How Long to Run Pump?

[pool newby]

Well, I've heard run time should be about 10-12 hours a day. I like to run in the evening to circulate the chemicals that I add. I could probably cut down a bit, but so far....it really hasn't added up much in electric bills, and it really helps keep floating debris keep sucked in to the skimmer basket, instead of getting water logged and sinking, requiring me to vacuum or manually use the skimmer net.

[tenax]

tracy, i think a lot of people believe in 2 "turnovers" per day for maximum filtering. i do 2 -6 hour turnovers per day on my 15,800 gallon pool based on figuring out what my turnover rate is.

[hancop]

Why not run it 24/7, that is what all my friends do, and that is what I plan to do when they install my pool in the next 2 weeks.

[tenax]

nothing says you can't run it 24/7..but i prefer to put the money for cost above what's necessary into beer

[gpshemi]

Holy moly that's alot of filter time. I fire mine up for a couple hours every day. That's it. I suppose it depends on how much your filter pushes through. My pump & filter are rated for 90gpm. So that's nearly 5400 gallons an hour. I figure in two hours I've rotated the pool at least once. That should do it I think unless it gets really outa wack.

gpshemi

[joliecharlie]

We run ours 24/7 all year. I tried running it less last summer using timers but saw little to no charge in our power bill. It also keeps the pool much cleaner as far as debris, to have it running.

[gpshemi]

Then your not looking close enough or you have a two speed motor. Cuz my motor is like 15 amps. That will raise you bill 24 a day enough to where you'd certainly see it....

Even half that you should see....

[traceyb]

I understand ............. I suppose I'll start w/ the 2 cycles about 6 hrs a day too. Makes sense to run it in two cycles rather than one. I don't think I'm gonna be running 24/7 though............I guess we'll see what the water does when I get the darn thing and go from there. If it needs it all day every day........itll get it.
Thanks for helping me understand the whys and hows.

[hrsdennis]

One more thought about filter running time. Correct me if I am wrong but this is what I was told. If you have any water clarity or algae proplems run your filter 24/7 until your problem is gone.

Aside from that, 10 - 16 hours a day seems the norm, two cycles being the best. Increase and decrease running time with daytime temperature. When it gets over 110 here in Az. the filters need to run a little longer.

Later, Dennis

[gpshemi]

It all really depends on the size of the pump. I have a 90gpm pump and an 8500gallon pool.

Running a 15 amp motor 24 hours a day would be (1800watts x 24hrs x 30 days) = 1296000watt hours or 1296kwh. At 11 cents a kwh that's roughly $142 a month extra. You'll notice it. Even a two speed motor if you cut that amperage to 25% (3.5amps) you should see $35-40 difference. At todays prices I can't afford to filter that long. Not to mention that my pump would be rotating my pool like 13 times over per day if I ran it 10 hours a day. It doesn't need that.

Assuming it stays in line chemically, a few hours a day max.