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How to Reduce Your Pool Pump Energy Bill

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Inyo has done a study to find out a few steps that you can take in order to reduce your energy bill. The swimming pool pump is one of the highest energy consumers for a household. Taking these few steps can help save you money each month. Please feel free to comment on the bottom of this page for more ideas on how you reduced your pool pump bill.

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Steps

Things You'll Need

Swimming Pool Pumps

Pool Pump Timer

Video

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Step 1

There are several ways that you can reduce the cost of your energy bill with your swimming pool pump. The number one thing to keep in mind is your pump is used to help keep your swimming pool circulating and clean. If you notice a big change in your swimming pool clarity or balance you may want to double think your actions.

Step 2

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

Step 3

Oversized Pool Pumps - Like stated above many pool builders oversize the pool pump for their swimming pool. For swimming pool clarity reasons it is always better to have a higher HP pump then a lower HP pump, but for energy consumption reasons it is just sucking on your monthly bill. One option is to switch to a lower HP pump. To figure out the proper size of your pool pump HP click on The Horse Power of Inground Pool Pumps. According to Florida Power and Electric reducing the average Florida pump (running 8 hours a day) from 1 1/2 HP down to 1 HP you can save about $19 per month. This is $228 per year.

1 HP 8 Hours = $41
1.5 HP 8 Hours = $58

If you reduce the horsepower of the pump your filter will actually perform better. It will most likely be oversized compared to your pump and be able to filter out your water a little more properly. If you decide to go this route please ensure your calculations are correct.

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Step 4

Switch to an E Motor - If you plan on staying in your home longer then 2 years then you definitely should upgrade your motor from a standard to a Energy Efficient motor. Replacing your existing pump motor with an Energy Efficient motor can save your up to 33% on your electric bill. The same 1 HP pump listed above that is switched to a 1HP EE pump motor can save you $13 per month or $156 per year.

1 HP - 8 Hours = $41
1 HP EE - 8 Hours = $28

If you are in need of a new pump you should definitely purchase a EE model. The average cost difference between the standard and EE pool pumps is about $100. You will make up this difference in less then 8 months.

Click Here to Find Out How to Replace a Pool Pump Motor

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Anonymous  Posted: 5/2/2012 

I need to replace my Magnetek WFE-8, 2 hp pump. Which model EE pump would give me best savings. I've been running just 4 hours daily with no water problem. I think the pool is 20,000 gals.
 Reply

InyoPools Product Specialist  Posted: 4/28/2012 

DY - Off the top, for a standard 20,000 gallon in ground pool with one or two water features, a 3+ HP motor is significant overkill for your system. Your actual HP is 3 HP x 1.15 SF or just under 3.45 THP (Total HP) For an average 20,000 gallon pool with average TDH (resistance to water flow) we generally recommend a 1 or 1.5 THP pump.
 Reply

 Posted: 4/28/2012 

I have a 20,000 gallon pool using a 3 HP, 1.15 SF Centurion pump. Is this a good size of pump for my pool
 Reply

InyoPools Product Specialist  Posted: 4/18/2012 

pittman58 - Please give us a call. There are many factors besides pool size that determine the size of your pump.
 Reply

 Posted: 4/18/2012 

Have a 40,000 gallon pool what size pool pump should I get?
 Reply

InyoPools Product Specialist  Posted: 3/29/2012 

David - Your AO Smith motor (B2852 or B852) is a 3/4 HP Uprated motor with a 1.25 Service Factor (SF) and a 56Y (square) frame. I'm assuming that your pump is a Pentair Whisperflo. If it isn't a Whisperflo, give us a call. We may have to change this recommendation. We do not sell a 3/4 HP Energy Efficient (EE), replacement motor but we do sell something equivalent. HP or Total HP is actually the product of HP times SF. Your motor is actually 3/4 HP x 1.25 SF or 0.94 THP. We sell a Full rated 1/2 HP EE motor with a SF of 1.91. Its THP is 1/2 HP x 1.91 SF or 0.96 THP. Just a little higher than your current motor but effectively the same size motor. Its part number is B845. With this motor you can keep your current impeller. You will have to replace your shaft seal and probably should replace your pump gaskets. These items are provided in GOKIT32 for a Whisperflo pump.
 Reply

 Posted: 3/29/2012 

What would replace this one (AO Smith b2852) for energy efficiency?
 Reply

InyoPools Product Specialist  Posted: 3/15/2012 

newowner - We recommend the Century Variable Speed C-Face motor, ECM27CU, as the most energy efficient motor replacement option. You will also need to replace the motor shaft seal that matches your pump model.
 Reply

InyoPools Product Specialist  Posted: 3/12/2012 

Pool Owner - We are recommending the Century Variable Speed motor (ECM27) as the most energy efficient replacement option. It costs more initially but will save you 75-85% in operating costs. If you are paying $800 a year now , this motor will reduce your costs to less than $200 a year so you will recoup your higher initial cost is less than a year. Also these motors are designed to last 3 times the life of a standard motor. There are two models. You need the one with a square flange. Be sure to replace the shaft seal when you replace the motor. Note: this is an AOSmith motor - They recently merged with Century.
 Reply

 Posted: 3/11/2012 

I currently have an AO Amith SQ1202 motor. I am looking for a more energy efficient motor. Any suggestions.

Thanks
 Reply

 Posted: 3/11/2012 

I have WEG PCJ120 Pool motor that i need to replace. what would be the ideal efficient motor I should look for? i have a spa as well.
 Reply

InyoPools Product Specialist  Posted: 3/8/2012 

doc - These motors generally last 3-5 years. If your motor is humming but won't turn over, it may be the motor's start capacitor. See our guide on replacing the capacitor. If you replaced the motor two years ago without replacing the shaft seal, the seal probably failed and sprayed water onto your motor. Sometimes a rock or nut gets into the impeller and jams it. Check our guide on clearing an impeller. Also your pump may not be sized correctly for your pool and is pumping too hard. Have a pool professional check your pool setup and measure your pump vacuum and pressure.
 Reply

 Posted: 3/7/2012 

Any know why the Century Lasar pool/spa motor cat BN50 part#7-177863-02 2.5 spl pumps don't last more than 2 years before locking up?
 Reply

InyoPools Product Specialist  Posted: 2/16/2012 

The EE motor to replace your 1 1/2 HP motor (C48L2PA105) is UQC1152 - price is $249.99. You will need to replace the motor shaft seal. If your pump is a Whisperflo, the the shaft seal you need is included in GOKIT32. If you have a different pump, give us a call so we make sure you get the right GOKIT
 Reply

Anonymous  Posted: 2/15/2012 

I have an AO Smith 1 1/2 HP pump motor.. A100FLL, model C48L2PA105 (I believe) Which EE pump would work, and what is the cost.. Will it have the same amount of suction to run my creepy crawly?
 Reply

InyoPools Product Specialist  Posted: 10/21/2011 

Mr. Neuhausr, If you want to replace your current motor, our catalog number for the AO Smith equivalent to your Marathon C1245 is # B853. The EE or multispeed (2 speed or variable speed) motors cost more initially, but your will make it up quickly in energy savings. We would definitely recommend either. Hayward or Pentair are among the favorite manufactures of these energy efficient pumps.
 Reply

InyoPools Product Specialist  Posted: 10/21/2011 

Mr. Neuhausr – The EE motors are 20-30% more efficient due to their better design. The multispeed motor can give you 60% saving or higher depending on how you program them. According to well established data, if you run a motor at half speed you will only use 13% of the energy used at full speed. Typically you would run a standard motor 8 hours a day at full rate. With a multispeed motor, you would run the pump only two -three hours at full speed for the pool suction cleaner and another 8-10 hours at half speed to circulate all your pool water through the filter.
 Reply

 Posted: 10/19/2011 

I have a Marathon electric pool pump motor, Catalog number c1245 and the bearings are bad.
As I don't see that brand on your site, can you recommend another brand? Also should I consider an EE or Multi speed motor?
Thanks.
 Reply

 Posted: 10/19/2011 

Great information. I have heard alot about multi-speed pump motors. Are they worth it? How much more efficient are they than the EE motors?
 Reply

 Posted: 8/26/2011 

oh that's great.This will be very much helpful,i think one should follow these steps in order to reduce pool pump energy bill.
 Reply

InyoPools Product Specialist  Posted: 7/11/2011 

If you can determine the manufacturer of your timer, they can usually provide you with a copy these instructions. We could not identify the manufacturer from you number but if you can identify them and need their number, you can call us at 877-372-6038
 Reply

 Posted: 7/9/2011 

My timer is 2E3pool pump & heater timer. 2 circuit time switch. (There maybe more to the model number which I cannot read.) The instructions are so deteriorated I cannot read it. Does anyone have these instructions or know where I can obtain them
 Reply

 Posted: 3/30/2011 

We have to maintain the temperature so the question is with 8 hours running, it will be difficult to maintain the desired temperature specially in the spa. Can you advise on this.
 Reply

 Posted: 3/14/2011 

What about multispeed?
 Reply

 Posted: 3/14/2011 

Anyone have experience with the Ecopump or the AO Smith B2982 motor (included on the Ecopump). The ratings are incredible: 7.4Amps at full speed, 1.4Amps at low speed. The 1.4Amps is about 1/2 of most low speed draws.
 Reply