How long should pump run each day?

15 years ago

I've got a fairly new pool and trying to get some inputs on how long to run the pump each day. ~17,500 Gallons, with a 2HP Northstar (Hayward) pump.

Thanks for any feedback!

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Comments (7)

dssxxxx
15 years ago
When we first built the pool, used to run it 12 on, 12 off. Then ran it 24/7 and the difference in electric bill was minimal. Been running it 24/7 for the last 25 years. Same with the heater. Put it on 85 degrees when we open the pool and leave it @ 85 until we close it.
renovxpt
15 years ago
They used to say that the Checker cab engines lasted forever because they were never turned off. The basis of the argument was that they always maintained the same temperature and most wear and tear was due to expansion and contraction and the related friction?
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If the water does not have sufficient oxygen it will get stinky even if there are no fish. You don't mention any filters, do you have a filter system? You should run the pump and filters 24/7. Check the filter material once in a while. You may be surprised how much stuff accumulates. The UV light kills algae and certain bacteria. It should run 24/7 as well but there is a thing called dwell time. The algae must be exposed to the light for a long time to get enough UV light to kill it. That means the water flow through the unit should have a long dwell time (should be very slow). You can either get a small pump for dedicated water flow or you can use a diverter from the regular pump line going to the UV unit. If it does not seem that the algae is getting less, then the water flow time should be reduced further. Do not look directly at the light. It can damage your eyes. Things you (and we) need to know are how many gallons of water, how much surface area, size of the pump, if you have a waterfall how high is it, is the pump submersible or out of the water, what kind of filter system do you have, how deep is the pond and I am sure there are other thing that are slipping my mind right now. If you are not sure of some of these things especially sizes and volumes, someone here can help. Just ask. Sandy Oh! Do you have rocks on the bottom or plant shelves?
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That run time is probably on the high side, but it depends on how big your pool is. When we had an inline chlorinator we were running the filtration cycle for 8 hours a day and the cleaner for one hour a day. Since we switched to an SWG we've increased the filtration cycle to 11 hours to make sure enough chlorine is generated. In the winter it goes down to 1/2 to 2/3 of that run time. We're in the DFW area. Sounds like you have a pretty heavy bather load on the weekends, you'll probably want to shock the pool with some bleach to get the chlorine up after a long weekend of swimming. Don't try to shock it through your chlorinator, an inline chlorinator won't dispense the chlorine quickly enough for that.
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just-a-pb
15 years ago
Depends on how dirty your pool gets.
It will turn your pool once in about 2.5 hours. That is all that should be required. I like to turn them twice. Trial and error down till its not staying clean.
mikethepoolguy
15 years ago
Too many factors involved: air temp, water temp, bather load, rainfall, type of filter, how many trees you have, type of sanitizer(s), the list goes on.
evh_pool
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the feedback. I'm running it 12 hours a day now. So, if the 2.5 hours is accurate, I guess I am turning it over a little less than 5 times a day. It appears very clear and clean. No trees to worry about.

Weather is certainly variable, so can't really consistently predict that. It is a Salt Pool with a 425 sq. ft. filter... Hayward Swim Clear.

Just wondering if 10-12 should be a normal target for the summer, or if cutting that down some will (1) save a noticeable amount on electricity, and (2) cause any issues with the pool.

Anyone else in favor of 24? Seems like a lot if I turn it over 10 times a day or so. But would be interested in additional feedback on that point.

Thanks.
mas985
15 years ago
Most pools can get away with less thant 2 turns per day. I generally run for 1 turn a day until the summer when I up it to 2 turns per day. However, given your short turn rate you may need to be at least 2 turns in order to get some skimming ability.

The 2 HP Northstar can easily deliver close to 110 GPM but it depends on your plumbing. That is close to 2.5 hour turnover as just-a-pb suggests. So I would suggest starting at 5 hours and see how things go.

I would say that more than 8 hours a day would be a waste of energy so I wouldn't run it more than that.
donnawb
14 years ago
I run mine 8 hours in the summer and 6 hours in the winter.

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How long should pump run each day?

Comments (7)

dssxxxx

renovxpt

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How long should pump run each day?

Comments (7)

dssxxxx

renovxpt

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