Choosing The Right Pool Pump
It's important to size your pool pump correctly. This will ensure that your pool runs optimally, resulting in fewer problems, easier maintenance, lower energy costs and longer equipment life.
As a general rule of thumb, the larger your pool, the larger the pump you need, and the more it will cost to run.
The equipment you install on your pool will also have a major influence on the size of pump you require. Pool cleaners, solar heating and water features, all require more energy and power than is required to simply pump water through the filtration system.
Designing the plumbing system to be hydraulic efficient (ie. using 50mm instead of 40mm PVC pipes, using as few elbows as possible, and the length/run of piping from pool to filtration equipment as short as possible), also reduces the size of pump you require.
The major choice you have as a pool owner when selecting pool pumps, is whether or not to buy a fixed speed or multi-speed (variable speed) pool pump. Multi-speed products are becoming increasingly popular, as they are able to be adjusted (manually or automatically) to run at different speeds depending upon what function they are performing. For instance, they would be set to run at the lowest possible speed when filtering water, at a mid range speed when operating the pool cleaner, and at maximum speed when activating the water feature or solar heater. The key advantage over single speed products, is that they can be significantly cheaper to run.
So in summary, the key questions you need to consider before speaking to your pool professional about replacing your pool pump or selecting a pump for your new pool are:
1. How big is your pool? What is its' volume in litres (Width x Length x Average Depth) x 1000.
2. How often do you want to circulate the water - every 4 or 8 hours? The Australian Standard says every 4 hours is enough. Some prefer to "turn" the water over more regularly.
3. What equipment do (will) you have installed on your pool? Heaters, water features, solar heating, in-floor cleaning systems and regular pool cleaners all require different flow rates, which will impact the pump required.
4. What distance from the pool is (will) the pool pump be located?
5. How much does your existing pump cost to run? What could you save by moving to a multi-speed product? Your pool shop should be able to calculate this easily enough.
If you are building a new pool your builder will ensure that your pump and filter are correctly matched for optimum performance.
Pool Pump Maintenance Tip
The hair and lint pot needs to be emptied and cleaned on a regular basis throughout the swimming season. If it's allowed to clog up and block the water flow, the seals will crack and the motor could burn out.
