Variable Speed Pumps Save Energy and Money

You may not know that that a standard pool pump uses more electricity than any other appliance in the home, except for an air-conditioner. You also may not know that most pumps are too big and use more energy than you need to keep the swimming pool water sparkling clean.

The culprit: a single-speed pump. A small pump is probably fine if all you want to do is circulate the water, but it might not have enough speed to run your pool cleaner, waterfall or other electrical extras that need a blast of energy.

If that's the case, your pool service probably installed a pump large enough to handle the extras. But with only one speed, it's running full-blast even when your pool cleaner and waterfall aren't operating.

That huge waste of energy is costing you about 80 percent more in electric bills.

Don't let the high cost of running your swimming pool outpace its value as your family's go-to place for fun, relaxation and keeping cool. Making your pool more energy-efficient will save hundreds of dollars a year. Here are a few tips.

• Replace your single-speed pump with a variable-speed unit. High-performance models from such manufacturers as Pentair Water Pool and Spa let you run them on low most of the time. You can crank them up bit by bit when you need to run accessories.

The manufacturers claim the pumps can cut energy use by up to 90 percent compared with single-speed pumps. Frank Bowman, owner of Frank Bowman Designs in Raleigh, North Carolina, says his customers who have switched report saving $300 or more a year on their electric bills.

A variable-speed pump costs more than twice a single-speed model, but you'll recoup the cost in lower electric bills within two years, he estimates. Plus, he says, the pumps are quieter and last longer than older pumps.

As an alternative, two-speed pumps cost less than variable-speed models. And although they're not as efficient as variable-speed pumps, they use far less energy than the single-speed unit.• Run your pool pump less often. Most manufacturers recommend running it between eight and 10 hours a day in the summer and about half that in the winter.

• Put a timer on the pump so it automatically shuts off, and set it to run only when you're paying off-peak rates.

• Switch to LED lighting, which uses up to 75 percent less energy than traditional incandescent underwater lights, and lasts for years.

• Keep your chemicals in balance. If you don't, your filter can run non-stop and the water will never sparkle.

• Clean trap baskets, filters, and pool walls and floor regularly. Clogging can prevent the water from flowing freely. The harder the pump has to work, the more you'll pay to run it.

Submitted By: Frank Bowman Designs serves all of North Carolina, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cary, Lake Gaston and the Triangle . We are a complete outdoor contractor installing outdoor kitchens & fireplaces, natural stone & paver patios, landscaping, swimming pools & spas, pool houses, cabanas and much more...Our speciality is unique and unusual swimming pools & spas. Visit Frank Bowman Designs at www.FrankBowman.com or Contact us at Frank@FrankBowman.com or (919) 291-8354.