Maintaining the perfect swimming pool isn't always easy without the right equipment, chemicals and knowledge.
Many people ask the question, How long do I need to run my pool pump in summer.
The answer to this varies according to many things, including
- The size of your pool (amount of water)
- The size and efficiency of your pool pump & chlorinator
- The temperature of your pool
- Whether or not your pool is in direct sunlight
- The amount of leafage and debris around and in your pool
Whilst there is no set number of hours that you need to run your pool pump, it is recommended during summer that you run it at least 8 hours per day for a standard pool.
Why do I need to run my pool pump?
A. For chlorination and filtration
On the common assumption that your pool has a salt water chlorinator to convert salt to chlorine gas, the length of running time and the efficiency of both your chlorinator and pool pump will determine the amount of chlorine gas that is produced. Combine this equation with the number of litres of pool water that your swimming pool holds and you will determine the amount of chlorine that your pool requires. How much chlorine your swimming pool needs relates back to the required hours you need to run your pool pump.
A 20 amp salt water chlorinator will produce 20 grams of chlorine per hour whilst the chlorinator is working with the correct amount of pool salt in the water. How much salt does my pool need
A standard 8 x 4 pool (50,000 ltrs) will require 250 grams of chlorine per day. (not considering other factors like chlorine consumption).
Whilst you would usually have a chlorine residual from the previous day, if you were to start with nil chlorine, the above calculation would require you to run your pool pump for 12.5 hours in per day (250gms / 20gms per hour)
On the filtration side of things, remember that filtration relies on both the circulation of the water and filtration equipment. It is ideal for a standard residential home, that your entire pool water is filtered at least twice per day. The number of litres per minute that your pool pump is able to circulate and filter your pool water will determine the length of time your pool pump needs to run. Of course, there are other factors at play, which includes back pressure from overfull pump baskets and poorly maintained filters that add additional stress on turning over your pool water.
Always consider running a backwash at least once a week to minimise any back pressure on your pool pump's efficiency How to backwash a pool and if you have a cartridge filter, be sure to clear it regularly to maximise waterflow. How to clean a cartridge filter.
Interesting fact: The use of an automatic cleaner can actually increase your pool water circulation as it often helps to reach “dead zones” (areas of your pool that don’t ordinarily get good circulation, ie: corners and steps).
If you need more information or a little help, please book in a service call 0432 105 352