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Single, Two Speed, & Specialty Pumps

WHAT IS A POOL PUMP AND WHAT DOES IT DO?

The pool pump is the heart of your pool’s circulatory system. It pulls water from the pool and pushes it to other equipment to be heated, treated, and filtered, returning cleaner, healthier, and warmer pool water. When your pool pump isn’t operating at peak performance, it can have negative effects on the rest of your pool equipment and the water you deserve to enjoy.

DID YOU KNOW A POOL PUMP CAN BE ONE OF THE LARGEST CONSUMERS OF ENERGY IN YOUR HOME?

Second only to your heating and cooling system. Many factors contribute to an energy-efficient pool pump, such as:

  • the size of the pool pump relative to the size of your pool
  • proper flow rate, and 
  • single speed vs. variable speed pool pump technology

SINGLE-SPEED VS. VARIABLE SPEED POOL PUMPS

There are two primary types of pool pumps: single-speed pool pumps and variable-speed pool pumps. Single-speed pumps do just that: operate at one – single–speed. Whereas variable speed pool pumps allow a user to adjust the flow rate of the water through the system at, you guessed it - varying speeds. The ability to run a pump at different speeds is what makes this technology a game-changer. A pool owner can operate their pump for a longer period at lower speeds without racking up energy consumption and extra costs.

TWO-SPEED POOL PUMPS

A two-speed pool pump is a step up in functionality from a single-speed pool pump. It works in the same fashion, but it has two settings, a full-speed option and a half-speed option. The half-speed option provides higher efficiency, saving on energy consumption and electricity bills. It is not only a greener option, but it is also more cost-efficient. The trick to a two-speed pool pump is the rule of slow and steady pool water circulation. By circulating the water more slowly, friction is reduced, creating significant energy savings. Less power is required to move the water.

When engineers describe the function of pumps, they use the Affinity Laws. Without getting too technical, these laws describe how reducing the speed of a pump creates disproportionate savings in energy. When you reduce the RPM of your pool pump by 50%, you get more than a 50% saving in energy. Instead, reducing the RPM by 50% creates an energy saving of 75%. If you reduce the RPM by 66%, you get an 89% reduction in energy consumption. So by using the half-speed option, you can save 50% to 75% in energy costs.

Another advantage of the half-speed option on two-speed pumps is that it cleans the water better. Instead of running the pump at full speed for a shorter period, most homeowners run a two-speed pump at half speed 24/7. The water moves more slowly through the filter, giving better filtration. Also, the pump is much quieter at half speed. The only time to use full speed is when you are using a water heater, which requires a high water flow, or when you are vacuuming the pool.