Swimming Pool Pumps

Single Speed and Double Speed Swimming Pool Pumps

Introduction:

Swimming pools can be costly to operate but you do have a choice on just how much it does cost. A swimming pool pump is essential to maintain a healthy swimming pool. It seems as though the pumps operate continuously which really adds to your utility bill. How much it cost to operate swimming pool pumps depends on what kind of a pump you have. You have a choice between a single and double speed swimming pool pump and the difference adds up to a lot of money savings.

The typical 25,000 gallon swimming pool has a 1.5 HP single stage pump. It runs approximately eight hours per day during the entire pool season. It pumps approximately 80 gallons per minute which means that it circulates about 38,000 gallons each day in an eight hour period. The current draw is 9.0 amps at 240 volts. It cost about ten cents per kilowatt hour to operate. This translates to an expense of $1.73 per day or $51.90 per month to operate.

A two stage swimming pool pump (two speed pool pump) only cost approximately 19.50 per month to operate for the same size pool. The two stage pump is also a 1.5 HP pump. It runs 12 hours per day at a lower speed. At the lower speed it pumps approximately 40 gallons per minute and circulates 28,000 gallons per day. Keep in mind that the pool only needs to cycle the water through the filter once each day. The two stage pump current draw is 2.25 amps at 240 volts in low speed. It cost 10 cents per kilowatt hour to operate. This translates to a cost of $0.65 per day or $19.50 per month to operate the pool.

The only time you really need to turn the two stage pump to high speed is for backwashing or vacuuming or if you need to increase the flow rate temporarily. Although the two stage pump circulates less water, most pumps are oversized and as a result the pools are over circulated. The two speed pump provides just the circulation that your pool requires at a small fraction of the cost.

Keeping the pool circulating a longer period of time with the two stage pump each day has advantages: The longer circulation period will reduce the occurrence of algae. Two stage pumps are also much quieter than the single stage pumps. This is the result of the pump running quieter and the water flowing through the pump and the piping.

The difference of cost to operate swimming pool pumps is quite significant. It is much cheaper to operated double stage pump than a single stage pump.

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