When we all invest in a swimming pool or a car for that matter, we expect the recurring costs to be cheaper than the initial price. However, not so many people can attest to this. The wrong maintenance approach can cost you a lot of resources. You must figure out the optimal usage before running your pool pump. So, how long should I run my above ground pool pump?
The truth is, you do not have to run your pool pump for an entire day to cleanse the water. With simple calculations and consistent maintenance, you can save on time and money. Residential swimming pools can filter the water once daily; anything beyond that is unproductive. But you can run less then maximum 8 hours in a day.
Commercial pools call for more attention; therefore, it can run for a couple of times throughout the day. Once you master the art of filtering and chemical balance, you will no longer have to worry about your electricity bills.
Why Do I Need to Run My Pool?
The key reason for using a pool pump is to clean all the dirt, algae, and dirt from the pool. Your pool is exposed to all kinds of dirt, which can accumulate over time. If you do not counter this effect, you will loathe at the sight of your pool. Therefore, a pool pump is essential for cleaning all the dirt through filtration.
The filtering system pulls water in while pushing it out so that the debris goes through the circulation process. Circulation is the whole point; as long as your water is stirred, it can undergo filtration.
Another reason we use a pool pump is to distribute water treatments throughout the pool.
However, running a pool pump is not the only way to keep your pool spotless. You can study pool water chemistry and balance as an alternative.When Is the Proper Time to Run Your Pool?
The following are the right time you should run your pool.
During Non-Peak Hours
Peak hours in your location is the period when homesteads and businesses have high power consumption. When you use power during these peak hours, your electrical charges go higher. It could be when most people have turned their AC on, doing house chores, and using electrical devices.
You can find out the peak hours in your location by calling the power providers. From there, you can run your pump at controversial hours.
During The Night
I bet that peak hours are during the day, therefore pumping your pool water at night is a better option. It may seem hard because you will be asleep; hence, you will not have the time to monitor the time. However, you can use a programmable pool timer that will automatically turn the pump on and off. It depends on the time limit that you have set.
Moreover, some water treatments are more effective at night than during the day. It is because of sun exposure. Therefore, pumping the water at night is more feasible.
Run It for Non-Consecutive Hours
If the turnover time your pool need is over 4 hours, you can split the time. You can pump the water for half the time and then discontinue it for some time. Afterward, continue from where you left by running the pump for the remaining time.
How Long Should I Run My Above Ground Pool Pump?
After knowing the proper time to run your pool, the next question is; how long should I run my above ground pool pump? Let’s find out more.
Calculating the pool volume
You can find this information in your pool pump's manual. However, it's only if you bought the correct size of the pump for your pool. If you are not sure about the size comparison, I hope you don't mind doing some math.
The volume of a rectangular pool is calculated by multiplying the length by width by height. Then you convert the result into gallons by multiplying by 7.5.
For a circular pool, multiply the diameter by diameter by depth. Convert to gallons by multiplying 5.9.
To get the volume of an oval pool, multiply the length by depth by width and then by 5.9 to convert to gallons.
A simple and versatile way is to use an online pool volume calculator.
Find GPH
GPH (gallons per hour) is the water volume that your pump can spin in an hour. You can look up the details in the pump's manual or download the manual from their official website. Additionally, you can contact the drop shipping company.
Minimum Turnover
It is the number of rounds your pump has to filter the pool water. How long you pump your water depends on the number of users or frequency of use. Regular use means more dirt; hence your pump can perform two to three turnovers. If your pool is idle, one turnover daily is enough.
Final Step
It is the final step towards determining the number of hours you should run your pool pump. The formula is straightforward.
Turnover time= Pool volume (in gallons) ∕ GPH
An example is 12,000 gallons/2400. It means that if your pool has a volume of 12,000 gallons and the pump GPH is 2,400, the turnover time is 5hours.
Calculate the cost
The cost of pumping your pool water depends on the turnover time and pump horsepower. Running your above ground pool pump can be quite expensive, especially if you do it regularly. The more the pool volume, the more the turnover time, eventually the cost increases.
If you want to find out the cost, compare the pump horsepower and turnover time to the electrical costs chart. They have categorized the chart according to the price standards in each state. All the information is in the US Energy Information Administration.
Final Words
How long should I run my above ground pool pump? Hopefully, you have the proper approach to running your pool pump. You will be glad you applied this knowledge; the results will amaze you. If pool maintenance has not been kind to you, I believe this is the consolation and solution you need. It only takes a couple of hours to figure out the math and chemical balance; then you can run your pool pump confidently.
You may need to come up with a schedule for running your above ground pool pump for consistency. It may be unbelievable that time is a priority when running your pool pump, but it's the truth. It saves you time and electricity bills; that is what maintenance is all about. The next time you run your above ground pool pump, be sure to refer to register these tips.
