Selecting a new pump for your in-ground or above-ground pool might be complex. There are several alternatives available. This step-by-step tutorial teaches you how to pick the best size pump for your collection.
When choosing the best pump for your swimming pool, the brand, speed, voltage, and horsepower of a pool pump will influence your pick. Of course, price is an essential consideration. Still, pricing should be the final consideration if you want the most exemplary pool pump that will perform well for your pool, has less maintenance cost and saves you energy.
Having stated that, let us get into the most crucial factors before deciding on the most exemplary pool for residential or commercial use.
Horsepower and Voltage
Pool pumps are made to function whether they are hard-wired into a power line or directly plugged into a power outlet. Either power connection is acceptable, but depending on the size of your pool, you must be confident of the voltage. The two voltage levels that pool pumps may operate on are 110 and 220, with 110 as the lowest voltage and 220 as the maximum.
The voltage of the Pump Motor
Your pump may be hooked into your electrical system or plugged into an outlet. Before you acquire a pump, be sure you understand what you’re getting into. You must also identify whether the pump operates on 110 or 220 volts. A 110-volt pump is required for most above-ground pools. If you have an inground pool, you’ll need to figure out what voltage you’re dealing with.
Your Pool’s Volume
The number of gallons in your swimming pool is one of the most crucial factors. To calculate the size of your pool, use a conventional pool gallons chart or an online pool water volume calculator.
The flow rate per hour your pump will need to have may be calculated by multiplying the total number of gallons in your pool by 8, which is the amount of time it should take a pump to circulate the entire pool.
To determine how many gallons your pump will circulate every minute, reduce your total result by 60 because a pump is usually labelled with GPM (gallons per minute). Online publications offer more thorough explanations of how in some cases.
Determine the Minimum Flow Rate
Every eight hours, the water in your pool should circulate completely. This requires you to determine the minimum flow rate for your swimming pool. To get the minimum flow rate, divide the number of gallons of water in your pool by 8. Then divide the result by 60. The obtained figure represents the minimum flow rate.
Determine the Maximum Flow Rate
The next step is determining your swimming pool’s maximum flow rate. The size of the pipes determines the maximum flow rate. 3-inch pipes have a capacity of 150 gallons per minute, 2-inch pipes have a total of 73 gallons per minute, and 1.5-inch lines have a capacity of 45 gallons per minute.
Convenience
You could be unaware of pump timers or believe all pool pumps include one. However, not all pool pumps have this accessory. If you want to maintain your pool clean at reduced power costs and spare yourself the effort of manually turning your system on and off daily, a pool controller, also known as a pool pump timer, is essential. Without a timer, your pump may operate until it overheats, significantly increasing your power cost. Some pumps may switch off as a safety measure when this happens.
Accessibility
After doing your research, you’ll discover that specific pool pumps are far less expensive than others, and you may want to take advantage of the upfront savings of a less expensive pump. In the long run, buying a pump that is the wrong size or not as durable will cost you much more. Although dual, multi, and variable speed pumps are often more expensive, they are also more durable, water- and energy-efficient, allowing you to save more money over the long run on pool upkeep.