When I started in the pool industry over 35 years ago almost every pool pump that I ran into in a backyard was either 1/3 or 1/2 horse power and it seemed like everyone was very old. One of the things that I didn’t understand then is that part of the reason the pumps were so old is because when a pump is more properly sized for the job it needs to do, it doesn’t need to work as hard and by association lasts longer. A variable speed pool pump is a 2016 technology that helps pumps last longer. I will try and outline some of my findings:
Efficiency
Try drinking a slurpee through a cocktail straw, no chance of getting a brain freeze or quenching your thirst. Why? The hydraulics just don’t work. When you sip on the straw your suction is more than the straw will allow to move to your mouth and you slowly are at an impasse with no slurpee no matter how hard you suck. That is a round about example of a pool pump trying to draw water, if the pipe in front of the pump is too small and won’t let enough water into the pump it just won’t get enough water to run effectivley. Almost all pools have a pump installed on it that is simply too large for the piping. Unlike 35 years ago and pools with 1/3 or 1/2 horse power pumps today you see 1 to 1.5 horse power and higher. A variable speed pool pump is the option in today’s age that helps to fix the gap between existing pipe size and pump size. Watch this short video to help understand how.
Durability
As I mentioned years ago pumps used to last for 15 or 20 years, the average life I have seen in a backyard recently has been 2-4 years. One of the benefits of using a variable speed pool pump is that you can adjust the water flow to exactly what the piping allows to ensure that the pump is never overworked to allow the longest life possible for the pump. This Online savings calculator is an easy way also to see the savings a Smart pump will give you.
Technology
As the biggest electrical hog in the household, the pool pump is loved by the electrical utility as it is a cash cow for them. The technology used in a quality variable speed pool pump like a Pentair Smart Pump is the same as what electric cars now use to keep them efficient. If you need a pump discuss the options available to you with your service tech at his next visit or contact technical support at your leisure.
