How Long Should You Run Your Pool Pump Each Day?

This is one of those questions that truly has no correct answer. While there are some general guidelines to follow, the answer is as long or as short as you think it’s necessary.

There is a sweet spot between running it 24/7 (and crying at the electric bill) and running it 2 hours a day. It really depends on several factors like weather, pool usage, and even peak energy hours to save money.

The Magic Concept of Turnover Rate

In pool speak, a turnover is the amount of time it takes for your pool pump to push every single gallon of water in your pool through the filter.

It is a generally accepted rule that water should turnover at least once per day (I am not going to get into the arguments for or against, but I think it’s a reasonable guideline).

To calculate the turnover rate, you will need to know your pool’s volume in gallons or liters and your pool pump’s flow rate. The flow rate is how many gallons the pump can push over a period of time.

Your pump’s label or manual should have this number labelled as gallons per minute (GPM). If you can’t find it, we can do some math to figure it out.

For example, let’s say you want to run your pump 8 hours per day (the general “hot spot” most pool pros will suggest). Divide your pool volume by 8 to get gallons per hour (GPH). Since most pool pumps are in GPM as mentioned above, divide that number by 60:

30,000 ÷ 8 = 3,750 GPH ÷ 60 = 62.5 GPM

Your pump would need to be able to handle 62 gallons per minute to push 30,000 gallons in 8 hours. You’re going to need a pump that can handle that much water. Choosing the right one can make all the difference!

To make the GPM calculation easier, use our super-handy calculator to get a better idea! Play around with the hours to see what is feasible with your pump.

Pump Run Time Isn’t a Blanket Rule

As previously mentioned, there are varying factors that will determine how long or how little you run the pump.

• Heavy bather loads, like pool parties is going to increase the amount of organics (oils, sunscreen, dirt, etc.) in the pool. Playing in the pool is what it’s all about, it’ll just require more run time to make sure it all gets filtered out.
• Those long, hot summer days with the sun blasting can invite a lot of water issues if your water is stagnant and not balanced.
• Obviously, if you ever have cloudy water or the start of an algae bloom, the pump needs to be running until it’s fixed.

Some days you’re going to want to run it all day, and that is OK.

Saving Energy and Money Without Sacrificing Water Quality

Yes, running the pump every day is necessary, but it doesn’t have to eat up your electric bill every month. There are ways to keep the water moving and save on energy costs at the same time.

The most obvious change would be to get a variable-speed pump. These will absolutely save you money and energy in the long run over single-speed and dual-speed pumps.

Also, a lot of energy providers offer lower prices during off-peak hours. That can be overnight or early in the morning. If your provider does this, consider running your pump during those hours to save some more money!

Find That Sweet Spot When Running Your Pump

Ultimately, there is no true runtime number. While the single turnover and 8-hour rule is a fantastic starting point, your pool doesn’t have to follow those guidelines. It really depends on your pool usage and environment.

At least now you have an understanding of where you aren’t just throwing money at your electric bill!