Best time to run the pumps?

[mwsmith2]

I was reading in another post that electricity service is cheaper at night so that is why they run the pumps at night.

If I had a dollar for every time I heard this....I'd have a lot of dollars!!

Only some utilities give you reduced rates for off-peak usage. If your wattmeter on your house doesn't have a time clock on it, the power company has no idea of when you are using power.

Michael

[kaybinster]

If I had a dollar for every time I heard this....I'd have a lot of dollars!!

Only some utilities give you reduced rates for off-peak usage. If your wattmeter on your house doesn't have a time clock on it, the power company has no idea of when you are using power.

Michael

That is true, but they (at least here in NJ) will gladly install a time-of-day meter for you at no cost. You can see how it works, and if you don't like it you can switch back to regular service for no charge. Once you switch back you can not make a change for 365 days.

As far as circulating during the day or at night, I have done it exclusively at night for 8 years and have never had anything grow in my pool.

[slowtan]

That is true, but they (at least here in NJ) will gladly install a time-of-day meter for you at no cost. You can see how it works, and if you don't like it you can switch back to regular service for no charge. Once you switch back you can not make a change for 365 days.

As far as circulating during the day or at night, I have done it exclusively at night for 8 years and have never had anything grow in my pool.

I have been switching light company's alot lately because of the difference in rates but I will call them and ask about time of day meter.

[duraleigh]

I'm mildly surprised no one has suggested running more than once a day. If you feel your system needs to run 6 hours each day, why not split that into three 2-hour sessions.

That's what has always made sense to me.

Dave S.

[mrduffin]

Most Time of day rates penalize you if you use power duirng the power companies peak times. Since pools are used during the hot seasons just like your a/c is, the money you save by running your pool pump at night or other off-peak times might be negated by your a/c. The power companies carrot for theTOD rate is cheap power at off peak times but much higher rate for what you use during their on-peak times.

Before you switch your rate from a GA rate to a TOD rate, make sure your power usage does not peak at the same time the power companies does. If it does then you are better off with the GA (general or standard) rate.

To use a TOD rate you have to make sure your usage will be at the lowest when the power companies is at their highest. Thats hard to do in residence with folks home during the day unless they are willing to cut the a/c off between 8AM and 6PM. These are the peak times in my area during the summer.

[kaybinster]

Its not as hard as you might think. Remember weekends are all offpeak. If you are home during the day you are right it may be hard. But if you are at work it should be very easy. You have to do the math, every situation is different.

[waterbear]

I'm mildly surprised no one has suggested running more than once a day. If you feel your system needs to run 6 hours each day, why not split that into three 2-hour sessions.

That's what has always made sense to me.

Dave S.

I didin my first post! I run my pool for 5 hours starting late morning, then run my spa, then my pool again for 3 hours in the evening!

[CarlD]

I didin my first post! I run my pool for 5 hours starting late morning, then run my spa, then my pool again for 3 hours in the evening!

I always have two sets of on/off stops on my timer. I run the pool during the day, because I want my solar panels to work--I run the pump low speed.

And I run it again at night, so if I've added post-sunlight chlorine it will be circulated.