How Long Should I Run My Pool Pump?

Clean Backyard Pool Water

How Long Should I Run My Pool Pump?

Running your pool pump can be expensive, especially if you don’t have a variable speed pump. On one hand, the longer you run your pump, the more bacteria, debris, and contaminants are being filtered out. On the other hand, the longer you run your pump, the more you pay for your electric bill. So how long should I run my pool pump?

The best answer is, as long as possible. We know that’s most likely not going to be feasible since you want to keep your energy bill low. Let Opulent Pools help you find that middle ground to keeping your water clean and keeping your electric bill at a reasonable level. 

How long should I run my pool pump?

When trying to figure out how long to run your pool pump, everyone will give you different information. The short answer to help maintain a clean pool, as well as low energy costs, is around eight to ten hours.

We’ve found eight to ten hours to be the middle ground in helping you to save money, while also filtering your pool water without much delay. Pumping all of your pool water through a filter and back into the pool is one turnover. Smaller pools have a faster turnover rate than larger pools. Your goal should be to achieve one turnover in eight hours. Doing so helps to achieve optimal conditions for your pool.

This doesn’t mean you have to run your pump for eight to ten hours straight. You can split pump time up however you’d like. Try splitting up pump time to run four hours in the morning then four hours at night. Most pool owners will run their pumps at the same time that they are adding in sanitizing chemicals or shocking their pool. However you’d like to split it up, just make sure your pump runs for a minimum of eight hours per day.

What Kind of Pool Pump To Use

When choosing a pump for your pool, it’s important that you choose the right one. There is a simple calculation you can run to figure out which pump will help you reach one turnover in under eight hours.

Start by figuring out how many gallons of water are in your pool. Use this calculator to find this out if you’re unsure. Next, take that number and divide it by eight. That will give you gallons per hour. Since pool pumps show the gallons per minute they pump, take that number and divide it by 60. This will give you gallons per minute.

Next, you need to figure out what is called the feet of head. To do this, measure the length of all of your drain pipes leading out of your pool. If you have multiple pipes, combine the lengths and then divide that by the number of pipes. For example, if you have three drain pipes and they equal 10 feet combined, then take 10 and divide it by three. That will give you 3.33. Use your gallons per minute and feet of head to determine the best pump for your pool.

There’s no question that Opulent Pools is the leader in pool maintenance and servicing. If you need help figuring out the best pump for your pool or the optimal run time, contact us! Or, if you need a new pool pump, like a variable speed model for energy efficiency, give us a call today at (404) 462-0777. With Opulent Pools, you’ll always find the help and trusted advice you need to keep your pool in prime condition.