Introduction
Did you know that, just like your body needs the heart to circulate and filter blood through your body, so does your swimming pool? What acts as a heart for your swimming pool? A swimming pool pump does. What is a pool pump? Just like your heart takes in dirty blood, filters it, and sends it to other body parts, so similarly does a pool pump work. Without a swimming pool pump, the cleaning mechanism cannot function efficiently. For a swimming pool to stay clean, the water needs to circulate and the contaminants need to be filtered continuously, or else the water will become stinky and unpleasant.
Dirty water enters the pool pump through an influent line and the pump basket collects the debris, separating it from the water. Then, the water enters a rotor or turbine connected to the motor shaft which makes it spin, generating centrifugal force that moves the water forward as it enters the water discharger. Next, it travels from the water discharger to the filter and, finally, after filtration, water enters back in the pool.
Points to consider while selecting the pool pumps
Swimming pool pumps are such a vital part of your swimming pool, considering a few points while selecting one is necessary: hence, while choosing the right one, a few questions about your swimming pool need to be asked. What kind of pool do you have? How big is it? What pump size do you need? Is your pool in or above the ground?
Considering the types of swimming pool pumps according to speed:
There are four types of pool pumps based on speed: Single speed, two-speed, multiple-speed, and variable-speed pool pumps.
Single-speed pool pumps work at one constant speed, though, inexpensive as an initial investment, they are expensive to maintain as it always runs at high speed.
Two-speed pool pumps run at high and low and you can adjust between the two. While running at a low speed, energy consumption drops. So, one can easily adjust the speed as needed.
Multiple-speed pool pumps have different speed levels, which makes it easier to choose according to your swimming pool needs. This pump type is better than the first two as you can manually control the speed that best fits your pool.
Variable-speed pool pumps are energy-saving, intelligent, automated appliances adjusting the speed according to the task. It is considered the best as it is even better than the multiple-speed pool pumps as it automatically adjusts.
Other factors to be considered
In-ground or Above-the-Ground Swimming Pool
Is your pool in-ground or above the ground? An in-ground swimming pool usually is fixed, long-lasting, and made with concrete. Au contraire/by contrast above the ground swimming pools usually last up to 10 years, are inexpensive, and are built on aluminum or steel bodies.
Therefore, pool pumps can either be in-ground or above the ground. In-ground swimming pool pumps are above water level and self-priming i.e. lift water vertically from the pool, while above-the-ground pool pumps are located below water level and are usually non-self-priming i.e. relies on gravity to pull the water from the swimming pool.
These types of pool pumps can also depend on the flow rate of gallons per minute, which should not be more or less than required, or the filtering system won’t work efficiently. Is it above or below 75 gallons per minute? If the flow rate is more than 75 gallons per minute, in-ground pumps should be used but if it is less above-the-ground pool pumps function well.
Another factor that one needs to consider is the cost-longevity factor. In-ground pool pumps are costlier but last longer, and a well-maintained one may even last up to 50 years. On the other hand, above-the-ground pool pumps cost only a few thousand dollars but last only about a decade.
Last but not least: resistance to damage. In-ground swimming pool pumps are more resistant to sharp objects compared to above-the-ground swimming pool pumps.
Though there can be a tie between the two options, it is prudent to use in-ground swimming pool pumps for in-ground swimming pools and an above-the-ground pool for above-the-ground pools.
Horsepower
Horsepower means the power of your pump. In other words, if you have a pump with greater horsepower, it will draw and clean water faster and, as it cleans the water faster, you need to operate it for less time thus is energy efficient. The factor one needs to consider while looking at horsepower is the size of the filtration system installed. Choosing an efficient pump in sync with the filtration system is crucial because a pump having greater horsepower but a smaller filter will overburden the filter.
Conclusion
While purchasing a swimming pool pump, consider all the factors including speed, in-ground or above-the-ground swimming pool, gallons per minute, and horsepower. In other words, every swimming pool is different, and so are its needs. Carefully assess all the factors and you will be able to select the one that works best for you.
Additional Read: Top 5 Reasons to Get a Swimming Pool Cover