Choosing The Right Pool Pump: Fun in the Sun or Summertime Sadness?

It’s summertime! That means backyard BBQs and pool parties. Well, assuming you’ve got a working pool. If your pool pump needs to be replaced, it can unfortunately mean more summertime sadness than fun in the sun.  

Let’s be honest, as nice as they can be, swimming pools are expensive to maintain. Especially if your pool pump is lacking in efficiency, it can quickly become your most expensive appliance by far. There are three types of pool pumps: single-speed, two-speed, and variable-speed. 

I’m sure you can guess just by the name how they mainly differ from each other, but the single-speed runs at a single, consistent speed, while the two-speed runs at either a high speed or a low speed, and the variable-speed has several speed settings to choose from. 

But they have way more differences than just that. A single-speed, for instance, is extremely common in many homes, and is the cheapest type of pool pump, but it is loud, inefficient (which means higher bills every month), and has a shorter lifespan. 

The two-speed pump is very similar to the single-speed. In fact, they’re nearly the same, but the two-speed has the addition of a low speed, which adds some efficiency by not running at its highest power setting all the time. The problem is, with only two options, many of your pools functions will be too much for the low setting to properly work, requiring you to change the setting to high. This is certainly a better option than running it on high 24/7 like you must using a single-speed pump, but if your required pool function requires less energy than the amount high setting your two-speed is using, you are still absolutely wasting energy AND money.

We recommend the variable-speed pool pump. It is, by far, the most efficient and technologically advanced pool pump on the market. It’s quiet, long-lasting, and often includes convenient features like a touch screen and easy adjustment. It leads to a cleaner pool, with better chemical mixing and reduced temperature stagnation. It is also the most expensive option, but after the initial purchase, you can expect an average annual savings amount of $200-$450!
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There’s no feeling like jumping into a cool, clean pool in the hot summer months. Except maybe watching your summer energy bills go down. With the right pool pump, you can do both! Step aside, inefficient pool pumps, summertime fun is here to stay.