How to choose the right pool pump

Wednesday, 08th Jul 2020 in News, Swimming Pool & Spa Tips

Your pool pump is the heart of your pool system, if it fails then your pool water will no longer get filtered and it could quickly turn. Our handy little guide will help you choose the right pump for you.

During your pool ownership, you may have to replace your pump on a couple of occasions. Pool pumps usually last between 8-10 years. If your previous pump has worked its little socks off and has provided you with many years of stress-free durability then we would suggest replacing it with a like-for-like. However, this may not always be possible due to changes in production. However, you may not be happy with your current pump, in which case our handy little guide will help you choose the right pool pump.

When choosing a pool pump your focus should be on the flow rate, you want all your pool water to be filtered in an 8-hour window. If you get one that is too small, then this will put a greater strain on the pump and it will burn out quickly.

How to calculate what size pool pump?

The first step is to work out how much water is in your pool, this is referred to as the ‘volume’ of your pool.

You can calculate this by using this calculation  Length/m x Width/m x Depth/m, your answer will be in m3. If your pool has a slope or varying depth then use the average depth to calculate.

Once you have done this you need to convert this number into litres, which is very simple as 1m3 = 1000L

So you simply multiply your m3 number by 1000.

To get your flow rate you then divide this number by 8hrs and because the flow rate is measured by litres per minute you then need to divide your litre number by 60.

Here is an example:

10 x 5 x 1.5m = 75m3

75m3 x 1000 = 75000

75000/8 =9375 l/h

9375/60 = 156.35 l/m

Pool pump types:

Once upon a time, there used to be only 1 type of pool pump, but over the years they have been developed to be more energy-efficient, quieter and more durable.

The original pool pump was the single-speed, this operated at one speed which was determined by the horsepower.

Next came the Dual-Speed and as the name suggests they have two speeds a low and a high. In the lower setting, it will be quieter and used less energy, but it may have a lower turnover.

Finally, we have variable speed pumps, these are the gold equivalent of a pool pump, offering flexibility and great energy saving costs. Unlike the other two types of pumps, these use a magnetic motor which causes less friction. They tend to be more expensive, but they will ultimately save you money.

If you are replacing a single speed, we would suggest investing in a dual or variable.

Pool pump features:

Pool pumps have various features

Horsepower is a term measurement of pump power. The higher the horsepower the more power your pump will have, logically, the higher the horsepower the faster the turnover will be and therefore you can run it for a shorter amount of time. However you must also consider the size of your filter and your system as it may not be able to handle a larger flow of water, this will just lead to an overwhelmed filtration system, waste money and energy.

Mount

Is your pool pump mounted on the side or the top? How does it connect to the filter?

If the filter intake is next to your pump then you have a sidemount, if the filter is above then it is topmount.

Chemicals

Most pumps are designed for chlorine or bromine so if you use a saltwater chlorine system you will need a pump specifically designed for this otherwise you run the risk of quick and excessive corrosion of certain internal parts.

Above ground or inground

In most cases above ground pool pumps are not as powerful and have much smaller flow rates.

Once you have worked out what you need, have a look at our range of pumps. With single-speed pool pumps to variable speed pool pumps, to save on energy consumption, we’ll help you find the right pump for you.

If you have any questions, contact us today to speak to a member of our friendly team.