How Long Should I Run My Pool Pump For?

The first thing you should know is that even if you're not using your pool in the colder months, you should still be running the pumps every day to keep your pool clean and prevent algae build-up. 

If you’ve read our last article, you know that your pool pump serves two major functions: filtering dirt and debris and aiding in circulating chlorine. This is why you need to run pumps long enough to clean and chlorinate the entire pool. As a general rule of thumb, pool pumps in Australia and New Zealand should be run for approximately:

8-10 hours per day in summer

4-6 hours per day in winter

The minimum flow rate you should be aiming for is one complete turnover of the volume of the pool in 4-6 hours for residential applications. if the calculation you have used is longer than that, ie the flow rate that is too low, then this would not be good for the pool. This essentially means the pump is undersized for the pool and can result in other issues such as persistent algae. 

The main factor that affects turnover time is the volume of a pool. This can be calculated by multiplying length x width x depth. Most backyard swimming pools are between 40,000 and 100,000 litres in volume. Once you know this figure, you can compare it to the output of your pump to work out the minimum hours it needs to run. For example, a 70,000-litre pool with a pump running at 210 litres per minute should be run for 333 minutes

70,000 liters / 210 liters per minute = 333.33 minutes = 5.5-6 hours 

There are other factors to consider when calculating your pump run time. A generally good rule to follow is 1 hour of filtration time for every 10 degrees of air temperature above 15 as the minimum daily run time. Hours are generally added for increased bather load, usage, animals, rainstorm or extreme heat.

Knowing how long to run your pool pump every day is the key to having a crystal-clear pool and to saving money as well if you have one of the older single-speed pumps. If you want to maintain a proper run time but are concerned about your energy bills, you should consider getting a newer variable speed pool pump that allows you to run your pump longer and save money at the same time.