There is no getting around the fact that owning a pool is expensive. However, there are ways to cut your monthly electric bills, and that starts with the pool pump.
By upgrading to a variable-speed pump (VSP), you could significantly decrease monthly costs by reducing the amount of energy used.
Use our calculator below for an estimate on how much energy and money you can save by switching to a variable-speed pump.
How the Calculator Works
Our calculator isn’t just pulling numbers out of thin air. It is based on the physics of water movement and real-world energy consumption data.
Establishing The Baseline
To calculate your current costs, we look at:
- Wattage: Based on the horsepower you select, we estimate the “draw” of a standard induction motor. A 1.5 HP pump typically pulls about 2,000 Watts. If you know your exact wattage, you can plug that in as well.
- Duration: We multiply that wattage by your daily run time to find your daily kilowatt-hour (kWh) usage.
- Electricity Rate: To get the most accurate picture, you’ll need your rate per kWh. This is typically found on your electric bill. If you are unsure, you can look up the average rate per state.
- Season Length: We multiply the daily cost by your specific swim season length to show you what you’re actually spending per season.
The Power of the Affinity Law
The secret to VSP savings lies in the Pump Affinity Law. This law of physics states that the power consumed by a pump is proportional to the cube of the shaft speed.
In simpler terms: if you cut the speed of your pump motor in half, you don’t just save 50% on energy, you actually reduce the power consumption by 87.5%.
This is why running a VSP at a low RPM for 12 hours is vastly cheaper than running a 2,000W single-speed pump for 8 hours.
Calculating the VSP Savings
The VSP savings calculation uses a “smart turnover” logic.
First, we set the VSP to run at a highly efficient 300 Watts.
Then, we calculate the turnover, the time it takes water to run through the entire system, based on the pool volume. For pools under 25,000 gallons, it calculates a 12-hour low-speed run. Pools over 25,000 gallons will increase to 18 hours to ensure all the water is properly filtered.
By subtracting the VSP’s low-energy footprint from your current high-energy baseline, we arrive at your total savings.
Estimating Your Payback Period
We assume an average VSP cost, plus installation, of $1,500. By dividing that $1,500 by your seasonal savings, we can tell you exactly how many seasons it will take for the pump to pay for itself.
In many cases, the pump pays for itself in just 2 to 3 years!
Keep in mind that many local utility companies offer rebates for Energy Star-certified pumps installed by a professional.
Get to Saving!
Not only can you save hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars over the life of a variable-speed pump, but you’ll also enjoy a quieter backyard and a more efficient filtration system.
If your current pump is aging, don’t wait for it to fail. Upgrade now and let the energy savings pay for your next swim season!