This is my opinion, others will vary. Only under certain circumstances, like trying to clean up a mess, 24/7 is a waste of money. When people are in it, run the system. Otherwise try and run a few hours a day to circulate and clean. Also run it a couple hours after adding any chemicals. Experiment with electric $$$ in mind and you'll soon figure what works for you. A timer adds a bit of automation and you'll find it useful. Good luck with your new pool.
Al
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