Pool Pumps
Since the swimming pool and its equipment are major users of water
and energy, you have a unique conservation opportunity. By reducing the
pool's energy and water use, you will benefit the environment and
receive substantial savings on your utility bill.
Put
your pool on a energy diet !
Filter Pumps
Length of Operation
A pool filter pump
is often one of the larger users of electrical energy at a home. You
can save energy and money by reducing the operating time of the filter
pump.
Time requirements for pool filtering vary from home to home due to
differences in pool volume and equipment, the amount of use and
environmental factors. As a general rule, one complete water turnover
every 24 hours will provide adequate filtering for a non-solar,
single-family residential swimming pool.
You have an excellent opportunity to save energy and money by resetting
the filter pump time clock tripper devices to reduced hours of
operation.
Monthly Energy Consumption
(Kilowatt Hours) of Various Size
Swimming Pool Pumps
| Pumping
Hours
Per Day | 1/2 HP | 3/4 HP | 1 HP | 1-1/2 HP | 2 HP |
| 2 | 38 kWh | 52 kWh | 64 kWh | 98 kWh | 126 kWh |
| 4 | 79 kWh | 104 kWh | 128 kWh | 196 kWh | 252 kWh |
| 6 | 114 kWh | 156 kWh | 192 kWh | 294 kWh | 378 kWh |
| 8 | 152 kWh | 208 kWh | 256 kWh | 392 kWh | 504 kWh |
| 10 | 190 kWh | 260 kWh | 320 kWh | 490 kWh | 630 kWh |
| 12 | 228 kWh | 312 kWH | 384 kWh | 588 kWh | 756 kWH |
| 14 | 266 kWh | 364 kWh | 448 kWh | 686 kWh | 882 kWh |
| 16 | 304 kWh | 416 kWh | 512 kWh | 784 kWh | 1008 kWh |
| 18 | 342 kWh | 468 kWh | 576 kWh | 882 kWh | 1134 kWh |
Example: A pool owner has a 1-1/2 HP filter pump motor and filters the
pool 12 hours a day, using 588 kWh per month By reducing the filtering
hours to four per day (which uses 196 kWh monthly), the pool owner
realizes a monthly savings of 392 kWh. If your electricity cost was 13
cents per kWh, that would be a savings of $611.52 per year.
Listed below are the pool filter operating recommendations established
by the California Swimming Pool Industry Energy Conservation Task Force.
Reduce filter operating times to no less than four
to five hours per day during the summer and two to three hours per day
during the winter period. This will reduce annual electrical
consumption by 40 to 50 percent. Normal and heavier swimming use may
require as much as eight or more hours filtration per day. Should water
clarity or chemical imbalance indicate inadequate filtration,
immediately operate the filter until acceptable water clarity has again
been established. If additional filtration is still indicated, increase
filter operating time in one-half-hour increments until the water
remains clear and properly balanced chemically. When the pool is being
heavily used, it is recommended that the pool be operated manually and
that the filtration system be run under such conditions. Under no
circumstances should the water quality of any swimming pool be so poor
that the main drain cover is not clearly visible from the deck.
Time
of Use
As a pool owner, the demand for electricity is
highest in the winter from 5:00 am-7 :00 am and in the summer from 2:00
pm-8:00 pm . By not operating your filter pump during these hours, you
can help reduce the demand on the member system, which may delay the
need for new power plants and help keep future rates low, benefiting all
customers.
Time Clocks
A time clock is a necessity in
giving you day-to-day, automatic control over the filter pump's time of
use. If your pool doesn't have a time clock, install one today, and the
investment will pay for itself in a reasonable period of time.
Good pool energy management includes checking the time clock every month
or so to determine that the trippers are set correctly and that they
are securely in place.
How to Install or Reset Time Clock Trippers
1. Turn off electric power to the time clock.
2. Install or reset trippers to show the minimum or selected operating
hours and off-peak time-of-use. Be certain trippers are securely
fastened.
3. Make sure the time clock is set to the correct time of day.
4. Turn on the electric power to the time clock.
Preventive
Maintenance
Follow a regular program of preventive
maintenance for pool pump and filter. Backwash or clean the filter as
recommended by the manufacturer to obtain maximum efficiency. Maximize
water recirculation by removing foreign materials from the strainer
baskets in the pump and skimmer regularly.
Automatic
Pool Cleaners
Usually three to four hours of daily
operation during the summer and two to three hours daily in the winter
are sufficient. Start the pool sweep 15 minutes or more after the filter
pump is 
running
and stop the sweep 15 or more minutes before the filter pump. On
unusually dusty days, increase cleaning time in half -hour increments
until the pool is clean. Use a wall brush and leaf skimmer frequently to
help the cleaner along.
Decorative Lighting
Turn off or reduce the
use of decorative lighting in and around pool areas when you are not
using the pool. However, one light in the pool is a good security and
safety measure.
Pool Heating
Water Temperature
Maintain
a 78°F or lower temperature. Be certain that you are using an accurate
pool thermometer.
For pools that are only used on the weekend, water temperature should
be reduced by eight to ten degrees during the week. The thermostat
should be reset to 78°F before use. Heat pool only during the summer
swimming season. Shelter the pool where possible from the prevailing
winds by using well-trimmed hedges or other landscaping, cabanas or
fencing as windbreaks.
Solar Pool Heating
Swimming
pool heating is the most popular and cost-effective application of
solar energy. As conventional fuels become more expensive, solar energy
becomes a more attractive way to provide heat for your pool. If your
pool is in direct sunlight now, it is already using and storing solar
heat.
In an active solar pool heating system, filtered pool water is pumped
into the tubing of the collector panels. The sun's heat is transferred
from the panels to the water, and the heated water is returned to the
pool. Automatic controls are available to turn on the system when there
is enough sun to heat the pool water and off when no heat is needed.
In many cases, the existing pool filter pump and plumbing can be used
to circulate water through an added-on solar system. Solar pool heating
systems are especially effective during the summer months and can
assist a regular pool heater in the spring and fall.
A solar pool heating system can be a significant investment. The
savings from energy not purchased may more than pay for buying the solar
equipment over its useful life.
If you are considering the installation of a solar pool heating
system, compare price estimates. Ask for references and investigate the
quality of the systems. Be sure you understand the performance
guarantee.
Preventive Maintenance
Follow a regular program of preventive maintenance for pool heaters.
An annual inspection and, if applicable, de-liming of the heat
exchanger when necessary will maintain heating efficiency.
Pool Chemicals
Add chlorine during the
evening hours whenever possible. With reduced filtration time, it is
particularly important to maintain an adequate chlorine residual or
level at all times. To do this on pools with erosion type chemical
feeders, it may be necessary to supplement chlorine feeding by hand.
Maintain pool PH between 7.2 and 7.6. Make certain that the pool is
treated annually with 30 to 50 parts per million of cyanuric acid
conditioner (chlorine stabilizer).