Hayward Northstar pump install: Review

Just wanted to add a data point for future searchers who are contemplating replacing their pool pump.

I have designed a roof-mounted solar heating system for my pool (approx. 22k gallons; in-ground; gunite), and will be installing it next weekend (assuming all of the components arrive this week). I figured this would also be a good time to replace my circulating pump.

Old pump was a 2 hp American Products of a 1987 vintage. Replacement is a 3/4 hp Hayward Northstar.

Install was straightforward, and is this thing *quiet*! Filter pressure went from 10 psi to 18 psi, and flow is noticeably stronger. Plus, I figure I will save about $35 a month in operating costs.

Two thumbs up.

pj

Holy schmoley. I've been contemplating changing my pump. From what I can gather, it's a 1983 pump (original!) and is likewise a 2HP unit. I did some research on replacing mine, but maybe I should have looked harder. Pretty amazing that you can go from 2HP to 3/4HP and gain flow and pressure! With that kind of cost savings, the payback on the pump is pretty short. Seems like I may need to look in to this again. Thanks for the info!

Edit: Ok, I did some quickie research. Seems like my results will be spookily similar to yours. I too can get away with a 3/4HP unit and will save right at $40 a month! Payback on the pump is an astounding 8 months. Looks like I may be in the market for a new pump soon!

Michael

Glad that you found the info useful, Michael.

Saving the $$ is good, but I still can't get over how much quieter this pump is compared to my old one.

I cracked open the old pump, but the pump head looked pretty good. Maybe I get more flow and pressure because the new pump has a better impeller and volute geometry? Beats me...

Wish I had installed it last year when I bought the house...

pj

I'm confused about the pressure increase. Could someone help me here? I thought that a lower-powered pump would decrease head loss and thus the total dynamic head would decrease? I am considering a switch from a current 2hp Whisperflo, which is a good pump running well, to save on my bills ($0.35/kwh here!), but my filter is already running at 21-22 psi with the solar off and 28-29 with it on. I don't want my pressure to increase.

Salinda,

I think that my pressure increase is because my old pump was "plumb wore out".

I didn't see any damage inside the old pump head, so I can't give you any technical reasons for the increase other than it must be a combination of the old pump being worn-out and the new pump being vastly superior in efficiency.

If your 2 hp is fairly new, I would expect that it is operating closely to its pump curve, and that a comparison between the old pump curve and the new pump curve will tell you what to expect in terms of any pressure increase/decrease.

HTH,

pj

Salinda,

First you have to understand that pj and I both have OLD pumps. Apparently they weren't very efficient designs. I don't think you'd reap the same benefits as we will, since you have a pretty current-model pump.

$0.35/kwh? Ouch!

Edit: I see you also have a sta-rite heater. I'm thinking of getting one of those, how do you like it?

Michael

I LOVE the heater. My spa heats from stone cold in 15 minutes or less. I love having no pilot light. The heater is smaller than my old one, but very high power. Our gas costs are high too, so I figured it costs about $6/hour to run the gas heater. I also only run the gas to heat the pool before a big party or in the early morning. I am not using all of the heater's controls though...my Jandy Aqualink controls the setpoints etc.

You can pm me if you wish.

When we bought our house the pool was already there, but the SuperPump (so old it wasnt even a SuperPump II) clearly needed to be replaced.

I originally bought a 1.5HP SuperPump II replacement (matched the HP of the existing pump). On the advice of a couple people here, I returned it for the .5HP (brand new at the time) Northstar. You can probably guess, it was a gigantic leap of faith to go from 1.5HP to .5HP, add in the fact that I had never run the pool before so I had no clue how much head was in the system, etc.

The Northstar was so powerful that even the liner installer said it might be too much. I told him its .5HP and they dont make smaller :) so I guess I have to live with it. 2.5 seasons later, I still cant hear the pump when its on (I let the grass behind the pump grow a little higher so I can see the grass moving from the air exiting the pump). Probably the second best investment I made in regards to the pool (1st being Bens test kit of course!)

I think the key is to do the research instead of just buying whats already there. Maybe pump technology hasnt changed much over the years, but the motors attached to them definitely have!

-Chris

Awesome. Man, this thread has turned out to be a real gold mine for me. I've got great info on a pump, confirmation of that and good info on the sta-rite. Thanks guys, my wallet is going to be screaming for mercy soon!

Michael

I also have a Northstar 2hp 2spd pump. Very happy with it. Sand filter 500lb and 2 1/2 piping. 4 returns, 2 step jets, 2 swim out jets, spill over spa. High speed 20psi and low is 8. Run it on high 1hr to start then low for 8hrs an high again for 1 hr. This gets the spill over going and moves everything to the skimmers. The low speed works well for the SWG and filtering.
Was a bit scary to see the Sand filter and pump lid flex when you change speeds thou. Moves an amazing amount of water.