pump question

[jrtvols]

What is the difference between an inground pump versus an above ground pump? thanks in advance..

[Watermom]

I'm definitely not the expert on pumps. But, this summer when my pump on my above ground pool died, I let our resident expert on pumps - my cohort moderator Al (Poconos) pick out what I should get as a replacement and he chose an inground pump and it worked well.

[jrtvols]

Thanks for the reply.. I have an 18x36 inground pool and my pump locked up last night. what little research i have done regarding prices, it just seems that the above ground pumps are a little cheaper. I want to be sure and install the right kind of pump.

[mas985]

I believe there are two factors which separate an above ground from an inground pump.

1. NPSH (net positive suction head) is much lower on an above ground pump since they do not have to prime a pump that is above the pools's water line like many inground pumps.
2. Above ground pumps tend to be lower head pumps since they are usually very close to the pool and do not experience as much head loss as an inground pool.

So the result is that above ground pumps do not need to be as robust and are cheaper than inground pumps.

So while you can use an inground pump for an above ground pool, it is usually overkill.

[jrtvols]

thanks for the info mas985..

[waste]

I saw this yesterday when it was new, but don't know enough about the various pumps to have responded. The only thing I'd like to add is that Hayward Superpumps have some verbage in the lit. to the effect that "these should only be used with 'permenent pools' (ie. ones that don't get taken down, though I think the caution is also about AG pools).
As I said, I don't fully know, perhaps one of our 'pump experts' will expand on why they can't be used.