on top of cinderblock and 1 in block. Pump is running much cooler now.It is barely warm when it used to get too hot to touch! I expect its longevity to increase and operating cost to be less. Advice was found on internet and really worked! Fewer watts are needed now since the pump is doing less work at a lower pressure.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 5/2/2016
Bubbaritos - I would suggest placing a check valve on the main suction pipe between the pump and the pool. This valve would prevent the water from draining back into the pool when the pump is shut off.Reply
Bubbaritos Posted: 5/1/2016
I use a Hayward 1hp super pump and have always used a timer. The pump comes on for 8 hours and then goes off everyday. The thing is, when it goes off all the water runs back into the pool. When it turns on the pump primes for nearly two minutes until it is at max flow. Is this ok for the pump to run without water for this long or should I add a one way valve of some sort to prevent the water from draining back to the pool?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 9/28/2015
Dave M - 1) A Full rated 1 HP pump should be fine for a 10,000 gal pool with single story solar panels. 2) EE pumps generally have full rated motors rather than up rated motors. Rating is determined by Service Factor (SF). A motor's actual HP is measured by multiplying its HP rating by its SF. For example a 1 HP full rated motor with a SF of 1.5 would have an actual HP valve of 1.5 HP (1 HP x 1.5 SF). An UP rated 1 HP motor with a SF of 1.0 would have an actual HP valve of 1 HP. I would recommend a 1 HP EE pump like a Hayward Super 2 EE Pump 1 HP Single Speed. 3) Most pool owners run in one block of time, 6-8 hrs a day. I don't think you gain anything running 2 blocks in a 24 hr period.Reply
Dave M Posted: 9/27/2015
We recently moved into a 13-year old house with about a 10,000 gal pool that more than likely has the original pool equipment. The plastic housing near the basket has hairline cracks and leaks and my filter gauge shows only 5 lbs of pressure. We have 1.5 inch pipes and solar panels on the roof of a single story house. I estimated 50-60 ft of head from the skimmer to the pump. My neighbor has the about the same pool without solar panels, and runs a newer Jandy FloPro 1 hp. A local pool guy suggested any standard single speed 1.5 hp only because of the solar panels or he would have suggested a 1 hp. (After looking at two full month electric bills at 8 hrs per day the old pump is costing us about $40-$50 per month so I am not sure a variable speed would make sense, especially thinking a newer single speed should be more EE). Couple of questions:1) Do the solar panels necessitate an extra 1/5 hp?
2) I have called Jandy, Pentair, and Hayward and all pushed me out of their basic single speed 1.5 hp to their next level single speed but in some cases 1 hp claiming it is more EE because it pushes the same amount of water (or in some cases more) at 1 hp rather than the basic model 1.5 hp.
3) Does it make sense to run my pump for two, 3-4 hr blocks during the day rather than one, 6-8 hr block so the water never sits more than 4-6 hrs?
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InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 8/28/2015
Floridian - You can try reducing your run time to 6 hours. If your pool starts to turn green, I would go back to 8 hours. And a pump is designed to run 24 hours a day if required. They generally run hot. Just make sure your pump has good ventilation. Clean debris away from the bottom breathing ports and do not have it in a tight enclosure. If it's in the direct sun for a period of time, you might try to put something up over it to shade it.Reply
Floridian Posted: 8/26/2015
Hello,we are having about 15000 gal pool, in Central Florida. Our pump productivity - 60 GPM. Essentially, it can do entire volume well within 4.5 hours.Two questions, please:
1) Is it OK to rum my pump only for 6 hours instead of 8 (without jeopardy to sanitation, of course)?
2) If I still keep 8 hrs run but split it in 2 sessions (4 + 4) to give our pump a brake to cool down since it's getting quite hot during the day run?
Thank you!
Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 7/29/2015
Bitz - A VS pump can save you up to 80% on your energy bill. See our guide on "How to Save Money Using a Variable Speed Motor". I'm not sure what you mean by going totally solar. Generally a solar system needs a pump to circulate the water through a solar system and that has to run during the day to catch the sun. If you have gone a step further with your solar system and have a way to economically convert the solar energy to electricity which can drive your pump, that sounds like the way to go.Reply
Bitz Posted: 7/28/2015
Our electrical utility is now billing us with their so called "Smart Meters" They register "time of use" electricity data and charge us 200% for "on peak" use, 150% for "Mid peak" use and 100% for Off Peak use. Off Peak use is from 7PM to 7AM. I have installed a time switch and nothing on the pool runs during the day. Next step is either Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) pump drive or go totally solar especially for day use. Which would give me the best payback?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 7/22/2015
VS pump - That's a large pump for your size pool, but the beauty of a VS pump is that it is totally adaptable. If you are just running the pump for filtration, I would run it at 1200 RPM. This size pump will have a higher GPM flow rate so for your size pool, you may be able to get by with 10 to 12 hours at 1200 RPM. See our guide on "How to Save Money Using a Variable Speed Motor" for different run options depending on what your system supports.Reply