How Long Does A Pool Pump Need To Run

If you are a puddle possessor, you lot surely take a pool filter pump. But knowing how long to run a puddle pump and when to run it can be a chip puzzling. Did you know that your pool filter pump system is the second highest energy consumer in your dwelling during the summer, with air conditioning units existence the number 1? Knowing how to summate and gear up your pool pump run time is important to optimize its effectiveness.

Allow'southward walk through a few common questions and and then break downwardly the calculation behind finding the ideal pool filter pump run time for your swimming pool. We will show you both the standard calculation and a simple calculation.

What does the puddle filter pump do?

To understand how much run time you need, information technology's important to know exactly what your filter pump does for your pool. The puddle pump is the centre of your pool filtration system. It circulates water from the pool and returns it dorsum, distributing pool chemicals and filtering your water. It is recommended that yous "turnover" or circulate all of your puddle water through the pool filter at least once throughout the solar day. This will ensure that the chemicals are evenly distributed and your water stays clean and clear. If you don't circulate the water, y'all run the risk of algae growth and water balance or clarity issues. This may lead to water that is unsafe for swimmers.

How many gallons of h2o are in my puddle?

Before you can determine how long the pump should run, it's important to understand how many gallons of water are in your pool. To notice your pool's book, use one of these easy calculations. If you don't want to calculate the pool volume, take a quick look at the table in our post on how to calculate pool book.

Square and Rectangle Pools with Single Depth:

Length x Width ten Depth x 7.5 = Approximate Book (Gallons)

Square and Rectangle Pools with Variable Depths:

Length x Width ten Average Depth 10 seven.5 = Approximate Book (Gallons)

Average Depth: If the pool has a shallow stop and a deep cease, add together the two depths together and divide by ii.

Example: The shallow terminate is three' deep and the deep end is 8'. Using the Average Depth formula: (3+8)÷2=5.5' Average Depth.

Round Pools:

3.fourteen x Radius ten Radius x Boilerplate Depth x vii.v = Volume (Gallons)

The Radius equals the bore divided by 2. (Example: A 16' diameter divided past 2 = 8' radius.)

Note: About round pools accept a unmarried depth.

Oval Pools:

3.14 10 Length ten Width x .25 x Average Depth x 7.5 = Approximate Volume (Gallons)

Kidney-Shaped Pool:

(A + B) x Length x 0.45 ten Average Depth x 7.5 = Approximate Volume (Gallons)

Note: "A" and "B" measurements are the ii widest points of the kidney shape.

Irregular Shapes or Gratis-Class Pools:

Longest Length 10 Widest Width ten Average Depth x five.9 = Approximate Book (Gallons)

What is the turnover rate?

Now that we have the pool book in gallons, we can summate the turnover rate. Turnover rate is the mensurate of which all the water in your pool tin "plow over," or laissez passer through, the pump and filter. Well-nigh pool owners aim for an 8–x 60 minutes turnover, with the rate measured in gallons per hour (GPH).

Total Puddle Volume in Gallons ÷ viii Hours = Maximum GPH Turnover Rate

Full Pool Volume in Gallons ÷ 10 = Maximum GPH Turnover Rate

What is the pump menses rate?

The water flow, or flow charge per unit, for almost pool filter pumps is measured in gallons per minute (GPM), versus gallons per hour (GPH). As the measurement names imply, flow rate is an indicator of how much water tin menses through the pump in a given span of time. Depending on whether yous're needing GPH or GPM, they're like shooting fish in a barrel to convert:

GPH ÷ lx = GPM

GPM X threescore = GPH

Permit'due south do some math!

At present that nosotros know the flow rating and pool volume, we tin calculate the pool pump run time. The math is simple. For this example, let's say you take a 20,000 gallon pool and the pool pump has a GPM rating of twoscore. Catch your calculator to effigy this out:

40 (GPM) X 60 (minutes per hour) = 2400 gallons per hour

xx,000 (gallons) / 2400 (gallons per hr) = 8.three hours

In this example, the platonic puddle filter pump run time is 8.iii hours per day for one circulation or h2o turnover.

A simpler calculation

Single speed pumps

Here is a elementary rule of pollex for pools with single speed pumps during the swim season when the temperatures and swimmer volume are both high:

Run the circulation system one (i) hour for every 10°F of air temperature.

Instance: If it is 100°F, the pump should run 10 hours a mean solar day minimum. Of course, if the pool is total of algae or a major weather issue has occurred, the pump may need to run for 24 hours until the water clears.

Variable speed pumps

Variable speed pool pumps should run longer, based upon the operating speed. Nigh pool owners run their variable speed pump for 12 hours per day (3-four hours on high speed for the pool cleaning system and 8-9 hours on low speed for filtration). Keep in mind that certain features — Common salt Water Chlorine Generators and heaters — may non operate properly or even plow on if the filter pump is running on low speed.

Any further questions?

If you lot have any farther questions about pool pumps, nosotros're hither to assistance! Terminate by your local Leslie's to speak with one of our friendly pool experts.