Do you have your filter on a timer?

[392papa]

I run my filter 24/7 is this bad?

[aylad]

It's not necessarily bad...it's just an unnecessary expense to pay the electricity!

If you can turn your pool's water volume over in 8-10 hours or so, then why pay the extra electric to run the pump the other 14-16 hours?

Janet

[392papa]

Thanks, Ill have to do some calcs to figure out how much its costing me

[famousdavis]

You might be surprised, not only in how much electricity you're using (unless you're using a variable speed pump at a very low rpm setting), but also in the expedited equipment maintenance/replacement costs, too.

I'm trying to find the optimal setting of pump on-time, pump rpms, chlorine production (I've got a SWCG), typical bather load, and resulting water clarity and quality. Even if I'm not at the absolute optimal setting, I'm pretty darn close to it.

[392papa]

I looked at variable speed pumps last year when my 1-1/2HP motor burned up. Being in southern OH I could not justify it for my 12-14 week swimming season. When I have to replace the pump I will take another look.

That said you guys have me thinking I am throwing money away by running 24/7.

I am sure I would have to make adjustments to my chlorine feeder(3" tri-chlor tabs).

Can you think of any other potential problems I should watch for?

[Watermom]

I don't think you'll have any trouble if you run the pump 8-10 hours a day. I never run mine 24/7. I typically turn it on around noon and off around 8 or 9pm.

[AnnaK]

I have my chlorine feeder set to 1/8 and run my pump 6 hours out of 24, on low speed. This maintains FC at 3 ppm in my volume.

It's a little bit trial and error unless someone is a real math brain and can do the calculations involved.

My given was that the pump would run on low speed. My variables were time and chlorinator setting. My test was FC and CC using just the feeder. 4 hours didn't put enough chlorine in, 8 hours put too much at the 1/4 setting of the feeder. I settled on 6 hours, reduced the setting to 1/8 to avoid overshooting the CYA, and add liquid chlorine now and then.

[392papa]

That sounds like a great place to start.

Thank you

[drband]

I run my filter 24/7 is this bad?

No, it's not "bad" but it costs you a great deal more in electricity.

I have a 2-speed-converted 1 hp superpump that I run only on low 24/7. It's as cheap as running a regular speed pump on 8 hours of timer. Definitely use a timer if you don't have a 2-speed or variable speed. You might even want to do so if you have a low speed option, though most of the saving comes from getting off the high speed pump. I use a standard intermatic pump timer when I choose to run the pump on a schedule-- never have to worry about it!

[392papa]

Drband,

What did you have to do to convert you pump to a 2 speed? Just change out the motor?