Swimming pool maintenance is very important, and understanding the size of the pool pump that you need will make that job easier. Don't be fooled by claims by pool dealers and contractors promising that massive amounts of horsepower will fulfill your requirements. A few simple factors can help you choose the correct swimming pool pump to suit your needs.

Size

Buying a pump that is too large will only result in wasting energy, causing an unnecessary monthly increase in your utility bill. Buying a pump that is too small will cause you to have a constantly unclean and therefore unhealthy swimming pool. Grab a calculator and follow along with this example. Remember to substitute your pool's volume when you do the math. The pool volume (gallons of water in your pool) --- 2 = gallons required daily for a 12 hour turn of the pumping system. Example: We have a pool that holds 17,500 gallons of water. 17,500 gallons --- 2 turnovers/day = 35,000 gallons/day Therefore, we need to circulate 35,000 gallons of water during every 24-hour period. Swimming pools pumps are sold based on gallons per minute (GPM.) You will need to convert your calculation to GPM to find the proper pump size. Use this formula based on our example: 35,000 gallons ÷ 24 hours = 1,458 gallons/hour 1,458 gallons/hour ÷ 60 minutes = 24 gallons/minute (GPM) A 17,500 gallon pool will require about 24 GPM output if we want to run it constantly 24 hours per day.

Cost

The most important factor for any pool pump is not the actual cost of the pump itself. The important factor is how much it will cost to operate. Shop for a pump based on a combination of professional opinions and recommendations and your own research. Trust yourself and follow the calculations that you determined. Your results will be beneficial for your budget and good for the environment.

Quick Smart Tip

Most people run their swimming pool pumps on an 8 hour on and 16 hour off cycle, known in the swimming pool industry as a stagnant cycle. That means for most of the day the pool water is just sitting in the pool and not circulating. This can make your job of pool maintenance harder than it has to be. Choosing the correct pool pump size and not allowing your pool to sit stagnant will help eliminate issues such as algae outbreaks, up and down swings in the pH balance of your pool water and buildup of debris. Running your pool pump on a 24 hour cycle will save you money by allowing your pump to work less overall. It will also make your pool a healthier place to swim and enjoy.

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Pool Pump Sizing Information