Need Pump For 15" Ag

[car8857]

Hi, can anyone advise me on what size pump to buy. I have a 15' round 3.5 foot pool. It has a Hayward Hi Rate sand filter 100lb. model S166T. I was told I need a 1 hp pump. Is this correct or can I get away with a smaller one? I called Hayward and they recommended the Power Flo Lx. My motor is good. Thanks, Carolyn

[Watermom]

I cannot tell you what pump to buy, but I can tell you that a 1 hp pump is way too big for your pool. Someone else more mechanically minded than me will be along who can give you more specific advice about buying a pump.

[car8857]

Thats what I thought, thanks. I hope someone can advise me
further. Btw the pipes are 2".

[CarlD]

On a 15' pool? You can get great results with no more than a 1/2 hp, uprated. Not only will you
1)save money on the pump,
2)you'll save money on electricity and
3)it will be quieter.
4)and it will filter BETTER than a 1 hp pump, by far.

15'...Even if you have 4' deep WATER that's barely over 5000 gallons. I have 20,000 gallons and use a 1hp pump (full rated) PLUS solar panels--and I mostly run it on low speed (it's a 2 speed) rather than full speed.

Seriously, I would not even CONSIDER anything bigger than 1/2 horsepower UPRATED for your pool.

Horsepower's good in cars, boats and lawnmowers. But in a pool pump too much is BAD, VERY BAD!

[car8857]

Thanks so much!!!!! But, what about the motor, does the pump need to match the motor hp? The motor has a lot of info written on it but I can't find the hp info on it.

[CarlD]

The HP of the pump is the HP of the motor. They love to advertise pump HP, like it was car HP. "2.5 hp will allow you to filter your water in 20 minutes!" So it's not like they are going to hide it!

I'm not up on the very specific details of "feet of head" and which impeller (the pump heart) goes with which motor. I can really only give you generalities.

But there is one fact: There is a gallon/minute rating on the filter which must not be exceeded or the filter will not filter properly or even be damaged. Too small a pump will never damage a filter.

For your pool there are lots of small, inexpensive pumps that will do a fine job. There's no reason to buy a combo filter pump UNLESS it's properly matched for each other and your pool.

[car8857]

OK, Carl thanks. I have gotten a lot of great advice from reading this forum!