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When purchasing a new in-ground swimming pool, you need to determine what size pool pump is required. There is tendency to purchase a bigger pump than is necessary thinking bigger is best. However, not only does this lead to higher operating costs, but you may also be overpowering your filter system. As a general rule you should have a pump that filters all the water in a pool in an 8 hour period. This page will show you how to select a pump that filters all the water in your pool in 8 hours.
Tips & Warnings
Things You'll Need
Step by Step
Step 1
Your first step is to determine the number of gallons of water in you pool. The formulas for calculating gallons depend on the shape of your pool. For a RECTANGULAR POOL, measure the length (ft), the width (ft) and the average depth. Average depth is determined by adding the depth at the shallow end to the depth at the deep end and dividing by 2.
The formula for calculating total gallons in a rectangular pool is: Gallons = Length x Width x Average Depth x 7.5
Example (see picture): your pool is 30 ft long and 15 feet wide; the pool's shallow end is 4 ft and its deep end is 8 ft so the pool's average depth is 4 plus 8 = 12 divided by 2 = 6 ft.
Pool's capacity is 30 ft x 15 ft x 6 ft x 7.5 = 20,250 gallons.
Go to Step 5
Step 2
ROUND SWIMMING POOL - To determine the number of gallons of water in your round pool, measure the diameter of the pool and its average depth. Average depth is determined by adding the depth at the shallowest part to the depth at the deepest part and dividing by 2.
The formula for calculating total gallons in an oval pool is:
Gallons = Diameter x Diameter x Average Depth x 5.9.
Example (see picture): your pool is 25 ft in diameter; the pool's shallow end is 3 ft and its deep end is 7 ft so the pool's average depth is 3 plus 7 = 10 divided by 2 = 5 ft.
Pool's capacity is 25 ft x 25 ft x 5 ft x 5.9 = 18,428 gallons.
Go to Step 5
Step 3
OVAL SWIMMING POOL - To determine the number of gallons of water in your oval pool, measure the long diameter, the short diameter and the average depth. Average depth is determined by adding the depth at the shallow end to the depth at the deep end and dividing by 2.
The formula for calculating total gallons in an oval pool is:
Gallons = Long diameter x Short diameter x Length x Average depth x 5.9. Example (see picture): Your pool's long diameter is 25 ft, Short diameter is 15 ft and the pool's average depth is (3 + 7) / 2 = 5 ft. Pool's capacity is 25 x 15 x 5 x 5.9 = 11,063 gallons.
Go to Step 5
Step 4
KIDNEY SWIMMING POOL - To determine the number of gallons of water in your kidney pool, measure the largest width, the smallest width and the average depth. Average depth is determined by adding the depth at the shallow end to the depth at the deep end and dividing by 2.
The formula for calculating total gallons in an kidney pool is:
Gallons = (Longest width + Shortest width) x Length x Average depth x 3.38. Example (see picture): Your pool's length is 25 ft, longest width is 15 ft, Shortest width is 10 ft and the pool's average depth is (3 + 7) / 2 = 5 ft. Pool's capacity is (15 + 10) x 25 x 5 x 3.38 = 10,563 gallons
Step 5
Now that you have calculated the number of gallons in your swimming pool, you want to determine how many gallons per hour (GPH) you need to pump to clean all the water in your pool in 8 hours. To come up with this flow rate simply divide your calculated gallons by 8. For the RECTANGULAR swimming pool example the GPH required is 20,250 gallons / 8 hours or 2531 GPH.
Step 6
Most pool pump specifications are expressed in gallons per minute (GPM) so to convert from GPH to GPM, divide your GPH by 60 minutes - 2531 GPH / 60 = 42.2 GPM.
Step 7
Having calculated your required GPM, you next have to figure out the average Feet of Head for your pool pump. A good estimate is to take the average amount of feet from where your suction lines are (skimmers or main drain) back to where your pool pump will be located. The picture at the right provides an example of how the average Feet of Head would be calculated for a pool with 3 suction returns, two skimmers and one main drain. The lengths of each line are: Skimmer 1 - 5'+15'+25'+15'+10' = 70'; Skimmer 2 - 15'+10' = 25'; and Main Drain - 25'+20' = 45'. To get the average Feet of Head take the three suction line lenghts and divide by three. 70' + 25' + 45' = 140' / 3 = 47 Average Feet of Head
Step 8
You now have the information required to select the size of your pool pump. Go to the description page of the style of pump you would like to purchase. Many pump manufacturers will provide a chart on this description page showing the HP required for your particular GPM and Foot of Head requirement. For example, say you wanted the popular Hayward Super Pump. An abbreviated version of the Hayward Super Pump Performance Page is shown at the left. Based on the data calculated above for a typical RECTANGULAR pool, we are looking for a pump that will handle 42 GPM with a 47' Feet of Head. According to the chart for 50 Feet of Head (closest to 47'), we need a pump between 3/4 HP (31 GPM) and 1 HP (50 GPM). Since we always go to the higher GPM, we would select the 1 HP pump.
Step 9
The full Performance Page for the Hayward Super Pump can be found at this link, Harward Super Pump . For the location of Performance Pages for other pump models, contact an Inyopools sales representative at 1-877-372-6038.
Step 10
The size of your pool filter is directly related to the pool pump you have selected. If your pool filter is too small for the pump, there will be additional strain on the pump motor as it tries to push water through and meets resistance at the filter. This will eventually burn out the pump motor and your filtration will also be compromised. We recommend over-sizing the filter to be absolutely certain it can handle the flow coming from the pump. So in this case, instead of getting a filter rated at exactly 42 GPM, you should select one that is a little higher – around 60 gpm would be fine.
Step 11
There are a couple of other considerations that should be mentioned in your selection of a pool pump. The above calculations are based on a basic pool configuration with no extra water features: fountains, spas, waterfalls, solar heating, and infloor cleaning systems. The features generally require higher GFM rates which equates to a higher HP pumps.
Also if your pool requires greater than 60 GFM you may need at least 2" diameter suction pipes. Suction pipes of 1 1/2" have a physical limit of 60 GPM. 2" pipes can handle up to 100 GPM.
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Please Note:
Inyo Pool Products is not responsible for any injury or damaged equipment
while using our guides. Using our guides is doing so at your own risk.
These guides are suggested use of your pool or spa equipment and may vary
depending on which product you are using.